Konstanz: Bodensee Jewel, Council of 1414, and the City That Escaped Bombing by Hugging Switzerland
Konstanz has a population around 81,000 and sits on the western end of the Bodensee (Lake Constance), directly on the Swiss border. The city escaped Allied bombing in the Second World War because it kept its lights on at night, making it indistinguishable from neighbouring Swiss towns from the air. The Council of Constance (1414-1418) was the largest gathering of the medieval church, ending the Western Schism and burning Jan Hus at the stake. The Konzilgebaeude (Council Building) on the harbour still stands.
The Imperia, a 9-metre rotating statue by Peter Lenk at the harbour entrance, depicts a courtesan holding the Pope and Emperor in her hands, a satirical commentary on the Council. The Universität Konstanz, founded in 1966, has been recognised as one of Germany's Excellence Universities. The Altstadt is remarkably intact, with medieval and Renaissance buildings throughout. Konstanz is physically connected to the Swiss city of Kreuzlingen, creating a cross-border urban area. The Mainau, a flower island in the Bodensee, draws over a million visitors annually. Adult companionship follows Baden-Wuerttemberg's regulatory approach at the Swiss border.
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Konstanz has a population around 81,000 and sits on the western end of the Bodensee (Lake Constance), directly on the Swiss border. The city escaped Allied bombing in the Second World War because it kept its lights on at night, making it indistinguishable from neighbouring Swiss towns from the air. The Council of Constance (1414-1418) was the largest gathering of the medieval church, ending the Western Schism and burning Jan Hus at the stake. The Konzilgebaeude (Council Building) on the harbour still stands.
The Imperia, a 9-metre rotating statue by Peter Lenk at the harbour entrance, depicts a courtesan holding the Pope and Emperor in her hands, a satirical commentary on the Council. The Universität Konstanz, founded in 1966, has been recognised as one of Germany's Excellence Universities. The Altstadt is remarkably intact, with medieval and Renaissance buildings throughout. Konstanz is physically connected to the Swiss city of Kreuzlingen, creating a cross-border urban area. The Mainau, a flower island in the Bodensee, draws over a million visitors annually. Adult companionship follows Baden-Wuerttemberg's regulatory approach at the Swiss border.
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