Illuminated

Bodensee-Therme, Konstanz

The region around Lake Constance is one which offers a lot for tourists and especially for the cold and rainy days that happen throughout the year multiple spas have been created along the shore of the lake. The one closest to Konstanz is the Bodensee-Therme, an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a sauna three kilometers afar from the city center. In summer times you can also jump into the lake for relaxation. The Bodensee-Therme is beautifully illuminated at night and the best feature is the nice view on the lake from the outside pool.

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Imperia

Imperia, Konstanz

If you mention the city of Konstanz to me the first thing that pops up in my head is the image of Imperia, the female statue standing at the harbor entrance of Konstanz. The funny thing is: it is a modern statue created by Peter Lenk and inaugurated in 1993. The 18 tones heavy statue is rotating continuously and already has become an icon if the city – and that is special because of what it is showing: a prostitute holding a naked pope and a naked king in her hands.

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Pfahlbauten

Pfahlbauten, Unteruhldingen

Once you reach the Pfahlbaumuseum at Unteruhldingen you will be astonished: within the Lake Constance and at its shore there are more than twenty different houses standing on wooden poles. You can walk on elevated paths and platforms around them, get inside and experience how life in this region was more than 6,000 years ago. Of course these buildings are all reconstructions, but they’re based on archaelogical work. The water preserved the timber, the construction dates can be read from the wood and the findings from the ground of the lake are on display at the museum.

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Rheinfall

Rheinfall, Schaffhausen

The Rhein is 1232 kilometers long river collecting its waters in Switzerland, running through nine European countries, crossing two lakes (Lake Constance & Tomasee) and reaching the North Sea at the Netherlands. As one of the two main border rivers it is mostly known as a wide stream which is also used for shipping goods and people. No one would expect a waterfall within the Rhein – but there is one: at Schaffhausen in Switzerland. The Rheinfall is 150 meters wide and 23 meters deep. Next to it you can find the Schloss Laufen and the Schlössli Wörth, two nice little castles.

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Fürstentum

Schloss, Vaduz

Liechtenstein is a very special country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria: the sixth smallest country in the world, under 40,000 inhabitants, a constitutional monarchy with a 25-person parliament and a conservative ruler with a veto-right living in a castle high above the capital village Vaduz (5,000 inhabitants). The people speak German, the country is part of UNO and the European Economic Area but not the European Union. You can pay with the Swiss franc, the country is in a customs union with Switzerland and doesn’t have an army. Beloved are Ribel, Käsknöpfle and local wine – and since 1984 even women are able to vote (but it was a close decision).

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Gänglesee

Gänglesee, Triesenberg

The Gänglesee is just a small like in the Rätikon mountain range you can swim in. It is located on a height of 1,300 meters above sea level and at its shore you can have a barbecue or just adore the mountain panorama. In winter times behind the lake ski trails begin making this region of Triesenberg well-visited in summer as well as in winter times.

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Border crossing

Alte Rheinbrücke, Vaduz/Sevelen

Liechtenstein and Switzerland are separated from each other by river Rhein. For sure there was always the need to cross the river and in the beginning ferry boats were the vehicle of choice. In 1867 first bridges were created, for example between Buchs (Switzerland) and Schaan (Liechtenstein); three years later the connection between Vaduz and Sevelen was created for the very first time. As a pedestrian and cyclist you can use it still today – the last preserved wooden bridge crossing the Rhein.

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Landesmuseum

Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Vaduz

Liechtenstein is a very special small country which is rather conservative and trying to preserve its traditions. At the end of the 19th century prince Johann II started a collection of archaeological findings from Liechtenstein and cultural heritage of the country. Today you can learn a lot about local life, rituals, religion and government of the country at a museum building in the pedestrian zone of Vaduz.

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Broken glass

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz

In 1967 the country of Liechtenstein received a donation of ten contemporary artworks which became the starting point for a state-owned art collection. Nowadays you can find two connected buildings in the pedestrian zone of Vaduz, the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein and the Hilti Art Foundation. These modern museums erected in 2000 and 2015 now contain a nice collection of modern and contemporary art.

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Red sandstone

Rathaus des Kantons Basel-Stadt, Basel

The town hall building of Basel is a very decorative one, very playful and especially absolutely colorful. It is located at the market square in the city center and not far away from river Rhein. It was built from the year 1504 on and has a height of 47 meters. You can enter the inner courtyard and walk up through a staircase that reminded me much of the architecture at Verona, Italy. The entire buildings contains many beautiful paintings, including those of Hans Holbein der Jüngere.

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