Hello friends. Last year we visited the Island of Mainau for our vacation and we absolutely loved this place. Mainau Island is one of the main attractions of Lake Constance. To the south of Mainau, there was a real feast of colors. Despite going in the autumn, there were plenty of flowers and plant species here. From various corners of the island, we enjoyed the view of the blue waters of Lake Constance, the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps and the distant sailing boats. The children especially enjoyed the play areas with water attractions and the mini zoo, where they could pet animals, feed them and even take pony rides. And there are places like the Palm House, Butterfly House and Mainau Castle. It's possible to reach the island by car, public transportation, or ferry.
At the entrance of the island, dressing rooms welcomed us. There was a dressing room specifically for motorcyclists. There is a large parking lot at the entrance where motorcycles and vehicles park, it's very massive.
We headed towards the entrance. You can pay for tickets here and then cross the bridge. There are toilets and cash registers under the dome here. The prices were slightly different from what was written on the signs. We thought those were old prices. An adult ticket costs 27.5 euros. If you pay in cash at the counter, you will pay this price. It costs 25.5 euros if you buy from the vending machine or online. However, children under 12 can enter for free. There are discounts for students and school children, around 17 and 15 euros. After making the payment, we examined the island's map and then started exploring the island.
First, we went to see the flower island on foot. There are so many flowers here. From March to September, everything is very beautiful, with many varieties. There are flowers everywhere - even flower figures are made of flowers. Even loudly expressed words like flower festival, flower carpet, flower ship seem insufficient to express this magnificence. Swimming to the island is not necessary because it is connected to the mainland by a bridge. On one side of the bridge is the Rhine River and on the other side is Lake Constance.
Although located within the territory of Germany, this place is currently officially owned by the Swedish Royal Family, the Bernadotte family. As we read on the informational plaques, in the 19th century, the region belonged to the Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden, Germany. During this period, garden arrangements resembling the current layout of Mainau were made and the public was able to enter the island for the first time. The Duke was very proud of his summer residence, which I believe is truly something to be proud of. Later, he passed the island on to his grandson, Count Lennart Bernadotte. However, it seems that the true owners of the island are the flowers. Various flower species dominate from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, one after the other.
The lake is very clear. There is a magnificent view of Lake Constance, with numerous swans and ducks. And there is a small castle with horses, donkeys, century-old trees and currently housing shops and conference halls. Many cafes and children's play areas are also available. There are many interesting things for little tourists. There is a small pond where you can ride a swing. In a unique farm (or themed zoo - we didn't exactly understand), you can pet cute goats, rabbits and watch other domestic animals. There is also the opportunity to ride ponies and donkeys.
The area is vast. You can wander around all day here. Besides flowers, there are various sculptures and aesthetically designed fountains. These fountains complement the natural beauty of the island, providing a very pleasant view. I recommend asking yourself this question when choosing the time to travel to the island. Which kingdom of flowers would you like to enter? Spring is the time when hyacinths, daffodils and of course tulips reign. An orchid exhibition is held in March-April. At the end of May - beginning of June, it's the time for the rose throne. There are thousands of rose varieties on the island. The autumn ball is celebrated with dahlias. Color-themed festivals are held on the island. You can visit flower festivals, participate in National Costume Days, or taste young wine at the tasting event.
There is also a small castle on the island. This is a castle belonging to the Bernadotte family. It is built in the shape of a horseshoe overlooking the lake. It can be said that the representative of the Bernadotte family is very lucky: living among these beauties for a year must be wonderful. Classical music concerts and various exhibitions are held in the White Hall of the palace. We couldn't see inside because it was closed when we visited.
We learned that there are approximately one million flowers on the island and amidst so many colors and scents, even just one resident here is enough to captivate your eyes for a long time.
Mainau Island filled with new and enchanting discoveries at every step, was a place we didn't want to leave.I definitely recommend enjoying this magnificent natural wonder.
