Tettnang between castle history and hop-growing landscapes

Tettnang combines castle history with a cultural landscape shaped by hops. At the New Palace and Gate Castle, you can discover different aspects of the region’s cultural heritage; the Hop Trail and Tettnang Hop Loop highlight agriculture and outdoor activity. You can tailor your stay to your interests, with guided tours and architecture, a walk through hop gardens or a longer cycling tour.

Palace rooms and Tettnang landmarks

From April to October, experts lead tours of the New Palace’s stairwell cabinets and the residential and ceremonial rooms on the piano nobile every hour on the hour, Tuesday to Sunday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Themed tours of the palace and the town of Tettnang explore various aspects of aristocratic and middle-class life. If you are interested in the town’s history, there is more to discover than just the buildings: the ways of life associated with them are also explored.

Alongside the New Palace, Gate Castle is one of Tettnang’s landmarks. Its roof structure and that of the gate tower date from the 16th century; the Holy Cross Chapel was added in 1578. The walls of the rooms on the second and third upper floors are richly painted. The tours at the New Palace and the architectural details at Gate Castle offer different cultural highlights that can be compared during a stay in Tettnang.

Walking through the hop-growing landscape

The approximately eight-kilometre circular Hop Trail connects Tettnang town centre with Siggenweiler and brings to life the importance of hop growing to Tettnang and the region. It passes through a cultural landscape of hop gardens, orchards, hamlets and isolated farmsteads. Eleven stops explore the history of hop growing in Tettnang and changes in agriculture; three rest and viewpoint areas round out the route.

At the highest point of the Hop Trail near Dieglisweiler, you can learn which factors influence the flowering of Tettnang hops. From there, views extend to the Alps and Lake Constance. The circular route is suitable for outings with a pushchair. For families with young children, the paved alternative route via Bernau is recommended instead of the nature trail over Brünnensweiler Höhe. Check the route information again before setting off to make sure your chosen option suits your plans.

A longer cycling loop

The signposted Tettnang Hop Loop offers another way to experience the area: this moderately difficult circular cycling tour is 34 kilometres long and runs from the Lake Constance Cycle Path up to the hills beyond Tettnang. You can start in Tettnang, Eriskirch, Langenargen or Kressbronn on Lake Constance. Compared with the approximately eight-kilometre Hop Trail, the Hop Loop is considerably longer and classed as moderately difficult—a useful distinction when choosing between a walk and a cycling tour.

Hops as cultural heritage

In 2010, the European Commission recognised Tettnang hops as a protected geographical indication (PGI). On the Hop Trail, the history of hop growing meets today’s cultural landscape. At Hopfengut No20 in Siggenweiler, you can see the Wolf WSZ550 hop-picking machine up close and learn more about the harvesting process. Since programme details may vary, it is worth checking the latest visitor information before your visit.

Tettnang in its wider regional context

The wider destination of Bodenseekreis encompasses a broad range of landscapes: the district stretches along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, reaches into the Upper Swabian Hills and extends east into the West Allgäu Hills. Bodenseekreis includes 57.7 kilometres of Lake Constance shoreline. Its landscape is shaped by the lake and the adjoining hills, with fruit orchards, vineyards, meadows and forests.

When planning your Hop Loop ride, you can also consider which of the four starting points mentioned suits you best.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Oberteuringen, Daisendorf, Deggenhausertal, Owingen, Eriskirch, Neukirch, Friedrichshafen.

Back to the main travel overview: Lake Constance.