Meersburg Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Meersburg Overview
Meersburg is a town on the shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee) in southern Baden-Württemberg. Meersburg is a charming medieval town to explore, since much of it is off-limits to traffic. Whether it’s the serene beauty of the Bodensee you’re after, or a short trip north to Ravensburg (Ravensburg vacation rentals | Ravensburg travel guide), famed medieval “city of gates” and home to a unique Theme Park, Meersburg is an ideal vacation destination for the whole family.
Meersburg is famous for its charming medieval city. The lower town ("Unterstadt") and uptown ("Oberstadt") are reserved for pedestrians only and connected by two stairways and a steep street ("Steigstrasse").
Where to stay in Meersburg?
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Things to see
The town is home to two castles, the Old Castle and the New Castle. The Old Castle, according to the Swiss chronicles, was built by the Merovingian King Dagobert I in the 7th Century. It was also the home of the German poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff for the last eight years of her life. The Old Castle is open for visitors and features a self-guided tour. The New Castle was built in the 18th Century as a home for the Bishop of Constance. Following the Secularization of 1803, the New Castle was used for a variety of purposes before becoming a museum.
There is an entity of half-timbered houses.
Also two medieval town-gates can be seen, which are the remainders of the fortification.
Transportation
Meersburg is the northern terminus of a car ferry to Constance. On the other hand Meersburg is connected to the region by the B 31, a large roadway which leads from Breisach (at the French border) to Lindau (Lindau vacation rentals | Lindau travel guide) (at the Austrian border), bypassing largely all parts of Meersburg. To exit to Meersburg and to the car ferry, take B 33 to Meersburg and Constance.
Meersburg is also connected by pleasure boats on Lake Constance to Ueberlingen (westwards), to Lindau, Bregenz (eastwards) and to Constance opposite.
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Meersburg
Travel Insider Tips for Meersburg
Loved staying in Meersburg. Took the boat ride to Konstanz and walked into Switzerland to get my passport stamped! The boat captain let my friend and I steer the boat on the return trip. Had to buy a winter coat in Meersburg because the temp dropped so much and I still wear that coat today...i love it. Lots of great memories!
Shared by Wendy Wrede Masuhr, Nov 2009
Meersburg on the Bodensee is beautiful! The sea, the old and new castles and the view of the Alps on a good day.
Shared by jstudts, Feb 2008
Loved biking through the local vineyards and along the bike path that conveniently connects the various towns on the lakeside. Taking picnics on the lake, riding the ferry to Konstanz or spending an afternoon at Meersburg's well equipped spa were some of my favorite memories
Shared by Tommy Rim, Jan 2011
Got a sunburn there last year when I enjoyed the passage to Meersburg :)
Shared by Birgit Lucius, Apr 2010
Meersburg is a nice place to visit if you go to the Bodensee. I live in Stuttgart for 28 years so I went there as much as possible.
Shared by Eric Ramsey, Nov 2009
I love this city! Had so much fun there on the beach...so pretty!
Shared by Jackie Fruge Shipman, Apr 2010
Meersburg Lakefront
[ source: Flickr]
Popular Points of Interest in and near Meersburg
Burg Meersburg (Alte Burg or Old Castle)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Burg Meersburg is the oldest inhabited castle in Germany. The central tower was first built during the 7th Century, although the original structure is no longer visible. Burg Meersburg is known as the old castle, in the reference to the neighboring 18th Century New Castle. In the comprehensive Museum of Meersburg, you can discover the Middle Age as well as the poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. The fortress includes a medieval living area, a Knights Hall, an Arms Hall, a well-room, a castle dungeon, chapels, guard’s walkways and towers, the picturesque fortress garden and the defensible northern bastion.
Hours: Open daily, year-round 9am - 6:30pm except November - February open from 10am - 6pm.
Admission: 8,5 € Adults, additional 2,5 € for guided tower ascent.
Neues Schloss (New Castle)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The baroque New Castle
of Meersburg was built between 1712 and 1760 as residency of Constance Prince Bishops . Today the castle is home to several museums. In addition to the Town Gallery (Städtische Galerie) and the Dornier Museum, which take up the 2nd floor, the New Palace is also home to the Palace Museum of the Prince Bishops (Fürstbischöfliche Schlossmuseum) on the 3rd floor. It offers the opportunity to view the residential and representation rooms of the prince bishops refurnished with contemporary appointments from that age. Magnificent furniture, wainscots, stoves, numerous paintings and the former house altar are evidence of royal glamour.
The castle is located on a hill over the Lake Constance. In the rear of the castle is a garden terrace with an excellent view of the lower city, the ferry port and the Swiss coast of Lake Constance.
Hours: Open daily from April to October, 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm.
Admission: 4 € Adults, 1 & euro; Concessions, 3 € Children, 8 € Family Card.
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Meersburg. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Meersburg: Meersburg (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Meersburg
- Meesburg Therme
- United Shipping Company for the Rhine
- Ferry Konstanz-Meersburg
- Lake Constance Bicycle path
- Official city homepage: Event calendar
- Lake Constance homepage
- Official Meersburg Homepage
- Meersburg Webcam
- Meersburg History and Images (in German)
- Wikipedia: Meersburg
More about the History of Meersburg
The name of the town means "Burg on the Lake", the former referring to the castle which, according to a tradition from 1548, it was built here in 748 by the Merovingian king Dagobert I.
The commune obtained the status of free city in 1299, though nominally still under the Bishop of Constance. In 1803 it was annexed to the Land of Baden.
After World War II, Meersburg remained in the French military occupation area in Germany.
[ source: Wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Meersburg Travel Guide special...
This Meersburg travel guide provides you with an overview of Meersburg, Meersburg pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Meersburg destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
