Easter crept up on me this year and as the weather promised to be perfect, it seemed like a good idea to get out and enjoy it. A few weeks before, I had read about Arenenberg and thought it would be a nice place to visit. Arenenberg is an estate with a small villa above the lake. It is known for the villa, which was owned by Hortense de Beauharnais, Napoléon’s I step-daughter and Napoléon’s III mother. Today the villa is a very interesting museum and the surrounding area is part of an agricultural school.
A few days earlier, I opened a box of Gottlieber, rolled wafers filled with a various chocolate creams, and read that Hortense loved them and had them delivered to Arenenberg. That made me wonder where Gottlieben was and when I saw that it was not too far from Arenenberg and on the lake with a pier, it was easy to decide to go there. From Arenenberg it’s about a two hour walk, either along the lake or through the vinyards above the lake. Gottlieben was a pleasant surprise, many cute buildings along the lake, a castle and several hotels. The Gottlieben café was also open and I treated myself to a wafer to enjoy on the boat ride back.
From Gottlieben, the two hour boat ride crosses back and forth across Lower Lake Constance, stopping in Germany and Switzerland, while making its way to Stein am Rhein, another place that has been on my list of places to visit.
Stein am Rhein is known for its medieval city center with half timbered houses and elaborate frescoes.
Where to eat:
- Bistro Louis Napoleon (Arenenberg): regional and seasonal dishes
- Seecafé & Store (Gottlieben): Coffee and sweets, including the signature rolled wafers.
- Hotel & Restaurant Rheinfels (Stein am Rhein): historic hotel and delicious fish restaurant on the water
What a wonderful Easter get away. With all the exploring you do, it seems impossible that there are places you haven’t been! But then you do live where there are amazing things to see at every turn. I love all your photos and once again, I wish I’d been with you.
There is still plenty to see and mt list is long.
This looks positively idyllic! Hope you had fun!
What a pleasant walk along the shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee). The Arenenberg villa is perfectly situated above the lake, and it looks like you had a perfect spring day to enjoy it. I’m so happy that you also spent time walking around Stein am Rhein, one of my favorite places to view all the interesting facades. Nice photos.