Bodensee: Outdoor erleben, stille Ufer entdecken | Wunderschön | ARD Reisen

Bodensee: Outdoor erleben, stille Ufer entdecken | Wunderschön | ARD Reisen

Come with us, we’re off to Lake Constance. We’re traveling from the Rhine to Lake Constance, where Germany, Austria, and Switzerland meet. Look forward to exciting water worlds and impressive mountain landscapes. Plus, plenty of adventure. Whether it’s peace and quiet, solitude, experiencing nature, or trendy sports action on the water, Lake Constance has so much to offer. We’ll meet people who were born on Lake Constance and want to know what makes the region such a great place to live. And there it is: Lake Constance. Let the journey of discovery begin. Come with us to one of the largest lakes in Central Europe. It’s also affectionately called the Swabian Sea. Lake Constance is located in the far south of Germany. We’ll also travel to Austria and Switzerland. We’ll experience exhilarating mountain hikes, adrenaline rushes on the lake, and meet a TV star in Überlingen . Our first destination: the Reinelta, between Switzerland and Austria. The estuary, a huge nature reserve. A breeding and resting place for over 300 bird species. Here it flows into Lake Constance. A mysterious primeval landscape with floodplain forests, reed belts, small islands and tributaries. There are traces of beavers there. The beavers gnawed at them. Yes, they were busy there. There have been beacons in Foradelberg again since 2006. Before that they were extinct and now the populations are actually relatively stable. It feels very comfortable, especially down there in the nature conservation area. There it can work and enjoy its everyday life without being disturbed. And the good thing about it is that it is an important part of this floodplain forest ecosystem. So the builder down there, so to speak, mainly cares for these willow trees, which then grow back very quickly. The Reheindelta is the ecological heart of Lake Constance. Wilderness, protected area and gently experiencing nature all in one. There I see the light grey branches. Oh, back there. Yes, exactly. This is the castle, and the entrance is underground so that it’s well protected and no predators, like foxes, dogs, or other intruders, can get into the den. I’ve never seen that before. Yes, but you also have to know that the sign says “no entry” otherwise you wouldn’t notice it at all, right? That’s a good thing. Yes. Cycling is allowed here. Many visitors use the delta as a break in nature, away from the busy beaches. We continue on foot. Lukas leads us right into the heart of the delta. An exciting place to observe flora and fauna. Excuse me. Hello. May I ask you what you photograph here? We photograph basically everything that comes into our lens. Rea and the common buzzard, kites, small birds, anything that comes along. We’re beginners; we’ve been doing this for two years, and we go out for about two to three hours of photography every day. What do you enjoy most about photography? Getting the perfect picture, or simply the experience of being together as friends in nature? The experience. The experience. So, actually both. Yes, you look more closely. I think it’s great that you ‘ve taken up a whole new hobby. Do you really lie down in the bushes? Do you hide, or how should I imagine it? No, we won’t do that. We won’t even be able to get up there afterwards. A beautiful landscape and, at the same time, a sensitive protected area. Anyone hiking here should not leave the marked, sometimes adventurous, paths. Rare birds breed in the reed beds. Motorbikes are taboo. No littering, no loud noises, no drones. That applies to us too. I find it so fascinating how many different animals, plants and living creatures there are, but also the ecosystems and landscapes here, and all in such a small area, that you can experience and see completely different things in a very short time. And of course, that’s also something you can convey to people, and often show them the little things along the way that we often walk past without consciously noticing them, but when you have knowledge about them, you see things with completely different eyes. And what influence does Lake Constance have on nature here? A big one, of course. We’re right next to Lake Constance. The transition from the Rhine In Lake Constance. This large body of water. In winter it’s much warmer than the rest of the region. That really stores the heat. What’s it called exactly? Yes, you can imagine it a bit like that. And of course that also affects the environment there. So in spring the growing season starts earlier, so the plants bloom earlier. We already have it there, you can almost feel a bit of a Mediterranean feeling today. 32° or so is it today? You could roughly call it Mediterranean. From the Rhine delta we head to the Swiss side to Kreuzlingen. For many, Lake Constance is the ideal water sports paradise. Shallow water, mostly without strait currents, plus wind from the Alps, also ideal for surfers and sailors. We meet a family business right on the lake. A real contrast. There’s no such thing as quiet here. Wake surfing, the trendy sport on the water. Maybe I’ll just give it a try. Hello. Cool. You’re a real family business, right? That’s true. Everyone’s involved. Father, son, Gabi. How do you do it as a family? You all have to work in the summer when it’s at its best and are busy all day, right? Markus makes the waves, I do the show and Gabi watches to see if they don’t sink. It’s a good division. Yes, with wakeboarding you are firmly attached to the board. Today Andi will show us the free version: wake surfing without bindings, completely free on the board. What is he doing now? He’s not connected to it anymore, right? He’s now riding ripping waves. Oh, so you’re producing the wave for A. Now I understand it, but that was all about speed, of course. When you ride, the wave is smaller. When I ride, I’ll never get on a wave like that. Totally forgot. No, you have to do it, Judi, you can do it. I know that. Yes, great. Attention, another new episode in the series and unfortunately she doesn’t make it. Riding a wave without a rope looks really easy for the pros. To the gas and to the braking back foot and then you just ride down the wave as you go. It looks so easy when you do that. I should be able to let myself be pulled a little bit on the leash. Nothing. But his realistic step. Yes, great and yes, okay. I’ll try it now. So, I will, I don’t think I can do it, but I’ll try. Try. Yes, try. So, now it’s serious. Now we’re going into the water. This is the worst, this cold water. There, exactly. Exactly. She’s coming again. Dude, at least. I don’t know, I think there’s a cold spot here right now. Now I’m going to give you the bed like this. Yes, sir. Come on. Come on. Yes, sir. Yes, but mind. The closer you can sit on the board, the more you have, the center of gravity is low. God, the. Yes. Okay, now push down. Yes, sir. Up. It’s good, it’s good. How bitter. It’s good, it’s good. Hand is good. Yeah, wow. Super, super. That was good. Everything was done right. Okay. What can I do better? The important thing is that you then have the feeling that you have to do something, but you just have to wait patiently until the buoyancy is there. Okay, just hold the position. Do it once, just once. Yes. Yes, definitely again. Okay. Okay. Now go down like this and now up. Hop. Hop. Yes, sir. Slowly up. Slowly up. Slowly up. I say awesome and I say awesome. Awesome. I say awesome. Exactly . I’m so happy for you. Jui. And I’m telling you, the conditions are pretty difficult today . Yes. Yes. I’m so glad I tried it. I was really hesitant and I needed a light pressure. But now I have one more experience. I can really only recommend giving it a try. Really, it’s great. That’s what makes Lake Constance so special. Those hungry for adventure and those seeking peace and quiet will get their money’s worth. Lake Constance is almost 550 km across. Water as far as the eye can see. What you wouldn’t expect on such a calm, sunny day is that this vast expanse of water also has its pitfalls. Strong downdrafts, winds that suddenly shift. Things can quickly become dangerous on the lake. Those who travel here experience both the freedom and the power of nature. Oops. H doesn’t look good. No, turned early. And is the boat broken now? There must be something wrong with that boat. Yes. Oh no. Yes, that sounded like something was going on at the back. They crashed into it quite badly. Unfortunately the docks are stable. The boat isn’t. Who’s to blame? Clearly the skipper’s. Yes, yes, yes, yes, of course. Not the harbor wall. No, it’s always been there. Tell me, I can tell you’re not from around here. That ‘s a Berlin accent, isn’t it? Yes, of course. I’m right from the middle of Berlin. Exactly. I grew up there . How long have you lived here? 1999. 26 years now? Oh, and why do you live here and not in Berlin? Look there. Yes, nice. It’s nice here. Are there other reasons? No, Berlin got too loud for me and I had more options here. Switzerland, Freiburg, France aren’t that far away. You have big cities nearby and you have so much nature. Can you imagine going back to Berlin? No. No. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. We’re staying in Kreuzlingen on the Swiss side. Don’t worry, I won’t be arrested here. The handcuffs stay in my pocket. Behind the fence is a direct path to the Kreuzlingen water police patrol boat. What makes the work of the water police so special? Where do the dangers lurk between leisure fun and water sports? And what should vacationers avoid? That’s exactly what we want to find out. What’s the relationship like between vacationers, guests, vacationers, and locals here on the lake? I’d say the majority are people from the region who are out on the lake, and they probably know the rules, right? That would be nice. That would be nice. What do most people do wrong? Very often it’s about people simply not checking the weather or not believing what the weather forecast says, that a bad thunderstorm is coming and they think, it’s not so bad and then the bad thunderstorm comes and then yes, then the emergency services start. When you look at the lake, you think everything is so peaceful. It’s like a big bathtub, right? But I’ve read that there are really serious accidents here and even fatalities, right? There are dangerous situations, weather, storms, currents, especially in the rivers or something like that. And of course, if you want to push yourself to the limit and be on the lake in a storm, then there’s a certain risk that something might happen. Today it’s sunny and the lake is full of water sports enthusiasts. Marcel and Richard have to keep an eye on the situation. We saw a rubber dinghy up front and said we wanted to go and check it out. We saw a few people swimming and doing water sports. Uh oh, they’re thinking, crap, the police are coming. Young man, please, Durgau police . His name is Kuhen. We’d like to do a quick check. Yes. Yes, of course. Can I go up for a bit or what? Sweet. Yes, sir. More guidance is still great. We need one suitable life jacket per person on the boat, and that’s six people, so six life jackets, and that’s fine. 46 fits. Fits. That’s fine. I know exactly how they feel now. General traffic check, vehicle registration, driver’s license, first aid kit, everything is being checked, right? It’s all relaxed. We know we have everything we need. We’ll make sure we follow all the rules. So from that point of view, it’s not really a problem. Where are you from? From Kling, oh, you’re locals here? Yes. Yes, I’m just jumping in German. Oh, you’re dragging him along in the Wem costume. Oh dear. Is it still okay back there? It’s still okay. Yes, but it’s getting a bit cold. Oh yes, that one. Why did you check these guys in particular? That’s just police instinct, I tell him. So, guys, wakeboarding costumes on, there are lots of people on the boat. Look , are the rescue vehicles here? Do they all have a license? Is it a small party boat where a lot of alcohol is consumed? Things like that. Yes, I think they reacted surprisingly calmly. It’s rare that someone doesn’t react calmly. Very rare. You haven’t checked me yet. We’ll calm you down too. We’ll get you out of hysterical. Can I wear a costume like that too, then it’s like, wow. He can do it, but I keep asking myself, we have three countries here, right? Germany, Austria, Switzerland, if you walk around Lake Constance. Where do the borders run in the water? We’re in Germany right now. This is Germany. Exactly. Exactly. We’re in Germany now. Do you have any say here at all? We’re allowed to hold someone’s name here and so on, but then we’ll call our German colleagues over and they would carry out the official act. Lake Constance is very special in terms of borders, because on most of Lake Constance there is no border. There isn’t one. None of our predecessors ever said that this is the border. The water does not belong to the Swiss. Here from Schlanzer Trichter See in, Lower Part, what comes down below and here there is a border that is set. The Swiss water police inspect boats, check driving licenses and ensure that the rules are followed. And if an accident happens or a storm suddenly comes up, they’re the first to go out and help. Marcel and Richard already have something in their sights. In the middle of the day, the police are calling Durga Kis with their name. They can get in there quickly, put the rudder down quickly. Rich, they’re looking just like I would. Slightly annoyed. Yes. And they already know they’ve got us. Mhm. What’s the mistake? That they have to write their name, address and phone number on the boards. No, I really didn’t know that either. G. I didn’t know that either. God. Yes, I would go straight to jail. So now it’s time to press it quietly and quickly, I often find things. Okay, good, then we can go again. The boards sometimes get blown away and nobody knows who they belong to. That’s why the name and address are on them. I wouldn’t have known that either. Do n’t they have to pay a fine now? We’ll just leave them on it. No, it’s more important to us that the thing is labeled now. Okay, I think it’s nice that they’re not getting a fine now. Yes, thank you very much. Do you also check ID cards? Um, if we have the feeling that something is wrong, we do that. Yes, then we also run them through the system and find out if someone is wanted or something. So, let’s not assume that at the moment. Look, that’s also what I’m learning a lot at the moment. Yes, what you have to pay attention to when you see the ground. I wouldn’t have my ID with me either if I went onto a sub in my bathing suit, but you’ll understand, of course. Yes. Yes, fine. Yes, so I hope you have a nice day. Have a nice day, thank you. Have fun. Thank you very much. If you want to find out what is and isn’t allowed on the lake, you can find everything you need to know online from the water police in the three countries or directly at the harbors and boat rental stations. Now off to Austria in the nearby mountains, more precisely into one of the largest gorges in Central Europe. Only 12 km from Lake Constance. The entrance to the gorge is located near Dornbirn in the so-called Gütle. It was here that Emperor Franz Josef ceremoniously inaugurated Austria-Hungary’s first telephone connection in August 1881. The emperor stopped at the Gütler Inn to enjoy his favorite dish: clear beef soup, boiled beef with boiled potatoes and vegetables. He also served it with champagne. The bottle is still in the inn’s Imperial Room today. There’s no time to rest here for us. We’ve arranged to meet again with the nature guide Lukas Renhofer. The biologist was born in Vorarlberg and has remained loyal to his homeland to this day. Notice how the water flows. What fun to swim in. Here, the Dornbirn Ach rushes through the Rappenloch Gorge before finally flowing into Lake Constance. A popular local recreation area. What kind of weather do you enjoy hiking in most? Like now, not as hot as it is now, but of course sunny, so a bit cooler. Um, but sunshine is always more pleasant, of course, like when it’s pouring. How does the gorge change over the seasons? It’s closed to the wind. So that’s certainly exciting, because there’s relatively little going on. And in spring, no. Oh, no, exactly. And only in spring, from mid-April onwards, depending on the snow conditions and how the paths are being repaired, because they have to be inspected regularly to make sure nothing gets damaged. And it has beautiful waterfalls too. Yes, it is now, as it is today, of course artificial, thanks to the dam that was built there. The water further down was used to generate energy for the textile industry. At the end of the 19th century there was a relatively large textile factory in Bütle. The electricity was then used for the first street lamps in Dormb, and so the Rappenloch Gorge is actually a very important part of Darmberg’s history. From the Rappenloch Gorge over the dam to the Alploch Gorge and back again, it takes about two to two and a half hours, depending on your pace. Perfect for a little break from the lake. They’re such soft fairy tales. Um, very soft rock. Can I try to break it up? The stone is almost like wood. Does it feel like that? Exactly. It’s very soft. We’re in an intermediate zone geologically, between this soft limestone and the hard limestone. Mhm. Which we’ll see again later in the Albloch. In the Rappenloch and in the Albloch we have these hard limestone walls. The river simply ate its way through the softer rock, which was easier to get through, and the hard rock walls remained standing. That’s how the gorge was formed. After the Ice Age, I can break the stone. Exactly, if you’re strong enough. Oh yes, a bit of a show-off pose here. A lot of strength in my hands, because my father is a physiotherapist, of course. And then we go into the Alploch. We’re excited to see what awaits us. That’s beautiful, but yes. The water pouring out. The crystal-clear water down there, jumping in again. You can really see all the way to the bottom, right? And the way the light shines through there. Super beautiful on the moss. It looks like a film set, as if you had filmed Herder Rings. I can imagine it there well. Yes. Up ahead we can see it now, in contrast to before with the soft marl. We now have these stable limestone walls throughout the entire gorge. Up ahead you can still see very clearly how they have been folded vertically, and at the top we still have these horizontal layers. I am really in awe when I stand here in there. Yes. And how cute, or everywhere, little trees are growing out of the rock. You would think out of nowhere, but of course nature gets its nutrients from the tiniest cracks; there is water everywhere and moss is growing on it. A bit of soil is formed, where perhaps a tree seed can develop, and then the trees grow out of the middle of the wall, and nature is impressive there. Yes. Oh, look, we have something else beautiful. A hart’s tongue moss, which is typical of this gorge vegetation. Um, the flag, there are many different, very old plants in evolution. They don’t have flowers, but they reproduce via seed capsules, which are then spread by the wind when the capsules open, and then the seeds are scattered and that’s how the plant reproduces. Lukas really knows a thing or two about this. Now he’s showing us his local mountain, the Brügelekopf. From there you’re supposed to have a fantastic panoramic view of the mountains of the Bregenz Forest, Lake Constance, Switzerland and the Allgäu. A great end to our hiking tour. Oh, wonderful. Look at that. Wow, that’s a view. Spectacular. The light is reflecting, isn’t it? Completely golden in Lake Constance. Great. How do you feel when you’re standing up here? Ah, this may be cheesy, but it’s so home. So, it really is the H. Nice. Yes. J, press it. Yes, press it, press it. Yes, that’s the music trail from Brückele. The Köre in the village play different songs, so there are various stations where you can take a short break on the way up, listen to another song, and then continue on. That’s great. Four And thank you. That was great. You’re welcome. Oh, fantastic. From you, you and the family from Vorarlberg, we continue to the German side to Überling. A fast-paced adventure awaits us there. But first, to the island town of Lindau. We meet a woman who was also born on Lake Constance and who passionately keeps a historical legacy alive. Her hotel has been family-owned since 1772. A place full of peace and history. The Hotel Badchachen, a traditional hotel with illustrious guests. Helmut Kohl and François Meteron met here and discussed the future of Europe. And pop legend Rod Stewart enjoyed a short break by the lake here. Claudia Schilin is the eighth generation to run the hotel. The salon. You know every nook and cranny here, don’t you? Yes, I know every nook and cranny here. Yes, we always said it’s a bit like our extended living room, and it’s very close to my heart, my home, practically my second home. Yes. Did you come here as children, then as a sister, zipping through the guests, or what? Yes, definitely. As a child, I was pretty cheeky. There’s a story. I was at the breakfast buffet back then and I took out every roll and looked at it, and then a regular customer spoke to me. ‘Hey, you’re not allowed to touch every roll.’ I said, ‘I can, I’m the junior boss.’ How old were you then? Five or so. So really still the junior boss. Yes, exactly. It was clear to me from the start that it would become mine one day. It’s also a responsibility, family-owned since 1872, 1752, 3rd season now. Yes. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the house was expanded and modernized several times. But it has retained its charm as a grand hotel to this day. This is the oldest guest room in the hotel. It was built in 1874, and this room is original, just as it was before. And if you look here in this bay window, you can see all my ancestors, you can see a bit of the history. 1752 and there are many Roberts. Robert was also my dad. Mhm. And then on the other side you have Isolde, née Riedle. That’s my mom. And she was the first woman to run the hotel. Actually. According to your father’s photo. Exactly. She took over management in 2006 and then decided to continue running the hotel until I arrived. And I took over from her last year. It’s so beautiful, isn’t it? It’s like an old boarding school. I have to introduce you to him. This is Meno, our longest-serving employee. You’ve been with us for 42 years, right? Imenso is the heart of the hotel. What do you like about this hotel? What’s special for you? Everything. Everything. Oh, off you go. The hotel’s own pier is ideal. Here, guests can rent submarines, rowing boats, or motorboats. Here you can enjoy your lake view in complete privacy today. Who else was here with you? Who do you remember? When I was little – I don’t remember, but I know from a story – I sat on Rod Stuart’s arm and adored him and said, ‘Are you Hot Stuart?’ Hot Stuart. Exactly. He liked that, didn’t he? Exactly. The lido belongs to the hotel, but is open to everyone . An architectural gem from the Art Nouveau period, built in 1924. Back then, it was the first bathing establishment on Lake Constance where men and women were allowed to swim together. Revolutionary, a scandal for some, a dawn of modernity for others. And here on the big meadow, I think it was in the early 1990s, something pretty spectacular happened. Helmut Kohl landed with François Mitteron by helicopter , and I was probably 10 or 12 years old. I spent the whole morning practicing that phrase. ‘Bonjour, Monsieur le President.’ I really wanted to greet the meter personally as the hotel manager’s daughter, and then he ignored me at all. It was a little sad, but you stood there and kept saying that sentence, and it just passed you by. Yes. Yes, but it was still spectacular. Imagine, a helicopter coming down here and then all the leaves swirling around, and then the two Gentlemen, look, and the Zeppelin flies over here several times a day. Yes. You can take the boat over to lively Lindau. The trip takes barely 10 minutes. Your hotel is beautiful, isn’t it? From your perspective, from red. It’s just completely different. Yes. In summer, the small island town fills with life. The alleys are busy, cafés and ice cream parlors are busy. If you want a quieter experience in Lindau, you’re better off coming in spring or autumn. So, when you walk through Lindau, you really have to keep lifting your head and look at the curves up there and these extensions and all the roof terraces. There’s a lot to see. Here you have all these small, individual shops. You can just take a look everywhere and browse and admire the little interiors. It really is very idyllic. And I think these old alleys have something special. They’re very sweet. You would also like this color, this one, this one, or the red. I would have always chosen blue. Yes. Yes. Good. But you know, it’s a bit brighter here for the summer, I think it’s nice too. Yes. Yes, take it with you. Yes, I think so. I’ll really just walk through here very quickly. This is my favorite bookstore. You can have a nice coffee here, browse a bit. Shall we go in? It’s so cute in there. It’s really beautiful here in winter too. Then you can have your hot soup here and warm yourself up a bit and then stroll on through the city. Absolutely beautiful. I love it. We’re staying on the German side and now things are about to get fast-paced again. A real TV star is expecting us for a very special tour. Mark Keller, actor, dancer, singer and yes, he was also born here on Lake Constance. Hello, nice to have you here. It’s great. Son Joshua is with us. He’s taking a different path than his father and is a real estate agent. He’s the one who’s always late. Yes, I heard about Joshua. There are 30 of us waiting for you. Yes, how can that be? Trouble, and here he finally arrives, Aaron, the older of the two sons. He’s an actor like Dad. I wasn’t too late. First you, then the same with you. Mark Keller, known from Alarm für Cobra 11 and The Mountain Doctor, has recently enjoyed success with his two sons as Los Kelleros. No matter what happens. I’m ready. And today he’s showing us the region at speed in small mini racers along Lake Constance. They’re called hot rods, can do up to 85 kilometers per hour, and can be rented here. A wonderful good morning, my friends. I hope you’re all doing well. The Keller family’s social media engagement is amazing. Take a look at the great things we’re about to drive here. Dad is wearing yellow today. The Hornet is a spectator car and has now been chosen. We’re great. Thank you. You can go. They’re like little soapboxes with engines , but real eye-catchers. The hot rods are street legal. Judit photo and of course another photo. Off we go on this wild ride. เฮ There are no turn signals here. A quick stop with a view of the lake. The question of whether I can get out again. Wait. At least not when you have to laugh. Oh, this is fun. What is your secret that you are still so close, father and sons? I can’t really tell you that either. I say the whole thing together, boys, leave me alone. Just leave me alone, give me a day of peace. If they’re standing again, throw them out at the front, if they’re standing at the back in the garden father, we have another idea. D I say, what’s going on now? Says he’s playing tennis. I say I’ve only just arrived after an 8-hour drive. It’s they’re doing the same thing or we’re calling someone and there are already five missed calls because you suddenly remember what came on last time. At 10:45 p.m. I suddenly get a WhatsApp message Disney Plus or? A quick group photo and the discussion continues. He’s had his new phone at home for four weeks. He’s been annoying me, and he’s afraid to set it up again because he’ll panic. You don’t need the time. You put your cell phone next to the other cell phone. Don’t stop. We’re moving on now. Anyone who drives a hot rod needs a valid driver’s license, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. My dicks about Lake Woden is home to me. I was born here, grew up here, and when I arrive here, regardless of whether I’ve been in Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, or even when I’ve been here by car as a little boy, whenever I arrive back here, my heart rate immediately drops. Your parasympathetic nervous system immediately switches into a state of relaxation. It’s always been the same feeling since I was little. Why did you choose to live in Überlingen? Überlingen is—I was born there, grew up there, and of course I have to say that it’s the most beautiful town on Lake Constance; being here is like a vacation. Überlingen, a town with a southern flair. The long promenade is one of the most beautiful on the entire lake, lined with palm trees, cafés, and historic buildings. Everything seems to be a bit quieter, more relaxed here. The town was once an important trading center on Lake Constance. The magnificent town houses and the imposing St. Nicholas Minster still bear witness to the prosperity of this era. Mark Kella grew up here in simple, at times difficult circumstances. He lost his mother at an early age. I grew up with my grandmother. When I came home from school, she would cook a lovely meal for me. She had just come back from working for other people, where she cooked and cleaned, and made coffee and cake in the afternoon, put me to bed in the evening, tucked me in. Everything was poor where I grew up, but I was incredibly lucky to be able to grow up like that because I could concentrate on myself and knew that I had a really nice home and was loved and, um, and that was my luck and that meant I was able to develop and follow my dreams, train and even though no one believed it, somehow everything turned out that way in the end. Mm. Is that also the reason why the relationship with your boys is so close, because family had to play such a big role in your life? Yes, in the end that’s the only thing that remains and when I’m gone they know that father was there for us and we had such a great time and I can always look back and say how wonderful it was that we were so close and that’s all it is wonderful about. Yes, very wonderful. Yes, I would almost cry if it were a film. A fantastic trip with the three Kellers. A funny family, successful and yet always down to earth, which is perhaps also due to the Lake Constance feeling. Speaking of down to earth, we’re now going by car deep into the Austrian Vorallberg, into a very unique and still very original world on the alpine pastures of Lake Constance. There are fantastic hiking trails here with far-reaching views over the lake and the mountains. A paradise for anyone looking for exercise, peace and quiet and real mountain air. Mena Landwing is… For three years now, the Swiss native has been living on the Alperne from spring to autumn. Up until about 10 years ago, I was quite active on my mountain bike. I rode long-distance races there, over hill and dale, but that was a long time ago. But yes, my fitness still helps me a bit, I have to say. The alpine pasture is about 1,400 m higher. Today the cows are being led to a new, green pasture . The first one is Emma, ​​and the one with the blue one is Elli. Then the little one is Polly. That’s our youngest on the alpine pasture. I also want to know the animals’ names so that we can get to know them and talk to them a bit. Yes, today they already told me that they are happy that the TV is coming, because then they can go out to the fresh pasture two days earlier. It is a wonderful valley. Nature, actually, every morning and every evening , you think to yourself, it’s simply beautiful to live in nature, with nature, with the animals, on the mountain pasture. It’s strenuous work, but at the end of the day, you know what you ‘ve done and are simply happy. The cows come from a nearby family farm. of Lake Constance. We’ll stop by there later. My end up at the alpine pasture has a view of Lake Constance and there are wonderful sunsets up there and I have seen the cattle from the ground. No, I’m not alone up there at all. I’m used to it. I have the animals. I have visitors now and then. My husband always comes by at the weekend. Servidera, I think it’s really nice that I’m actually always up there and not always have someone around me. That’s a bit like the style of the Alps. B is sitting there. Nevertheless, Milena is happy to see every visitor. People have gone hiking and come up there who I don’t think would ever hike, right? They wanted to know who was up there on the Rne and everyone and yes, because of schnapps and stuff and I have to tell them, no, I don’t have any schnapps or and well, now I have so much schnapps, because they all came back and we brought everyone a bottle of schnapps or, because we just couldn’t have one decent schnapps, that’s not possible. So, I have schnapps now too. I have beer and schnapps, and water. No one has to die of thirst. We drive back towards Lake Constance. High above Bregenz on the Eichenberg lies a family farm. In the autumn the cattle return from the alpine pastures. Some, especially the older ones, have stayed here for the summer. A farm holiday above Lake Constance. Peace, nature, real country life. Price Enauer is an organic farmer and herbalist. She takes visitors to the Bregenz Forest to introduce them to nature. We walk over wonderfully soft forest soil. Caprice wants to show us how to make a so-called natural pavement. For healing wounds without any chemicals, just with what nature provides. Let’s move on. Um, if they sting properly, then you’ll notice the saying: if a spruce doesn’t sting a spruce, then it’s a spruce, then it’s a spruce. Exactly. And that would be the first place we can look. And now you can see it quite clearly here if you look there. There’s already a tear there. That means it was injured here. Now the spruce resin is forming, and I simply collect it in the glass, and then it’s really just a matter of going there, taking a bit of the resin from the tree, and then I would actually look for the next spot. I find that really interesting, because I have a lot to do with plants in my world, which is mainly vegetables and fruit, but I haven’t yet come up with the idea of ​​making a plaster out of tree resin. Exciting, isn’t it? I find it really exciting. And the good thing is, smell it. That smells fantastic, doesn’t it? Yes, that’s also why children love them when they have a crack somewhere, because it smells so nice. Mhm. It’s simply great for children too. It’s an amazing spot. Look, he has a huge spot here where I actually harvest every now and then. I then give him a bit of peace in between. And you can see it very clearly here. I can actually break off large pieces here and it’s good that I only see it in the bathroom because I don’t want everyone to know about the spot. You could have pulled a sack over my head, you know, on the way to your spot here. Yes, just a minute. Tell me, but children who have been in the forest with you see the forest with completely different eyes afterwards, don’t they? Yes, I hope so. You usually notice that at the end, when we walk out of the forest again on the path, there are, oh, there and there and there you can still see the woodpecker’s hole. Well, I think it helps them have a different perspective on things. It has to be quick, I think. Hello. Such a little man. Hello, sweetie. He’s gone. The family farm lies at an altitude of 800 meters, almost 400 meters above Lake Constance. The farm garden is small and fine. He doesn’t really need that much. So it’s really our little oasis of peace, which the guests also have right outside the door. You can help yourself, of course. I can see something to serve. Yes, I see Boret. Oh yes, I have that in my garden too. Yes, it’s such a beautiful plant and bees love it, as you can see. Mhm. And you can put it in salads and in pudding as decoration. You can eat it. Pudding, for example, I think it’s quite pretty. Yes, totally. Caprice is the third generation to run the farm with her husband. Stefan not only takes care of the farming but also ensures lots of fun on his legendary tractor trips. The motto: sustainable travel. Space to romp around, fresh air, peace and quiet, and regional products straight from the farm. Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello. I’m Judit, nice to meet you. Hello, hello. Why did you choose a farm holiday? We simply love being up in the mountains here. The children love the animals, spending time here on the farm, helping out a bit, driving the tractor. It’s a really great change from everyday life at home, isn’t it? Yes, the children are relaxed. Yes, so are we as parents. Exactly. The hosts are incredibly welcoming. You arrive here. It’s obviously completely different to a hotel vacation or a campsite or something like that, right? You come down in a different way. Yes, the view of the lake is great too, right? Have you ever been down there, or does your life only take place up here? Both, sort of. But I think it’s so varied, right? You can do things on the mountain or go down to the water. There’s a completely different atmosphere there. When you’re strolling along the lake in the sunshine, it’s really cool to be able to combine both worlds a bit here. Yes. Oh, Moni. I don’t think that’s for you. No, no, no, no, no. You should n’t do that. It’s not for little cats. Come, come, little one. Come, little one. Hmm. Little Mi, now I’m really curious. How is the forest paving made? So we don’t actually need much to make the forest paving. And we need a bit of beeswax and olive oil. Mhm. Exactly. Mhm. We now have 34 g. We’ll then use double the olive oil. That makes 68 g olive oil. A little more, that’s good, a little 67 would be perfect. And now it’s important that we make sure that it doesn’t boil, but that it simply heats up. Stir gently and then. It’s actually very, very quick. What types of wounds is this suitable for? Any, I would say chapped skin. Anything where you might have scratched yourself, or if the little cat has scratched over it, where you shouldn’t touch it directly, i.e. if the wound is still bleeding, then you really have to wipe away any blood first, so that the wound has stopped bleeding, but then you can basically rub it out straight away. Mhm. One here also has all these cat scratches, I could have put it all over them. Yes, exactly. It also has an antibacterial effect. The resin helps disinfect and heal wounds. Olive oil makes the mixture smooth and the beeswax ensures the firm, yet flexible consistency. Can I have a little more? Where do you get it? The beeswax in this form? Imka, local beekeepers, do that too. So, is it actually quite well dissolved already? Yes, perfect. Perfect. Pour into a container and let it cool. Done. I think that’s great. Yes. Yes, learned something. Yes, nice. I’m very happy about that. And we weren’t expecting that up here. A hay flower bath in a barrel with a view over Lake Constance. Close your eyes and enjoy the place. Below the family farm, directly on Lake Constance lies the Fußchaffinch. A place that many affectionately call Little Venice. Boats and houses right on the water. Fisherman Franz Blum lives and works in this tranquil setting. Franz is one of the last of his trade on Lake Constance. Yes, I’m currently working on the roach here. What I’m doing now is the so-called cupping. The roach itself also has tasty meat, but it involves a lot of equipment, and that’s why I cut the fillet very finely, as you can see now. This way, I cut the bones, and then they melt through frying. There’s nothing more that can be done. You can get stuck in your neck, and this way you can enjoy the roach almost without any creases. I find it rather surprising that so many people no longer know that our profession exists, and I have to say, we’re really on the red light these days. There are fewer and fewer of us. Where we were just Adelberge once, 16 or 17, there are now just five of us. I now have the luck and the privilege, and I’m really happy about it, that my junior says, “Hey Dad, we’ll keep this going.” Franz is the first in the fourth generation now, and fishing is also the fourth generation. I’m the third. Yes, this morning Franz Junior, Frenzli, the fourth, really hit the jackpot. He caught such a good pike . Now he’s tired, now he’s asleep. Franz Blum, by the way, holds the record for the largest fish ever caught in Lake Constance. That’s the Welz. It was 2.72 m long and weighed 100 kg. I’ll have to go and see for myself now. I caught it in 2019, and you can already see what kind of submarines are swimming around in the lake. At the moment, it’s still a bottom reef. Fishing isn’t an easy business. Stocks in Lake Constance have been declining for years. Franz Blum also runs a fish restaurant as a secondary source of income. We try his fish, however, at a special place. The meeting point is the Skiheim, a hut above the Lake Constance. Grilled fish, not an easy task. Prepared by a true master of his craft. Tom Heinzle, grill chorister and author. I’m delighted. Hello. Thanks for letting me grill today. He shows us how to enjoy Lake Constance fish in a special way. Today we were at the fisherman’s at Lake Bohsee and caught a good pike-perch, but that’s part 2 of this evening. Part one, what Franz gave us, is a nice foreskin, and with that we’ll make ourselves a nice starter, like hard finger food. The Vorarlberg native regularly gives grilling courses. It’s a completely normal, ready-made flame-flamed dough, like you can buy in any supermarket. The important thing is that recipes have to be simple, so that people can copy them. I totally agree with you, right? Yes. Also present are the curious hut owners with their daughter Anja. Tell me, can you actually try to speak a little High German? I’m speaking High German all the time, a person who speaks High German sounds like a Swiss person, a German mixture, actually. I I think, tell me, this grill, right? I’ve never seen it on such a hot plate. Ah, that’s a crazy trend at the moment, the zem smer fire plate. With a grill like that, you can actually grill anything that’s directly grilled, briefly grilled, like shrimp, small steaks, vegetables, especially, you can prepare it incredibly well and quickly. Spring onions, or spring onions, are what we call them in Germany. So, now, but you can actually, I just saw, point to your forearm, because you have so many vegetables that you simply tattoo. Yes, so I don’t forget what I should prepare. I’ve never seen anyone with a beetroot tattoo . Really? No. Okay. Great. So, since we’re young, put the spring onions in there. A bit of salt and pepper in the Creme Fresh. Then the trout caviar over the grill. Very light smoke, it gets harder on the outside. I get a smoky taste first , and that immediately comes Fishy flavor behind it. That makes it really good. She’s speechless. Really, really good, good. Yes, how do you actually see my strategy? I ask you a lot of questions so I can eat a lot on my own. Yes, I’ve noticed that when I’m in the sprayer, I chew best. What do we do now after this little appetizer, after this little apple we had? Now we’re going to make a nice Bodeszandel. But first the side dishes: halved romaine lettuce hearts with my own spice blend. Yes, I’ve got dried tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, a little salt, and oregano in here . Very Mediterranean. The lettuce needs to stay crisp, but what we want are roasted potatoes. So we lift it up and press it down a bit. Then we’ll see, As soon as it has a slight burning sensation and is still stable at the back, it comes off. Chopped apple, salt, pepper, lemon oil, and then grated lemon zest. Nice. And now the Lake Constance zander. So, now we’re going to make nice slanted fillets. Let’s make three, four, four; we need four. Four, or you can saw it in Swabian with the Lord’s commandment. That’s the Lord’s commandment. They’re tergelic, put the oil in. You can hear how hot it is. Now leave it until we see the protein set, until the fish is halfway up there, and then you can go down to the heat inside the fish. Let’s go down to the draft, what damages the skin is nice, nice in a draft, very briefly on this side, this fat B, a little around it, the skin has to go to the top. Yes, because if I put it down, it will sweat, it will sweat. Look at everything, it’s so beautiful, because that’s an important part of the fish, small Lake Constance onion with romaine lettuce hearts, spring onions, spices and lemon oil. It smells so delicious. Very good. Really delicious, I’ll remember that. Fantastic. Thank you. No, I always do that, Mario. Thank you for this experience. You’re welcome. You really inspired me and I’m sure I’m not the only one. The shore of the lake is around 270 km long. If you want to explore Lake Constance by bike, you have the best options here. The circular route around the lake leads through villages and towns and repeatedly through beautiful countryside. Yes, it’s an alternative to driving a car. That’s always so boring. Of course you can stop here again and again, visit the cafés, definitely take the lake path and it’s all absolutely wonderful to see here. And very often you go along the water. Very good cycle routes are very well developed. Yes, well developed and signposted. I think we think that’s a very good thing. I think it’s absolutely beautiful. I’m not much of a cycling fan, but the bike path is just so beautiful, and so is this landscape. My God, what is this? Paradise. The plan is actually to cycle all the way around the lake. We were just sitting on the bench eating ice cream. I thought to myself, how cool is it to have three countries on one lake, and they’re somehow connected or located in such a way that Lake Constance connects all three. It’s fantastic to experience Lake Constance from the air. A dream for many visitors. Some board the legendary Zeppelin. But for the past two years, there’s been a new, much faster option, and it’s quite something. We drive near the Rein delta to the Swiss side, to St. Gallen Airport. It’s spectacular, of course. An F13. Wow. Hello Andreas. Yes. Hello Judith, welcome. Thank you very much. That’s a beautiful aircraft. Yes, it’s a gem. Wow. Yes, it’s the ancestor of all commercial aircraft, so to speak, and therefore an absolute rarity. How old is the aircraft? Yes, the original first flight was in 1919, and our three aircraft, or this one in particular, the Haberia, is now six years old, as there are so few of them. They are the only three flying examples in the world. Hmm. There are originals in the museum, in various museums, and there’s also a very nice example in the Deutsches Museum. Tell me, are you flying now? We’re flying together now. Yes, so how are you flying? I’m in. Are you a professional pilot, or are you a hobby pilot? Bot, I’m retired, the professional pilot. I worked for Deutsche Lufthansa for 40 years. Capital. Oh, so maybe we’ve already flown together, probably. Yes. And I was the captain for 30 years, and now I’ve found the joy of flying with the Jungkas people. Incidentally, it was the first passenger aircraft of the German Lufthansa. Yes, but you haven’t been in service that long. Do I look like it? It’s a passenger cabin for four passengers. Possibly very smooth. Of course you can go in. You even have to go in. Wow. And that’s how passengers used to travel. This is still due to the carriage. In a carriage, the driver also sits outside, like the pilots and passengers in the back. Carriage. There was no instrumentation like we have today. We had cave gauges and a compass and a speedometer. That’s all you had, and the pilots still wanted to feel the air. But it’s really well made. Were the originals made in a similar way? Or is that modern technology that I see? Yes, that’s the technology from back then. Really original replicas, as they were built back then. If you have a flight logbook with you, you sit in here with three of your own. Yes, I would love to fly up front with you in the convertible area. Is that possible? In that case, we’ll make an exception for normal passengers, but always only in the back of the cabin. Exactly, because that’s spectacular. Flying in a convertible. Yes. Yes. A flight with the U13 must be booked in advance and is only possible with prior membership in the Junkers Aviation Association and a waiting period of 30 days. Wave again. You can also stall a bit out of here. Lesson First, a detour along the Swiss mountains. The Sentis is 25,001 m high and one of the most famous peaks in the Appenzell Alps, with lots of paragliders and beautifully situated alpine pastures, not quite clear, because if you bring it to the left we’ll go up the plane to the left, go to the left and pull now, pull, yes, all right. Then the nose goes up again and now back to the right, all with power. Yes. Oh, I’m scared, and another owner. Yes, another to the right. Oh, can you do that? I’m scared. Please do that. The Reindelta from above. The enchanting island town of Lindau and the Grohotel Badchachen. Fantastic, a flight where you experience the Lake Constance region from above in all its diversity. Now a real highlight awaits us, the Lake Constance Night Festival in Constance and Kreuzling. We won’t miss this spectacle. It is the largest folk festival on Lake Constance. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year and transforms the shore into one big festival mile. And there will be a spectacular fireworks display. Apparently one of the biggest in Europe. We’re excited. Hello, good evening. I thought I’d ask. It looks like you ‘ve prepared professionally for the Sea Yacht. We’ve been doing this for 20 years, right? For 20 years. You haven’t missed a single one. No, you live nearby now, right? Would you say it’s worth it for holidaymakers like me to come here for the night? I’m going to watch the biggest fireworks display in Europe. It’s a mega event. Half an hour is never enough for Gout. Both cities are showing off and it’s crazy what’s going on. The Constance ones come first, then the Kreuzlingen ones, and then when both fireworks displays are over, both let off steam again and then you really think the sky is exploding. It’s indescribable. It can’t be described because they’re both throwing everything they’ve got into the sky. I hope you have fun. I’ll go a little further. We’ll see each other in a minute. Bye. Have fun. Sorry. Which direction are the fireworks in? Is that there? The fireworks are here. And you’ve secured your seats here? We’ve been sitting here again since 12 noon today. No, you’ve had a reservation here for so long. Just a reservation, it’s a party. You’re from Germany, right? Yes. Uh, we live in Gronchland, we’re from Cologne. Is the quality of life higher here? Yes, yes, yes, definitely. The width, unfortunately, too. The what? The prices, unfortunately, too . The prices, unfortunately, too. More and more boats are coming to the festival and anchoring off the coast. Yay, please. So, in return, I’d like to know why you’re here today for the fireworks. Yes, yes. What can I expect here today? The fireworks are supposed to be spectacular, right? Also the music, lots of people. Noooo. Yes. Oh yes, that’s right. All the lights out and then all the lights on all at once. Yes. Yes. What else are you planning? You have such a cozy corner there. Exactly. A little bit of fucking. But you want to keep to yourselves. Girls’ night. Yes. Yes. The Lake Night Festival, a symbol of cross-border friendship. After the Second World War, The cities of Konstanz and Kreuzlingen are growing closer together again. The first joint festival took place in 1949, and since then, the saying has been: “Here, no fence separates us anymore.” Is Lake Night the kind of event you meet up for as friends? Yes. Yes, very much. Yes. Yes. Always at our age, even for the little ones, it’s more like a fair. For the parents, they just come along. I hope you have lots of fun. Thank you very much. Bye. Bye. Bye. The festival mile stretches for more than 3 kilometers with booths, stages, and stands. The excitement is building. On the shores of Konstanz and Kreuzlingen, everything is preparing for the climax. We can enjoy the spectacle from the water. Markus, my wakeboarding instructor, is taking us along. Is this the perfect position for the fireworks? For us, yes, but we have to wait now. When it starts, we’ll go in a little further so we’re a little closer to the edge. The maritime police have created a sector on both sides where all ships have to go in, so that you can get out again in the event of an emergency. But we are already at the border guard post. Hello, do we have to go further over? Let’s go a little further. Yes, they’ll keep an eye on it, right? Yes, that’s good, because there are so many ships here, if something happens and they have to go in and out, then there ca n’t be one huge gate. And because the big ships are all coming in now, but we are alone now. It was a bit longer, everyone is staying overnight, nobody is going home. They’ve anchored and are staying here until tomorrow morning because they ‘ve been drinking and then they’re not allowed to go anymore. Exactly, exactly. Exactly. Hey, I’ve brought us an Apple Spritzer too. Ah, that’s something. But you’re allowed to drink one, right? Man, that was a multifaceted adventure this week on Lake Constance. The region has so many beautiful, quiet corners, but if you want, action is everywhere. For me, it’s the perfect mix. So, that was the German fireworks display, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re not so excited, but I am even more so. Great. Wow. Okay. Is that the Swiss? Okay, you win. Stop bragging right now. What? Very nice.

Der Bodensee – ein traumhaftes Reiseziel lockt. Deutschlands größter Binnensee lockt jedes Jahr Millionen Urlauber an seine Ufer. Vor allem im Sommer kann es in der Region dann schonmal voll werden. Aber der Bodensee ist nicht nur Sehnsuchtsziel für Boot- und Wassersportfreunde, sondern auch für viele, die Erholung und Ruhe suchen. Gibt es sie noch, die stillen Orte?

Für Wunderschön begibt sich Judith Rakers auf Spurensuche – und erlebt dabei eine faszinierende Mischung aus Abenteuer und Ruhe.
Drei Länder, ein See – und mittendrin Judith Rakers. Auf ihrer Reise rund um den Bodensee erlebt sie eine überraschende und vielfältige Urlaubsregion. Zwischen deutschen Uferwegen, österreichischen Berghängen und Schweizer Buchten trifft sie Menschen, die das Glück haben, hier zu leben und Gästen gerne ihre Welt zeigen.

Judith steigt aufs Mountainbike, paddelt im Kanu durch abgelegene Riedlandschaften und erlebt als Kontrast beim Wakesurfen das Adrenalin des Augenblicks.
Es gibt aber auch die leisen Töne. Judith besucht einen abgelegenen Familien-Bauernhof mit traditioneller Landwirtschaft. Sie ist unterwegs mit einem Bergführer und erlebt die stille Verbundenheit mit der Natur. Sie grillt mit dem mehrfach ausgezeichneten BBQ-Profi Tom Heinzle – ein Abend voller Aromen, Geschichten und Ausblicke. Und sie trifft Mark Keller in seinem Rückzugsort am See – ein Gespräch über Leben, Ruhm und das Bedürfnis nach Erdung.
Die Menschen, denen Judith begegnet, erzählen nicht nur von sich, sondern auch von ihrer Verbundenheit zum Bodensee. Sie sind so unterschiedlich wie die Landschaften, in denen sie leben. Eine spannende Reise zu stillen Ufern und sportlichen Abenteuern.

Noch mehr wunderschöne Reisen findet ihr in der ARD Mediathek:
https://1.ard.de/reisen-wunderschoen-uebersicht?yt=d

Alle Infos zum Bodensee und unserer Reise gibt es hier: https://www1.wdr.de/fernsehen/wunderschoen/sendungen/bodensee-118.html

00:00 Intro
01:02 Rheindelta zum Bodensee
07:20 Wassersport in Kreuzlingen
15:30 Unterwegs mit der Wasserschutzpolizei
24:08 Rappenlochschlucht und Alplochschlucht in Dorbirn
33:34 Hotel Bad Schachen in Lindau
41:45 Mit Mini Hot Rods durch Überlingen
50:04 Durch die Almen von Vorarlberg
54:35 Kräuterkunde auf dem Familienbauernhof
01:03:26 Frischer Fisch in “Klein Venedig” am Fussacher Hafen
01:06:23 Fisch grillen lernen in der Hütte Schiheim
01:12:44 Mit dem Fahrrad um den See
01:14:16 Historischer Flug ab St. Gallen-Altenrhein
01:21:36 Seenachtfest in Konstanz
01:27:00 Outro

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► Wunderschön: https://wunderschoen.wdr.de
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Wir empfehlen grundsätzlich allen Reisenden sich vor Antritt der Reise gründlich über die aktuelle Sicherheitslage zu informieren: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/reiseundsicherheit

“Wunderschön! Bodensee – zwischen Abenteuer und Auszeit” ist ein Film von Andreas Schlosser.
Redaktion: Margit Höh.
Dieser Film wurde 2025 im Auftrag des WDR produziert. Alle Aussagen und Fakten entsprechen dem damaligen Stand und wurden seitdem nicht aktualisiert.