A tour of this Ferieninsel (holiday island) begins with the old harbor, seen from the lakeside promenade. The Mangturm, the old lighthouse, stands on the promenade as a reminder of the heavy fortifications that once surrounded the city. It also marks where Lindau was once divided into two islands. The harbor entrance is marked by the 33m (108-ft.) New Lighthouse and the Bavarian Lion, standing guard as yachts and commercial ships pass by below.
Hauptstrasse, in the center of the town, is the main street of the Altstadt. The most easily recognizable building is the Altes Rathaus, erected in 1422. The stepped gables are typical of the period, but the building's facade also combines many later styles of architecture. The interior, once used as a council hall, is the town library. Frescoes represent scenes from a session of the 1496 Imperial Diet.
Just north of Hauptstrasse is the town's most familiar landmark, the round Diebsturm (Thieves' Tower), with its turreted roof. Next to it is the oldest building in Lindau, the 11th-century St. Peter's Church, which houses a war memorial chapel. In the church is a group of frescoes by Hans Holbein the Elder.
Returning to Hauptstrasse, which cuts through the exact center of the island, follow the street eastward to the Haus zum Cavazzen, Am Marktplatz 6 (tel. 08382/944073), the handsomest patrician house on Lake Constance. It holds the municipal art collection. Included are exhibits of sculpture and painting from the Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque periods. Some of the rooms are furnished with period pieces showing how wealthy citizens lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the rarities is a collection of mechanical musical instruments. This attraction is open April to October Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm, plus Saturday 2 to 5pm. Admission is 3€ adults, 1.50€ students and children 6 to 15; for a guided tour there is an extra charge of 3€ per person.
Passing across Am Marktplatz and by the Collegiate Church and St. Stephen's Church, both baroque, you come to the strange pile of rocks known as Heathen's Wall, dating from Roman times. Beyond this is the Stadtgarten (Town Garden), which, although peaceful during the day, livens up at night when the wheels of the town's casino begin to spin.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
