“A coquettish little Lady” is how Count Lennart Bernadotte described Mainau. He said that the island constantly demands much attention. It needs even more love and ceaselessly new clothes. By “new clothes”, he meant the blossoms, plants and flower-beds. These are constantly renewed by the gardeners on Mainau.
Mainau is an island in Lake Constance. It sits near the city of Konstanz in Germany. Mainau is a garden island. It is a model of excellent environmental practices.
Let’s delve into the story of this enchanting island. Mainau has been part of Konstanz since 1971. Before that, it was part of Litzelstetten. Now, it is one of Konstanz’s 15 wards.
The island belongs to the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation. Prince Lennart Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg, created this foundation. He was once a Prince of Sweden and Duke of Småland. Mainau is now a major tourist attraction on Lake Constance. You’ll find flowers and a park landscape here. The views of the lake are stunning. There is also a greenhouse with a tropical climate. Thousands of butterflies live here.
Mainau rises between 395 and 425 meters above sea level. The highest point is at the Großherzog-Friedrich Terrace. The island stretches 610 meters from north to south. It is 1050 meters wide from west to east. The island’s circumference is about three kilometers.
Few people live on Mainau. It is considered a hamlet because of its small population. In 1888, only 28 people lived here. By 1961, the population was 123. Count Björn Bernadotte lives in the castle on Mainau now.
Mainau enjoys a warm climate because of subtropical influences. This allows exotic trees to grow. You’ll see banana trees and many kinds of palm trees. Many topical Central European trees grow here too.
Mainau is a “flowering island”. Its parks and gardens are famous. Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden, created the island’s arboretum. It now holds 500 species of trees. These include deciduous and coniferous trees. Many are exotic and valuable. You will find fine specimens of Sequoiadendron giganteum planted in 1864. There are also Metasequoia glyptostroboides planted in 1952. The island also boasts about 200 rhododendron and azalea varieties.
Palm trees and Mediterranean plants thrive here. This is thanks to the advantageous climate. Mainau is called “flowering island in the Lake Constance” because of this.
The Arboretum is a centerpiece of Mainau. It features 500 different types of rare trees. Grand Duke Friedrich I created it in 1856. One of Germany’s “oldest” dawn redwood trees lives here. It was planted in 1952. Some giant redwoods are particularly mighty. Their seeds came from California in 1853. They were planted in 1864.
Spring kicks off the “Blumenjahr” or Flower Year. It starts with an orchid exhibition. From March to May, tulips, daffodils, primroses and hyacinths bloom. The “Frühlingsallee” or Spring Avenue showcases these flowers. From May to June, over 200 kinds of rhododendrons and azaleas bloom. The Italian rose garden is west of the Comturey-Keller. Friedrich I commissioned it. This garden has pergolas, sculptures and fountains. Over 1200 kinds of roses grow on the island.
The Frühlingsallee leads to Mediterran-Terrassen. Exotic plants like palm families and cacti live here in summer. You can see Lake Constance and the Alps from here. In July, brugmansia and hibiscus bloom. Passion flowers bloom in August.
The Südgarten or South Garden sits at the southern end. Fields of dahlia gleam here from September to October. There are about 20000 dahlia bushes. They represent 250 varieties. Spring and summer flowers grow on the eastern side of Südgarten.
The Bodenseerelief or Relief of Lake Constance is a popular photo spot. It features a flower picture that changes by season. A small harbor is on the northern side of Mainau Island. Excursion boats dock here. Another entrance to Frühlingsallee is here.
Until the Napoleonic era, the island belonged to the Order of Teutonic Knights. Later, it was sold into private ownership. In 1853, Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden bought the island. He used the palace as his summer palace.
Mainau is a place of beauty and history. It has evolved into a stunning garden paradise over centuries. Its unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance makes it a must-see destination.