Where the Alps are bordered by the largest lake in Germany and the three German-speaking countries of Austria, Switzerland and Germany adjoin each other, is where our students spend an unforgettable...
Learn German in Lindau - a charming island with historical interest
Lindau is an enchanting town for a German language course: it’s small, friendly and on its own island on the shores of Lake Constance. From here it’s easy to travel into Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and explore four different countries on day trips! As a result of its location, Lindau has an amazing international atmosphere - visitors and students are made welcome and soon feel right at home.
Lindau has a long and complicated history - it was Free Imperial City within the Holy Roman Empire in 1275 and has always been a trade centre. A stagecoach service between Germany and Italy was called the Lindauer Messenger (Lindauer Bote) and today you can still travel by horse and stagecoach from Lindau to Italy - it takes two weeks!
Lindau is a perfect student town all year round. In summer it has lots of sunshine and you can sail, windsurf and row on the lake, while in winter there is local skiing and snowboarding.
Things to do in Lindau
Lindau is a wonderful place to study German - it has plenty of activities and sightseeing:
- Old Lindau is a medieval town with beautiful buildings. And just a short walk will take you to orchards, vineyards and forests.
- The magnificent Austrian and Swiss Alps are within easy travelling distance.
- One of the most popular day trips from Lindau is to Meersburg Castle, on the shores of Lake Constance, which is the oldest inhabited castle in Germany.
- The Lion Monument and Lindau Lighthouse both stand at the entrance to the harbour and are worth a visit.
- Lindau has always been known as a health resort and today it has a Salt Cave (Salzgrotte) where - it is claimed - the special salt blocks dissolve into the warm, moist air, and this ionised atmosphere helps heal bronchitis, asthma, eczema and sleep problems. Maybe it helps with learning a second language too!
Tips for student life in Lindau
Lindau’s architecture is one of the major tourist attractions of the town. There are many cobblestoned streets to walk along, and green plaques to indicate the most historic houses.
For a really fun day out, you can tour the many fountains of Lindau, including the Narren Brunnen (Fool’s Fountain) in Lower Schrannenplatz, the Neptune Fountain in the marketplace and the Lindavia Fountain outside the ancient Town Hall - Lindavia is said to be the guardian of Lindau. The Stadt Museum has a fountain of Melusina in its courtyard, and there are abstract ceramic drinking fountains all around the town, as well as modern square fountains in Maximilianstrasse. You could spend all day photographing fountains in this pretty town!