Imagine stepping back in time over 5500 years. This is Litzelstetten. People settled here in pile dwellings in the shallow waters of Lake Constance.
Litzelstetten is a part of Konstanz. It is a district with about 3800 residents. Litzelstetten sits at an elevation of 395 to 508 meters above sea level. Even the Mainau Island belongs to Litzelstetten.
The area of Litzelstetten covers 5.109 square kilometers. Litzelstetten also has a local council. Neuhof was once a separate part of Litzelstetten. Today, it exists as a street name.
South of Litzelstetten lies the former St Katharina monastery. It is an exclave of Litzelstetten. This small area was part of Allmannsdorf until 1925.
In 2022, a bronze relief was placed before Litzelstetten’s town hall. It marks the locations of prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps. The Förderverein Pfahlbau-Welterbestätte Litzelstetten-Krähenhorn donated it to the community.
Alamanni founded a settlement here in the 5th or 6th century. It likely belonged to the Frankish royal court in Bodman.
The name Litzelstetten appeared first in 839. It was called “Luzzilonsteti” in a document. This document was a donation to Reichenau Monastery. In 1272, the Teutonic Order took over rule in Litzelstetten. They kept it until 1802.
When Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden acquired Mainau Island in 1853, Litzelstetten became one of his favorite places. This helped Litzelstetten develop positively. Until 1918, Mainau Island was part of Allmannsdorf. In 1915, Allmannsdorf became part of Konstanz. After 1918, the landowners of Mainau decided that the island should belong to Litzelstetten.
Litzelstetten was incorporated into Konstanz on December 1, 1971. This made Mainau and St Katharina part of Konstanz again. Yet, they remained part of Litzelstetten district.
The churches shape the religious landscape of Litzelstetten. Sankt Peter and Paul is Roman Catholic. The Auferstehungsgemeinde is Protestant. Both congregations share the Baroque church Sankt Marien on Mainau during peak season.
The coat of arms of Litzelstetten features a black cross. It is overlaid with a blue shield. Inside the shield are a silver key and a golden sword.
Litzelstetten is about four kilometers from the B 33. Bus lines connect Litzelstetten to the city center. They also connect to Mainau Island and the university. Another bus line links Litzelstetten to Wollmatingen and the industrial area.
Ferries connect Litzelstetten to other towns. Überlingen can be reached via Wallhausen and Dingelsdorf. Meersburg is accessible via the Konstanz-Meersburg car ferry.
Litzelstetten offers various leisure facilities. There is a primary school with a gym. There is also a free public beach. A small campsite sits directly on the shore of Lake Constance. Football fields, tennis courts, and an archery range are also available.
Since 2013, the Lennart-Bernadotte-Stiftung operates the “Erlebniswald-Mainau”. It includes a climbing forest and the former St Katharina monastery with a beer garden.
Johann Martin Schleyer, a local clergyman, invented the Volapük language here in 1879-1880. He even taught it to his students.
Litzelstetten offers advantages of a big city. It has theaters, concerts, schools, and good transport. Litzelstetten has a hillside location. It gives stunning views of Lake Überlingen, Mainau Island, and the Alps. Nature reserves surround Litzelstetten. Hiking and cycling trails lead into the Bodanrück area.
Litzelstetten has shops, a bank, doctors, and a pharmacy. The local administration offers services like registration and passport applications. A small construction team helps to beautify the area.
So, as you wander through Litzelstetten, remember its long history. From ancient settlements to its modern role as a vibrant part of Konstanz, Litzelstetten offers a unique glimpse into the past and present.