Friedrichshafen Things to Do

A little monkey park/zoo where the monkeys run free in the forest and you are allowed to walk though it and even feed them some popcorn.
Nice half day trip for a family with small children. Has a nice play ground as well in the Restaurant area. From the amount of tables that were there. I guess it can get really packed though. We were there early in the morning right at opening time and thought the monkeys should be hungry then but they just got the healthy food before. However there was a feeding at 10:20 with a introduction talk and Q and A session which was interesting.
Better organized park than a similar one in the Alsace region.
Entrance fee fro adults Euro 8.

Although the Schlosskirche is located on the lake shore a couple of kilometres west of Friedrichshafen's town centre, its distinctive 'pepperpot' twin towers are visible from some distance, so it's easy to find.

We visited late in the evening, so the church wasn't open (anyway, I imagine that the interior would be baroque, which by now you will have worked out, is my least favourite architectural style), but we did peruse the noticeboard outside, which featured a number of posters advertising classical concerts.

The church seems to be a very active concert venue, and would undoubtedly be an atmospheric venue. The website listed below provides information on forthcoming attractions - unfortunately it's in German, but the dates, times and pieces to be performed should be comprehensible to non-German speaking music enthusiasts.

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Despite having one of the dullest website sites I've ever had the misfortune to peruse, the Zeppelin museum in Friedrichshafen is an absolute 'must see' if you're in the Bodensee region. It is one of those rare attractions that should appeal to all members of the family: kids will love the novelty of airship travel, whilst their parents (especially those who flew in on Ryanair) will wistfully ponder an era when travel was all about unhurried elegance!

For me, the highlight of the museum are the reconstructions of parts of the Zeppelin - from the lounge with a custom-built grand piano made out of aluminium to minimise weight (a modification which apparently presented the piano tuner with a nightmare) to the surprisingly minimalist cabin, it is a fascinating peak back to a time when international travel was the exclusive preserve of those fortunate few with heaps of time and money at their disposal.

Being able to view the 'balloon' itself from the inside is also brilliant - the superstructure is supported by 'ribs', and it's like being in the belly of a whale!

Zeppelins seem to inspire shameless nostalgia in all sorts of people, and Zeppelin memorabilia is highly collectable. This museum serves up an interesting selection and if you still have an appetite for more, you can always have a second helping at the Zeppelin museum in Meersburg (a ferry ride down the lake), which has an excellent private collection of Zeppelin paraphernalia.

The layout of the museum is excellent, and is a study in functionality. If you have time, consider staying for a drink or a meal at the museum restaurant, which boasts a glorious view out over the port and the lake and is furnished in period elegance.

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The problem with having a single major tourist attraction in a town is that people tend to simply 'tick it off' and move on. Such is Friedrichshafen's dilemma.

And yet the town has so much more to offer. The lake shore is lovely, and significant effort has been made to develop a multifunctional public space. It is a congenial and safe place to stroll and 'people watch' - particularly in the evening. There is always something happening on the lake, and if all else fails, you can just enjoy the gorgeous views out over the lake!

There is a well established pathway from the port as far as the Schlosskirche, a distance I estimated to be about 3km.

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A visit to the Zeppelin museum was a must for me, I'm interested in anything that moves!
This museum shows the history of Zeppelin manufacture in Friedrichshafen right up to the present dat, they still make them - trips can be arranged too. Fortunate to see on fly over while we were there.

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A very important part in the history of Friedrichshafen is the work of Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin. Dedicated to him and his creation, the Zeppelins, you will find the interesting Zeppelin museum in the center of Friedrichshafen.
It includes a partial model of a Zeppelin in original size. You can enter the longe, the cabins and have a look at the construction of the balloon. Further you will see some motors which used to drive Zeppelins. Check out what you could have eaten on a trip around the world with a Zeppelin.

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In Friedrichshafen you can visit the Dornier museum. It shows the work of Claude Dornier and the company named after him. The exhibition includes models of airplanes but also several real planes in a hangar and in open air.
I think the exhibition is really interesting, not only because Dornier was born in my current home town Kempten.

About the Dornier Airplane Company
About Claude Dornier

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The roads near Friedrichshafen are prime for driving!
Take a good rip past Markdorf to Heiligenberg, grab lunch there at a deli, and catch a good view of the local area from the castle. There, lunch, relaxed exploring, and back in about three or four hours.

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Friedrichshafen was home to the Zeppelin airship company and many were launched from a floating assembly hall on the lake. This is an excellent museum in which to spend a few hours.

From their web site, listed below: "In six major departments the technological collection of the Zeppelin Museum brings all aspects of the history and technology of airship flight to life. Here you may experience the great dimensions of the 'Giants of the air'. The museum’s main attraction is the reconstruction of a 33 metre long part of the LZ 129 Hindenburg in which visitors may even walk in."

I've since watched the movie, The Hindenburg, again, with George C. Scott. The set on that movie looks identical to this cabin mock-up. Then a plaque on the wall below shows the outline of the mock-up (which is life-size), and the outline of the museum building, and finally the outline of the entire Zeppelin, which would take many more museum buildings to encompass one. The vast size of those things is amazing.

In the town centre, in the former Zeppelin terminal building is a really intersting museum all about the company that did so much more than make airships. Their succesors are still a major employer in the town. You can go into a full size mock-up of part of a dirigible which for those who never saw a real one is amazing. They must have been huge. There is a good restaurant which is open in the evenings too and has views over Lake Constance. My only gripe is that there wasn`t enough information in the museum in English, but we made most of it out. Surprisingly, and unexpected by us, there is an art gallery on the top floor with nothing to do with the Zeppelins. It is full of the most amazing paintings and sculptures and could easily be missed.

Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the inventor of the Zeppelin air ship, was born in Friedrichshafen and built his first air ship here. Zeppelins are still being built here today, and you can often see one flying around.

The old city of Friedrichshafen is located right by the lake - with lots of little shops, restaurants and ice cream places. Great views on the lake and over to Switzerland. And from the lake tower you have a great view over the old town.

The Zeppelin Museum houses a marvelous reconstruction of part of the passenger accomodation on Hindenburg.
Lounge, Library, Smoking room and bar, Cabins etc
Air travel as it should be !
This pic of the lounge is from altfrankfurt web site.

A large collection of Airship memorabilia, models and history. The "largest exhibit" being a 108ft long reconstruction of part of the ill-fated LZ 129 Hindenburg.
Located in the former Harbour Railway Station. The impressive Bauhaus style building includes an art gallery and restaurant, lockers and giftshop.
Information is in German but there are audio guides in English and French for E3.00 and there is a small entry charge to the Museum.
Hrs : Tue - Sun 10.00 - 18.00 May - Oct
Tue - Sun 10.00 - 17.00 Nov - Apr

You can enjoy a flight in an Airship from Friedrichshafen around Lake Constance.
The Zeppelin Company has a hangar on the other side of the of the Airport. Flights are regular but need to be booked in advance and are very very very expensive.