Monastic Idyll: UNESCO World Heritage Site on Reichenau Island

Reichenau Island is one of the most historic places on Lake Constance. The main attraction of the island is its three Romanesque churches, built between the 9th and 12th centuries and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the year 2000.

Reichenau – an island idyll on the Lower Lake

Reichenau Island lies in the western part of Lake Constance. This area, known as the Lower Lake, stretches between Konstanz and Radolfzell. It is the largest island in Lake Constance and covers an area of 4.3 km². Reichenau is famous for its former Benedictine monastery, which was an important centre of religion, culture and politics in the Middle Ages. If you are spending your holiday in a holiday apartment on Lake Constance, you should not miss a trip to this idyllic island.

Reichenau Island is not only a cultural treasure, but also a scenic jewel on Lake Constance. The island offers a variety of landscapes that invite you to explore and relax. One of the most attractive routes is the avenue on the causeway. It is lined with poplars that border the causeway built in 1838, which connects the island with the mainland. The avenue is around 1,300 metres long and creates a picturesque contrast between the green of the trees and the blue of the water.

Masterpieces of medieval architecture in Central Europe

The three Romanesque churches on Reichenau Island are an outstanding testimony to the religious and cultural role of a major Benedictine monastery in the Middle Ages. They are an exceptional example of an integrated group of medieval churches that combine Carolingian, Ottonian and Salian architectural elements. In the Middle Ages the monastery was an important centre of art and scholarship. The elaborate mural and manuscript paintings are silent witnesses of this period. They are of great importance for the history of European art in the 10th and 11th centuries.

Church of St Peter and Paul in Niederzell

The Church of St Peter and Paul in Niederzell is the oldest church on the island. It was built in the 9th century. This Romanesque church has a basilica layout with a nave, a transept and a semicircular apse. The church is famous for its 10th century wall paintings, which depict scenes from the life of Jesus and the apostles. Highlights in the interior include the Romanesque baptismal font from the 12th century and the Gothic winged altar from the 15th century.

Minster of St Mary and St Mark in Mittelzell

The Minster of St Mary and St Mark in Mittelzell is the former abbey church of the Benedictine monastery founded in 724 by Bishop Pirmin. The church was rebuilt and extended several times and brings together elements of Carolingian, Ottonian and Salian architecture. The building has a cruciform ground plan with a crossing, two transepts and a semicircular apse. The church houses a rich collection of artworks, such as the Holy Blood Altar from the 16th century, the tomb of Saint Margrave Conrad of Burgundy from the 10th century and the relics of Saint George from the 9th century.

Church of St George in Oberzell

The Church of St George in Oberzell is the most recent of the three churches on Reichenau Island. It was built in the 11th century. The church has the typical ground plan of a basilica with a nave, a transept and a semicircular apse. The wall paintings inside the building date from the 10th century. They show scenes from the life of Jesus and Saint George. The church also has a Romanesque baptismal font from the 12th century and a Baroque high altar from the 18th century.

Video: Reichenau Island on Lake Constance from above

Arrival via causeway or by boat

Reichenau Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway built in 1838 with a length of 1,300 metres. The causeway was constructed on a shallow area where the ruins of Schopflen Castle stand. It forms part of the L 221 state road, which links Konstanz with Reichenau. The road across the causeway is lined with poplars that form a picturesque avenue. The causeway allows visitors to reach the island by car, bicycle or on foot. Alternatively, you can travel to the island by boat or solar ferry.

Winegrowing: An age-old tradition on Reichenau Island

Wine has been grown on Reichenau Island for centuries, thriving on the sunny slopes of the hills. The island has around 25 hectares of vineyards, where Müller-Thurgau, Pinot noir and Pinot gris are cultivated in particular. Several winegrowers produce and market their wines in their own cellars or through the Reichenau wine cooperative. You can explore the vineyards on walking and cycling paths and enjoy the wonderful views of the lake and the Alps. Or you can join a wine tasting and sample the different varieties.

The largest vegetable producer on Lake Constance

Reichenau Island is the largest vegetable producer on Lake Constance and supplies the region with fresh, high-quality produce. On an area of around 350 hectares, mainly asparagus, lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes are grown. Walking and cycling paths run through the vegetable fields, where you can see the ripe produce. Local vegetable markets offer the chance to buy fresh vegetables directly from the growers. If you are self-catering in a holiday apartment on the Lower Lake, you should not miss the opportunity to buy these fresh products.