Meersburg

Town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Meersburg

Town

Coat of arms

Location of Meersburg within Bodenseekreis district

Meersburg

Show map of Germany

Meersburg

Show map of Baden-Württemberg

Coordinates: 47°42′N 9°16′E﻿ / ﻿47.700°N 9.267°E﻿ / 47.700; 9.267
Country| Germany
State| Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region| Tübingen
District| Bodenseekreis
Municipal assoc.| Meersburg
Government

• Mayor (2017-25) | Robert Scherer[1]
Area

• Total

| 12.07 km2 (4.66 sq mi)
Elevation

| 444 m (1,457 ft)
Population

(2023-12-31)[2]

• Total

| 5,929
• Density| 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes|

88709

Dialling codes| 07532
Vehicle registration| FN / ÜB
Website| www.meersburg.de

Meersburg (German pronunciation: [ˈmeːɐ̯sˌbʊʁk] ⓘ) is a town in Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany. It is on Lake Constance.

Vineyards, Meersburg, Lake Constance and Alps Meersburg 2010

It is known for its medieval city. The lower town ("Unterstadt") and upper town ("Oberstadt") are reserved for pedestrians only, and connected by two stairways and a steep street ("Steigstrasse").

## History

[edit]

The name of the town means "Castle on the Sea", referring to a castle which, according to a tradition from 1548, was built here in 630 by the Merovingian king Dagobert I.

The commune obtained the status of free city in 1299, though nominally still under the Bishop of Constance. In 1803 it was annexed to the Electorate of Baden.

After World War II, Meersburg was in the French military occupation area in Germany.

## Main sights

[edit]

The town is home to two castles, the Old Castle and the New Castle. The Old Castle, built by Merovingian King Dagobert I in the seventh century, is one of the oldest surviving castles in Germany. It is in private ownership. A self-guided tour is available. German poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff lived there for eight years and purchased the Prince's House. The New Castle was built in the eighteenth century. Originally the residence of the bishop of Constance, it was used for various purposes after the Secularization of 1803. It is now a museum. There is also an expanse of half-timbered houses, and two medieval town gates, which are the remains of the fortification.

## Transport

[edit]

Meersburg is the northern terminus of a car ferry service to Constance. On the opposite side Meersburg is connected to the region by the B 31, a major road that leads from Breisach (on the French border) to Lindau (on the Austrian border), largely bypassing all parts of Meersburg. To exit to Meersburg and to get to the car ferry, one takes B 33 to Meersburg and Constance.

Meersburg is also reachable by pleasure boat services from Lake Constance to Überlingen (to the west), to Lindau, Bregenz (to the east) and to Constance opposite.

## Famous people

[edit]

Fürstenhäusle, property of poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff

One of Germany's most celebrated poets, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, lived her final years at Meersburg Castle, from 1841–1848. She also owned the small vine-covered villa known as Fürstenhäusle.[3]

The famous eighteenth-century doctor Franz Anton Mesmer (from whose name the verb "to mesmerize" derives) died in 1815 in Meersburg and is buried near the old wall of the graveyard about 0.5 kilometres (0.3 miles) northeast of the upper town-gate "Obertor" (see picture beneath).

### others

[edit]

* Stefan Lochner (c.1410–1451) German painter working in the late "soft style" of the International Gothic.
* Hugo von Hohenlandenberg (c.1457–1532 in Meersburg) Bishop of Konstanz.
* Hieronymus Harder (1523–1607) German botanist and teacher of Latin.
* Baron Joseph Maria Christoph von Lassberg (1770–1855) German antiquary, lived at Meersburg Castle from 1838.
* Friedrich August Walchner (1799–1865) German geologist, chemist and mineralogist.
* Levin Schücking (1814–1883) German novelist, lived at Meersburg Castle 1841/1843.
* Robert Eberle (1815–1862), German animal painter
* Fritz Mauthner (1849–1923 in Meersburg) Austro-Hungarian novelist, theatre critic, satirist, and exponent of philosophical skepticism.
* Markus Baur (born 1971) former German handball player now turned trainer

## Viticulture

[edit]

The Meersburg vineyards at the northern banks of Lake Constance are famous within Germany. The rosée "Weissherbst" wine is a specialty of the region.

## International relations

[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Meersburg is twinned with:

Meersburg, Germany, Bundesstraße 33, Dr.-Moll-Platz: Sign with the twin-towns of Meersburg

* Hohnstein, Saxony, Germany – since 1991
* Louveciennes, France – since 1991
* San Gimignano, Italy – since 2002

## Gallery

[edit]

* Old castle of Meersburg

* Half-timbered water mill, now private house near the Altes Schloss, Meersburg

* City gate

* Gravestone of Franz Anton Mesmer in Meersburg

* View of the centre of the upper town

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse, Staatsanzeiger, accessed 11 September 2021.
2. ^ "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2023 (Fortschreibung auf Basis des Zensus 2022)" [Population by nationality and sex as of December 31, 2023 (updated based on the 2022 census)] (CSV) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg.
3. ^ Homepage of the Droste-Museum

4\. New Mayor

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meersburg.

* The official Meersburg homepage
* Meersburg-Webcam: 2 livecams show the historical marketplace
* guidebook Meersburg (in German)
* Meersburg: Pictures

* v
* t
* e

Towns and municipalities in Bodensee (district)

* Bermatingen
* Daisendorf
* Deggenhausertal
* Eriskirch
* Frickingen
* Friedrichshafen
* Hagnau am Bodensee
* Heiligenberg
* Immenstaad am Bodensee
* Kressbronn am Bodensee
* Langenargen
* Markdorf
* Meckenbeuren
* Meersburg
* Neukirch
* Oberteuringen
* Owingen
* Salem
* Sipplingen
* Stetten
* Tettnang
* Überlingen
* Uhldingen-Mühlhofen

Coat of arms

* v
* t
* e

Lake Constance (Bodensee)

* Austria
* Vorarlberg
* Bregenz
* Germany
* Baden-Württemberg
* Bodenseekreis
* Konstanz
* Bavaria
* Lindau
* Switzerland
* Appenzell Ausserrhoden
* Schaffhausen
* St. Gallen
* Rorschach
* Thurgau
* Arbon
* Frauenfeld
* Kreuzlingen

Settlements|

| Austria|

* Bregenz
* Hard
* Höchst
* Hörbranz
* Fussach
* Gaissau
* Lochau

|

Germany|

* Allensbach
* Bodman-Ludwigshafen
* Eriskirch
* Friedrichshafen
* Gaienhofen
* Hagnau
* Immenstaad
* Konstanz
* Dingelsdorf
* Litzelstetten
* Paradies
* Petershausen
* Wallhausen
* Kressbronn
* Langenargen
* Lindau
* Meersburg
* Moos
* Nonnenhorn
* Öhningen
* Radolfzell
* Reichenau
* Sipplingen
* Stetten
* Überlingen
* Hödingen
* Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
* Unteruhldingen
* Wasserburg

Switzerland|

* Altnau
* Arbon
* Berlingen
* Bottighofen
* Egnach
* Ermatingen
* Triboltingen
* Eschenz
* Frasnacht
* Goldach
* Gottlieben
* Güttingen
* Heiden
* Horn
* Kesswil
* Kreuzlingen
* Lutzenberg
* Mammern
* Münsterlingen
* Romanshorn
* Rorschach
* Rorschacherberg
* Salmsach
* Salenstein
* Steinach
* Steckborn
* Stein am Rhein
* Tägerwilen
* Tägermoos
* Thal
* Uttwil
* Walzenhausen
* Wolfhalden

Islands|

* Bodanrück Peninsula
* Dominicans Island
* Entlibühl
* Galgeninsel
* Hoy
* Liebesinsel
* Lindau
* Mainau
* Mettnau Peninsula
* Reichenau
* Triboldingerbohl
* Vogelinsel
* Werd

Rivers|

* Aach
* Argen
* Bregenzer Ach
* Brunnisach
* Dornbirner Ach
* Leiblach
* Lipbach
* Radolfzeller Aach
* Rhine
* Alpine Rhine
* Alter Rhein
* High Rhine
* Seerhein
* Rotach
* Schussen
* Seefelder Aach
* Stockacher Aach

Valleys|

* Marien Gorge
* Spetzgarter Gorge

Mountains|

* Allgäu Alps
* Pfänder
* Appenzell Alps
* Bregenz Forest Mountains
* Hegau
* Hohenkrähen
* Hohenstoffeln
* Hohentwiel
* Schiener Berg
* Seerücken

Landmarks|

* Obersee
* Bay of Bregenz
* Constance Hopper
* Überlinger See
* Rhine Delta
* Untersee
* Gnadensee
* Markelfinger Winkel
* Rheinsee
* Wollmatinger Ried
* Zeller See

| Buildings|

* Alt Dettingen Castle
* Arbon Castle
* Arenenberg Castle
* Bernegg Castle
* Castell Castle
* Eugensberg Castle
* Freudenfels Castle
* Gottlieben Castle
* Heiligenberg Castle
* Henry Dunant Museum
* Hohenfels Castle
* Hohenklingen Castle
* Hohentwiel Castle
* Konstanz Minster
* Kreuzlingen Abbey
* Lindau Lighthouse
* Louisenberg Castle
* Mammern Castle
* Meersburg Castle
* New Castle (Meersburg)
* Petershausen Abbey
* Reichenau Abbey
* Roman Theatre (Bregenz)
* Seeburg Castle
* Wettingen-Mehrerau Abbey

|

Touristic|

* Bregenzer Festspiele
* Pile Dwellings Museum
* Sea Life (Konstanz)
* Zeppelin Museum

Transportation|

* Altenrhein Airport
* Friedrichshafen Airport
* Pfänderbahn
* Train Ferries
* URh Navigation Company

Railway

* Bodensee–Toggenburg Railway
* Gürtelbahn
* International Rhine Regulation Railway
* Rheineck–Walzenhausen Mountain Railway
* Rorschach–Heiden Railway
* Seehas
* SWEG
* Thurbo

| Chur–Rorschach|

* S2
* S4
* S5
* S7

|

Friedrichshafen–Lindau|

* RB 93

High Rhine Line|

* S6
* RE 2

Lake Line|

* S1
* S7
* S14
* S44
* RE1

Radolfzell–Mengen|

* RB 31
* S 61
* RE 3

Stahringen–Friedrichshafen|

* RB 31
* RE 3

St. Margrethen–Lauterach|

* S3
* S7
* R5

Vorarlberg Line|

* S1
* S3
* S7

S-Bahn|

* Bodensee
* St. Gallen
* Vorarlberg

Stations|

* Allensbach
* Altnau
* Arbon
* Arbon Seemoosriet
* Berlingen
* Bermatingen-Ahausen
* Bottighofen
* Bregenz
* Bregenz Hafen
* Bregenz Riedenburg
* Egnach
* Enzisweiler
* Eriskirch
* Ermatingen
* Eschenz
* Friedrichshafen Stadt
* Friedrichshafen-Fischbach
* Friedrichshafen Hafen
* Friedrichshafen Kluftern
* Friedrichshafen Landratsamt
* Friedrichshafen-Manzell
* Friedrichshafen Ost
* Güttingen
* Hard-Fussach
* Hegne
* Heiden
* Horn
* Kesswil
* Kreuzlingen
* Kreuzlingen Hafen
* Konstanz
* Konstanz-Fürstenberg
* Konstanz-Petershausen
* Konstanz-Wollmatingen
* Kressbronn
* Kurzrickenbach Seepark
* Landschlacht
* Langenargen
* Lauterach Unterfeld
* Lindau-Aeschach
* Lindau-Insel
* Lindau-Reutin
* Lochau-Hörbranz
* Ludwigshafen (Bodensee)
* Lustenau
* Mammern
* Mannenbach-Salenstein
* Markdorf (Baden)
* Markelfingen
* Münsterlingen-Scherzingen
* Münsterlingen Spital
* Nonnenhorn
* Nussdorf
* Radolfzell
* Reichenau (Baden)
* Rheineck
* Rorschach
* Rorschach Hafen
* Romanshorn
* Ruderbach
* Salem (Baden)
* Sandbüchel
* Schwendi bei Heiden
* Seebleiche
* Sipplingen
* Staad
* Stahringen
* Steckborn
* Stein am Rhein
* Steinach
* St. Margrethen
* Tägerwilen-Gottlieben
* Triboltingen
* Überlingen
* Überlingen Therme
* Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
* Uttwil
* Walzenhausen
* Wartensee
* Wasserburg
* Wienacht-Tobel

Wines|

* Baden

Films|

* Jezioro Bodeńskie

People|

* Henry Dunant
* Ferdinand von Zeppelin

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
* Yale LUX

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