Friedrichshafen Things to Do

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.

1 more image

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.

3 more images

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.

1 more image

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.

4 more images

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.

4 more images

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

1 more image

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.

1 more image

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.