Friedrichshafen: Gateway to The Alps
Monarch Airlines’ new service to Friedrichshafen in southern
Germany has opened up a whole new world of travel possibilities,
especially for the winter sports enthusiast. While Friedrichshafen
is a great place to experience some undiscovered German culture in
spring and summer, its real draw as a holiday destination is in
winter.
You can also easily transfer to a number of ski resorts in
Germany, Switzerland and particularly Austria, making it the
perfect gateway to the slopes for skiing holidays this year, as
MIKE REES reports.
Thanks to its attractive location at the heart of Europe,
Friedrichshafen – and the adjoining Lake Constance - has become a
increasingly popular destination for short breaks.
In winter, skiers like to use the airport at Friedrichshafen –
with its proximity to the Alps and easy access for their ski
holidays - but the region offers plenty of potential for indoor and
outdoor activities in the other seasons, too, as well as for
cultural trips and wellness breaks.
Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen is the gateway to the region of
Lake Constance. More than 650,000 passengers use the wide choice of
flights every year.
Lake Constance is still a little secret among the big
destinations in central Europe. It’s a safe place to travel and
unspoilt in many ways. People are friendly, prices reasonable and a
superb infrastructure of accommodation and public transport makes
travelling easy and enjoyable.
Situated on the northern edge of the majestic Alps, Lake
Constance - or Bodensee in German – is the third largest lake in
central Europe. Three countries share the 273km-long shoreline –
Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Principality of Liechtenstein
is also part of the region. The River Rhine is the main source of
water.
The region of Lake Constance is steeped in history and culture.
For thousands of years, the area has been a melting pot of culture
and a crossing point for trade between the south and north side of
the Alps.
The rich cultural past of the region is reflected in the
lifestyle of the inhabitants today, their enjoyment of celebrations
and the fine arts.
Year-round concerts, festivals, theatre productions, traditional
events and exhibitions of all kinds can be enjoyed.
The choice of sports from golf to sailing, hiking, skiing,
watersports – not to mention the excellent network of cycle routes
– makes Lake Constance perfect for sports lovers.
The wonderful spas on the lake are also well worth visiting.
Another favourite pastime is food, of which there are many
specialities. Thousands of restaurants, bars and cafes offer
equisite cuisine. Soak in the unique beer garden atmosphere, dine
in style in a castle restaurant, watch the world go by in a street
cafe, or relax on one of the superb lake-side terraces. As the
birthplace of the Zeppelin Airship and the historic centre of
German aviation, the city has a long and varied history. You can
tour the factories that built these great airships and aircraft, as
well as take modern versions on sightseeing tours.
The Zeppelin is as much a feature of Lake Constance today as it
was 100 years ago. Back in those days, however, Count Ferdinand von
Zeppelin earned nothing but derision for his idea of an
airship.
He developed the first Zeppelin airship from his factory in
Friedrichshafen and the 128m-long LZ1 rose from its mooring in July
2, 1900.
The Zeppelin was a success story until its sad end in the
Hindenburg disaster in Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937, when it
caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock.
Of the 97 people on board – 36 passengers, 61 crew – there were
35 fatalities and one death among the ground crew.
The incident shattered public confidence in the giant,
passenger-carrying rigid airship and marked the end of the airship
era.
In the 1990s, Zeppelins were developed again in Friedrichshafen
and since 2001, these "flying cigars" with new technology have been
lifting off and taking Zeppelin fans on a scenic tour over Lake
Constance.
The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen was re-opened in 1996 in
its new home – the Hafenbahnhof (harbour railway station). Since
then, 3.5 million visitors have come to see its permanent
collections and special exhibitions.
All in all, a holiday in this part of Europe is always great fun
for the while family but don’t take my word for it, pay a visit for
yourself.
++ MONARCH FACTFILE
++
Monarch Airlines operates year-round flights to
Friedrichshafen from London Gatwick with fares, including taxes,
starting from £30.99 one way (£64.48 return).
For further information or to book Monarch flights,
visit www.monarch.co.uk
09/01/13
- Click here for more news from across the county...