History is a big issue in Constance. Not only was the city largely spared the destruction of war in recent centuries and earlier, it also boasts a momentous past. Traces of the town’s eventful and prosperous history can still be found today and draw thousands of tourists every year from near and far. It is also one of the reasons for the town’s popularity as a venue for international conferences.

Constance doesn’t just have a glorious historical setting to offer. Today, it is a city that manages to combine tradition with modern elements in an ideal way. The fact that it has been classified a “cultural and economic regional center” goes to prove this. In addition to culture, Constance sets great store by other areas, such as the transfer of knowledge, education, research and teaching. Indeed the town is endowed with excellent educational facilities with the University and the University of Applied Sciences. As far as industry is concerned, Constance can boast some remarkable achievements and developments. By enhancing its qualities as a location for business in recent years, the town has managed to attract a large number of small and medium-sized companies, especially in the area of new technologies. These flourishing companies are a sign that the city has developed into a highly dynamic economic center.

Constance also offers its citizens a high quality of life. This is not just because of its wonderful position on beautiful Lake Constance, but also thanks to its excellent infrastructure, which is examplary in many areas, such as child care, schools, medical provision, public transport and the many cultural and leisure facilities for young and old.

Walter Rügert

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

Kreuzlingen is not only “the first city of Switzerland” seen from Germany; it also leads the field with its superior quality of life.

With over 18,000 inhabitants, Kreuzlingen is the largest Swiss town on Lake Constance. Up until the 1980s, Kreuzlingen was just a sleepy town on the outskirts of Constance. Today, however, it is the most vibrant and attractive city in the canton of Thurgau – not least thanks to the stiff competition from its German neighbor. Constance has always had a vibrant center, universities, shopping streets and a varied cultural life. Kreuzlingen only had one choice if it wanted to be perceived as anything other than an appendage: It had to develop and put into action a strategy going forward. By “Kreuzlingen”, we mean all those who were and still are willing to commit themselves to improving the town’s position.
It was worth the effort: Kreuzlingen is growing, even booming. New buildings have sprouted out of the ground, the number of inhabitants has increased, and the choice of shopping, leisure, sport and cultural events has multiplied (Nothin‘ Goin‘ On? Don’t you Believe it!, page 23 - City Kreuzlingen). Many Germans – more than 3,300 – value Kreuzlingen as a place to live and work. That puts the town in a peculiar situation: 45 percent of its inhabitants do not have a Swiss passport. What might cause an uproar in other places is not an issue here: Kreuzlingen deals calmly with its internationality.

Innovative climate
The economy in Kreuzlingen is also international and many globally active companies have set up their headquarters here (The gateway to Europe, page 27 – City Kreuzlingen).
But what makes Kreuzlingen so attractive for businesses? First of all, its location, directly on the border to Germany: As the gateway to and from the EU, Kreuzlingen is in an ideal position to attract companies from European countries and Swiss companies that have either already gone European or would like to. In addition, the attractive surroundings foster creativity and innovation.
“Classical” factors in favor of Kreuzlingen include the excellent range of learning opportunities: The University of Teacher Training and the International School Kreuzlingen Konstanz have improved the choice of educational institutions, which has always been good (Kreuzlingen – city of education, page 9 – City Kreuzlingen). The connections to Zurich airport, both with regard to public and private transport, also give the town a competitive edge. Not to mention the low tax rate: Kreuzlingen is well positioned in this respect among towns in Eastern Switzerland.

What a difference a lake makes
But back to the town’s unique position: first of all, there’s the lake and the waterside facilities. The park in Kreuzlingen is the most attractive on the lake. With its wide open spaces and proximity to nature, it was designed for future generations. The entire shoreline belongs to the town and is therefore accessible to the public – for sport, games, fun and relaxation.
Down on the waters edge, a new attraction has appeared: since 2007, where the border fence used to stand, an art border with 22 sculptures created by Johannes Dörflinger marks the national frontier between Germany and Switzerland. Other sights include Kreuzlingen’s harbor, Seeburg Castle with its restaurant, the animal park and the Lake Museum with unique exhibits on the history of navigation and fishing in Lake Constance.
The lake is also the principal sporting venue: Kreuzlingen is a mecca for water sport enthusiasts (Sports City, page 20 – City Kreuzlingen). Sailors and wind surfers, rowers and canoeists enjoy ideal conditions here. And a dip in the clean waters of Lake Constance is always an experience to be remembered!

Scintillating stars
But Kreuzlingen has more to offer than its natural surroundings: its many architectural and art monuments are also worth seeing. These include the complex of the former Augustinian monastery with St. Ulrich church and the Chapel of the Mount of Olives, Bernrain Chapel with its gothic crucifix, and the magnificently renovated castles of Brunnegg, Girsberg, Römerburg, Rosenegg and Seeburg. These historic buildings provide a platform for cultural events and institutions, such as the Lake Museum, the See- Burgtheater, Girsberg Theater, the Doll’s Museum and Rosenegg Museum. Another highlight for tourists is the planetarium – these stars shine high above the region and beyond.

See for yourself: „The first city of Switzerland“ looks forward to seeing you!

Andy Theler

Education is a competitive advantage. In Kreuzlingen, that’s a long known fact. The first town in Switzerland today offers an excellent choice of educational institutions, from the English kindergarten to the Elite Sports School and the University for Teacher Training.

A first-rate education needs good teachers. One of the first teacher’s colleges in Switzerland opened in Kreuzlingen as early as 1833. The oldest educational institution in the Canton of Thurgau has since become an A-level college with basic training in educational science, one of five of its kind in Thurgau.

A leader in e-learning!
Prospective primary school teachers study at the Pädagogische Hochschule Thurgau in Kreuzlingen – the canton’s
first university of teacher training that was inaugurated in 2004. As well as teacher training, other mainstays of the university concept are research and further education, while new media and e-learning are its beacon. The media center not only enhances teaching and learning at the university with innovative e-learning concepts, it also supports schools with smart ideas for using new media and has already made a name for itself throughout Switzerland. Podcasts, multimedia info boards and online examinations or digital learning games are just some of the many software and e-learning solutions that students at the university develop and tailor to individual schools, local authorities and companies.

Science and education across borders
As Constance University and the University of Applied Sciences in Constance are not far away (Constance was once even close to joining the Swiss Confederacy), they also count as Thurgau educational institutions. Both universities are becoming increasingly popular among students from Thurgau and their graduates are sought-after employees in companies throughout the region.
National borders do not just segregate but can also be an incentive for a special kind of cooperation, as two scientific institutes that are linked to the Constance universities but located in Kreuzlingen prove: The Biotechnology Institute conducts fundamental immunological research at the highest level, while the Thurgau Institute of Economics is dedicated to economic research and develops training concepts for banks and SMEs. What both have in common is their emphasis on application-related research. This makes them innovation hotbeds that relate to and benefit the economy directly.

Capturing synergies, fostering innovation
This is also the goal of the International University of Lake Constance (IBH) with headquarters in Kreuzlingen. The IBH is a unique amalgamation of 25 universities from 4 countries in the region of Lake Constance. The close cooperation between the universities across national borders has spawned numerous innovative training and educational concepts. In the area of teaching and research, the IBH enhances the attractiveness of the entire region of Lake Constance as a location for science and education.

Schools with a profile
Kreuzlingen is also home to several private schools: At the Rudolf-Steiner School, Swiss and German children learn together according to the Waldorf concept. For pupils with a talent for sports, the National Elite Sports School in Thurgau combines tuition with training. And the International School Kreuzlingen- Konstanz holds its lessons in English from the word go.
The oldest distance learning school in Switzerland is also based in Kreuzlingen: The Onken Institute offers distance
learning courses in technology and information technology and can look back on almost 100 years of teaching experience. Which takes us back to the topic of tradition in education. Kreuzlingen has a long history of teaching. The number of educational institutions has increased in recent years and is still growing, helping to make the town fit for the future as an attractive center for education.

Andrea Scheurlen