Nature has been particularly kind to the region of Lake Constance and has given it one of the most beautiful landscapes in central Europe. Constance, the largest town on the lake, not only boasts its attractive location, but also a flourishing cultural scene. As an important economic and cultural center in the region, the city offers a vast choice of venues and has an excellent reputation that reaches well beyond the borders of the region.
As the oldest stage in Germany that has been performed on regularly for 400 years, Constance Theater has long been part of cultural life in the town. With its three venues – the town theater, the Studio in the Inselgasse and the Spiegelhalle, which was expanded in 2007 – the theater offers its audience a varied and creative program. Its repertoire includes not only plays from all periods in drama literature, but also narrated texts and operas. With an entertaining but at the same time serious and provocative program, the theater aims to give the audience a new perspective.
Whereas major productions are put on at the town theater, the Studio in the Inselgasse focuses on literary plays as well as small but discerning musical productions. The Young Theater in the Spiegelhalle shows superior productions for children, young people and adults. In-between seasons, during the warmer summer months, the Summer Theater in Überlingen has already become a popular fixture.
The Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most important cultural institutions in south-west Germany, is based in Constance. The orchestra enjoys an excellent international reputation. It also plays a particularly important role in the concert scene in Switzerland. In addition to playing over 100 performances a year, the ensemble of approx. 60 musicians takes part in festivals throughout Europe.
The Southwest German PhilharmonicOrchestra enthralls its audience with a modern,varied program ranging from philharmonic concerts to chamber music and concerts for children and families. It also regularly attracts well-known soloists for guest performances. As of April 2008, the orchestra will have a new Artistic Director, Florian Riem, who will bring new ideas with him. We look forward to seeing what the future has in store.
The city’s museums present fascinating, curious and beautiful artifacts for those with a thirst for knowledge. They combine high-quality entertainment with education to take visitors on a journey into the past. The Rosgarten Museum in the town center has an extensive collection of historic art and cultural exhibits. It is one of the oldest museums in Baden-Württemberg. The Rosgarten Museum is located in a medieval guild house with a gothic guildhall, which is well worth seeing. It offers visitors an enthralling tour through the history of art, culture and events in the region of Lake Constance and the city of Constance. Medieval art, the revolution of 1848 and the fate of refugees at the border between Germany and Switzerland during the Nazi era are just some of the topics that the museum deals with. The historic hall with exhibits from early and prehistory also houses the museum’s unique exhibition from the 19th century, which is listed for preservation. Here, the museum showcases its own history.
Another museum within a museum is the Hus House, a restored medieval building. Pictures and documents on the life and works of the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus, who was executed during the Council of Constance, are on display as well as exhibits about the Hussite movement.
The Archeological State Museum presents archeological findings from Neolithic times to the modern day as well as medieval archeology. While this museum documents how human civilization evolved, the Museum of Natural History shows the evolutionary history of Lake Constance. With its extensive collection of flora and fauna as well as relicts from days gone by, this institution provides fascinating information on habitats in the lake and the surrounding countryside. The modern exhibition space offers plenty of opportunities to experiment and experience nature hands-on. The Museum of Natural History is located directly on the lakeside in the same building as the SeaLife Center. This huge aquarium has attracted crowds for years. It takes visitors, young and old, on a fantastic journey into the underwater world of alpine streams, rivers and seas where they meet the animals that live here, such as turtles, dogfish and many more.
Art lovers get their money’s worth in Constance, too. As well as several private galleries, the municipal Wessenberg Gallery presents a collection that mainly includes 19th and 20th century art from southwest Germany. The Constance art club has dedicated itself to contemporary art. This year, it celebrates its 150th anniversary, making it the oldest and most traditional association of its kind in the Lake Constance region.
The Arts Center at the Minster houses the Wessenberg Gallery, the art club, the municipal library, the Cultural Office and the headquarters of the adult education center. These institutions offer a vast range of opportunities with a varied and discerning program for those interested in culture.
But that’s not all. In addition to the city’s municipal establishments, Constance has a wide range of privately run cultural associations. The K9 Cultural Center, for example, offers a colorful choice of entertainment from cabaret to improvisation theater. The Zebra cinema boasts a prize-winning program, and the Neuwerk, a cooperative society, provides a varied spectrum of art and cultural events. Music lovers get special treatment in Constance. As well as the festivals that are held every year, whether Jazz Downtown, the Tent Festival or Rock am See, the Kulturladen regularly organizes concerts with regional and international bands.
As you can see, culture is very much alive in Constance. And in the years to come, it promises to become even more exciting. From 2014, a wide range of special exhibitions and events are planned to commemorate the anniversary of the Council of Constance. The program will follow various leitmotifs, one for each year in which the Council was held. Now that’s something to look forward to.
Caroline Forscht
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