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Konstanz (English traditionally Constance) is a small university town of around 80,000 people on the shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland.

Location

Konstanz is situated on the river Rhine which starts in the Swiss Alps and runs through Lake Constance, splitting the city in two. North of the river lies the larger part with residential areas and industrial estates; while south of the river is the old town, which houses the administrative centre and shopping facilities. To the south, the old town is grown together with Kreutzlingen, a Swiss town.

History

The first traces of civilisation in Konstanz dates back to the later stoneage.

Around 100 AD, the first Romans settled on the site. Its name, originally Constantia, comes from the emperor Constantius Chlorus who fought the Alemanni in the region and fortified the town.

Probably in 585 the first bishop took residence in Konstanz and marked the beginning of the city's importance as a spiritual center. By the late Middle Ages, about one fourth of Konstanz' 5'000 inhabitants were extempt from taxation on account of clerical rights.

Trade thrived during the middle ages; Konstanz owned the only bridge in the region which crossed the Rhine, making it a strategic place. Their linen production had made an international name and the city was prosperous. In 1192, Konstaz got the status of Imperial City, making it subject only to the emperor.

1414-1418 the Council of Constance took place during which, on July 6, 1415, Jan Hus was burned at the stake. It was here that the Papal Schism was ended and Pope Martin V was elected during the only conclave ever held north of the alps. An illustrated chronical of the Council of Constance, testifies to all the major happenings during the Council, as well as showing the everyday life of medieval Konstanz. The Konzilgebäude where the conclave was held can still be seen standing by the harbour. Closeby stands the Imperia, a statue that was errected in 1993 to remind of the Council.

During the 15th century, Konstanz made an atempt to get admitted to the Swiss Confederation, but the forest cantons votet against its entry, fearing an overmight of the city cantons. Konstanz then entered the Swabian League instead. In the Swabian-Swiss Wars of 1460, Konstanz lost the Thurgau to the Confederation, loosing its hinterland and a big income source.

The Reformation took hold in Konstanz in the 1520's, headed by Ambrosius Blarer. Soon the cety declader itself officially Protestant, pictures were removed from the churches, and the bishop temporaruly moved to Meeresburg, a small town across the lake. However, in 1548 Emperor Charles V imposed the Imperial Ban on Konstanz and it had to surrender to Habsburg Austria which had immediately attaked. Thus, Konstanz lost its status as imperial city as well as the last remainder of its former glory.

The new Habsburg overlords were eager to re-Catholicise the town and in 1604 a Jesuit College was opened. Its accompanying theater, built in 1610, is the oldes theater in Germany still performing regularly.

Konstanz was part of Austria until Napoleon assigned it to the Grossherzogtum Baden in 1806.

Konstanz Today

Because it practically lies in Switzerland, Konstanz was not bombed by the Allied Forces during World War II. The "Altstadt" (Old Town), which is relatively big, considering the small size of modern Konstanz, has many old buildings and twisted alleys. There is a majestic Minster (cathedral), several churches and three towers left over from the city wall, one of which marks the place of the former medieval bridge over the Rhine.

A university was established close to the town in 1966. It houses a top library with approximately 2 million books, all freely accessible 24 hours a day.

Konstanz was the birthplace of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, constructor of the famous Zeppelin airships.

The city is twinned with Fontainebleau, France; Colwyn, Wales; and Richmond-upon-Thames, England.

External links

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-{{cleanup}}
 '''Konstanz''' (English traditionally '''Constance''') is a small [[university]] town of around 80,000 people on the shore of [[Lake Constance|Lake Constance (Bodensee)]] in the south-west corner of [[Germany]], bordering [[Switzerland]].
-==Introduction==
+==Location==
-Konstanz is situated on the river [[Rhine]] which starts in the Swiss [[Alps]] and runs through Lake Constance, splitting the city in two. North of the river lies the larger part with residential areas and industrial estates; while south of the river is the old town, which houses the administrative centre and shopping facilities. The old town is bounded from the south by the border to Switzerland.
+Konstanz is situated on the river [[Rhine]] which starts in the Swiss [[Alps]] and runs through Lake Constance, splitting the city in two. North of the river lies the larger part with residential areas and industrial estates; while south of the river is the old town, which houses the administrative centre and shopping facilities. To the south, the old town is grown together with Kreutzlingen, a Swiss town.
+==History==
+The first traces of civilisation in Konstanz dates back to the later [[stoneage]].
+Around 100 AD, the first Romans settled on the site. Its name, originally Constantia, comes from the emperor [[Constantius Chlorus]] who fought the [[Alemanni]] in the region and fortified the town.
+Probably in [[585]] the first bishop took residence in Konstanz and marked the beginning of the city's importance as a spiritual center. By the late [[Middle Ages]], about one fourth of Konstanz' 5'000 inhabitants were extempt from taxation on account of clerical rights.
+Trade thrived during the middle ages; Konstanz owned the only bridge in the region which crossed the Rhine, making it a strategic place. Their [[linen]] production had made an international name and the city was prosperous. In 1192, Konstaz got the status of [[Imperial City]], making it subject only to the [[Holy Roman Emperor|emperor]].
+[[1414]]-[[1418]] the [[Council of Constance]] took place during which, on [[July 6]], [[1415]], [[Jan Hus]] was [[burned at the stake]]. It was here that the [[Papal Schism]] was ended and [[Pope Martin V]] was elected during the only conclave ever held north of the alps. An illustrated chronical of the Council of Constance, testifies to all the major happenings during the Council, as well as showing the everyday life of medieval Konstanz. The ''Konzilgebäude'' where the conclave was held can still be seen standing by the harbour. Closeby stands the ''[[Imperia]]'', a statue that was errected in [[1993]] to remind of the Council.
+During the [[15th century]], Konstanz made an atempt to get admitted to the [[Swiss Confederation]], but the forest cantons votet against its entry, fearing an overmight of the city cantons. Konstanz then entered the [[Swabian League]] instead. In the [[Swabian-Swiss Wars]] of [[1460]], Konstanz lost the [[Thurgau]] to the Confederation, loosing its [[hinterland]] and a big income source.
+The [[Reformation]] took hold in Konstanz in the 1520's, headed by [[Ambrosius Blarer]]. Soon the cety declader itself officially [[Protestant]], pictures were removed from the churches, and the bishop temporaruly moved to [[Meeresburg]], a small town across the lake. However, in [[1548]] [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]] imposed the [[Imperial Ban]] on Konstanz and it had to surrender to [[Austria|Habsburg Austria]] which had immediately attaked. Thus, Konstanz lost its status as imperial city as well as the last remainder of its former glory.
-Konstanz was the place were the [[Council of Constance]] ([[1414]]-[[1418]]) took place, and where [[Jan Hus]] was [[burned at the stake]] ([[1415]]). It was also the birthplace of Count [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]], constructor of the famous [[Zeppelin]] [[airship]]s.
+The new Habsburg overlords were eager to [[Counter Reformation|re-Catholicise]] the town and in [[1604]] a [[Jesuits|Jesuit College]] was opened. Its accompanying [[theater]],  built in [[1610]], is the oldes theater in Germany still performing regularly.
-==Things to see==
-Although it is popular as a [[tourism|tourist]] destination, mainly with other Germans, the pace of life in Konstanz is quite slow. Konstanz is a place of beautiful scenery: the lake is surrounded by high, rolling [[hill]]s covered with green [[forest]]s, [[meadow]]s and sometimes [[vineyard]]s. In the [[summer]], the view of the lake from one of the small hillside [[village]]s is made more impressive by the usual early morning [[mist]].
+Konstanz was part of Austria until [[Napoleon]] assigned it to the [[Baden-Württemberg|Grossherzogtum Baden]] in [[1806]].
-You should be able to cover most of the sights and attractions in around a week, but save some time for excursions to nearby places like [[Reichenau Island]], [[Mainau Island]], [[Meersburg]], [[Schaffhausen]] or [[Sankt Gallen]]. The touristic sights in Konstanz are mostly buildings and monuments of historical interest. Konstanz was the birthplace of Count [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]]. There is a monument to him in the park by the harbour, and his former home is now an upper-class hotel and restaurant. Another more recent statue at the entrance to the harbour shows a woman holding two men on her hands. It is called Imperia and represents a famous Italian [[courtesan]] who was born 1485 in [[Ferrara]]. It reminds one of the less pious aspects of the [[Council of Constance]], and the two men on her hands represent [[Pope Martin V]] and Emperor [[Sigismund]]. The former was elected during said council, replacing three competing popes. The latter was in power during the council, representing the secular power. Both are naked except for the symbols of their power. Although Imperia never visited Konstanz, she is connected to the council that took place long before her birth through a short story by [[Balzac]], "La belle Impéria".
+==Konstanz Today==
-Most of the interesting buildings are in the "Altstadt" (Old Town), which is relatively big, considering the small size of modern Konstanz. As a typical medieval city it is a little twisty and disorienting. There is a majestic Minster ([[cathedral]]), a couple of churches and some towers, one of which marks the place of the former medieval bridge over the [[Rhine]]. The most romantic and scenic part of the city lies between the Minster and the Rhine and is called ''Niederburg'' (Lower [[Castle]]). The buildings here are the oldest and the streets are the narrowest. The area around the ''Marktstaette'' (market square, originally: market shore) is the more lively part of the Altstadt.
+Because it practically lies in Switzerland, Konstanz was not bombed by the [[Allied Forces]] during [[World War II]]. The "Altstadt" (Old Town), which is relatively big, considering the small size of modern Konstanz, has many old buildings and twisted alleys.  There is a majestic Minster ([[cathedral]]), several churches and three towers left over from the city wall, one of which marks the place of the former medieval bridge over the [[Rhine]].
-Outside the Altstadt, take a bus to Bismarcksteig and walk up the hill to Bismarcksturm (the tower at the top of the hill that can be seen from most of the town). This spot is favoured by romantic types and/or drunk people as a place to sit and watch the sun set, with a nice view over the vineyards down to the lake and town.
+A university was established close to the town in [[1966]]. It houses a top library with approximately 2 million books, all freely accessible 24 hours a day.
-Beyond this tower, further north, lies the [[university]], also accessible by bus. This sprawling establishment is some kind of weird architectural acid-trip of a building. The [[library]] itself is worth seeing (if you can get in) just for the fun of trying to get out again. [[Colditz]] escapees had it easy in comparison. It is actually the largest walk-in-library in Germany. The university has approximately 7000 students and was founded in [[1966]]. It is situated on top of a hill, between forest and meadows, overlooking the lake. There is a ten-minute walk to the halls of residence down which you can expect to have any attempt at conversation drowned out by the constant croaking of thousands of [[frog|frogs]] desperate to mate, but only in the early summer mating season.
+Konstanz was the birthplace of Count [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]], constructor of the famous [[Zeppelin]] [[airship]]s.
 The city is twinned with [[Fontainebleau]], [[France]]; [[Colwyn]], [[Wales]]; and [[London_Borough_of_Richmond_upon_Thames|Richmond-upon-Thames]], [[England]].