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***image1***The Isle of Mainau, which is the most famous and most visited tourist attraction in the international area of Lake Constance (which shares borders with Germany, Switzerland and Austria), has a rich and far-reaching history that dates back to around 3000 B.C.
Today, Mainau offers a breathtaking array of natural exhibitions – trees, flowers, butterflies and more – that make it well worth a visit.
Trees
Being a tree lover (and even sometimes a tree hugger) since I was a kid, I jumped at the chance to visit the Isle of Mainau. I was amazed to discover that there are over 500 different kinds of conifers and deciduous trees on the island, in addition to more than 280 species of rhododendrons, including Magnolia, Gingko, Palm and Dove trees.
***image2***But here’s the most unbelievable tidbit: who would have thought there were giant Sequoias growing on an island in the middle of a lake?
Roses
There are 9,000 rosebushes and over 400 varieties in the Italian Rose Garden alone. What I found to be especially helpful was that all of the plants are labeled.
There is also a Rose Information Garden with over 400 varieties and the Rose Walk which is full of wild and bush roses.
Dahlias
Mainau is open year round. My favorite time to visit Mainau is in the fall when the leaves begin to change and over 20,000 dahlias are in bloom.
If you love dahlias then the dahlia show (each September) is a must-see. As you walk through the big (more than 2,000 square meters) Dahlia Garden be sure to have a pen and paper to record possibilities for your own garden next year.
***image3***The Butterfly House
Worried the kids won’t have enough to hold their interest? Don’t despair. Germany’s biggest butterfly house contains over 1,000 freely fluttering butterflies. As you walk through the humid, jungle-like world, you are surrounded by waterfalls, fragrant tropical flowers and dainty, graceful butterflies.
If you’re lucky, you might see a few butterflies emerge from their cocoons.
For more information, visit the island’s Web site at www.mainau.de.
***image4***Useful information:
The Isle of Mainau is open all year. About 1.6 million people visit the subtropical island each year. Duchess Sonja Bernadotte and her family are managing the park in an environmentally friendly way.
Prices and hours: Until Oct. 22, doors open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park closes at sunset. Tickets cost €11.90 for adults and €3.90 for children, 6 to 15 years old. Family tickets cost €23.90.
Sunset tickets, which allow entrance to the park at 4 p.m., cost half the price. After 7 p.m., admission is free.
From Oct. 23 to March 22, 2007, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost €6. Children, 6 to 15 years old, are free.
From March 23 to Oct. 21, doors open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park closes at sunset. Adults pay €12.90 and children, 3 to 15, pay €3.90. The family ticket costs €25.90.
***image5***Also, season tickets, group tickets and senior citizen tickets are available. For details, visit www.mainau.de or call 07531-3030.
The island can be reached by car or by ship. Coming from north by car, travel on B33 to Konstanz, then follow the signs to Mainau.
Ships can be boarded in different towns (Konstanz, Überlingen, Meersburg, Unteruhldingen, etc.)
Lake Constance (Bodensee) is Germany’s biggest inland lake. Its water surface is 571 square kilometers. Its average depth is 80 meters; the deepest point is 254 meters. It’s up to 63 kilometers long and 14 km at its widest point. The lake borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
