The hallmarks of Arbon, the third largest Thurgau municipality, are the castle with tower and the charming old town. Arbon is popular for its well-kept lakeside promenade and famous for its Sauser old-timer vehicles.

A 3km path stretches along the shore of the Bodensee: the incomparable avenue of chestnut trees on the Steinacherbucht bay. Beautiful parkland with large children’s playground, concert pavilion and flowerbeds leading to the harbour with pedalo and boat hire. Further to the north-west are free places to bath, picnic spots and finally an extensive nature reserve. A lido with giant slide and diving boards is also found along the popular path.

The attractions of Arbon’s hallmark, the castle with tower (views!) include a history museum. A watchtower, corner tower of the legions’ fortress and many parts of the old city walls still stand from Roman times. In the heart of the medieval to baroque old town with its narrow lanes, the Fischmarktplatz (Fish market Square) is tightly surrounded by houses and has a fountain in its centre. Particularly eye-catching outside the old town is the Hotel Metropol built in the style of a cruise liner, and the high Saurer building, designed by Le Corbusier. The Saurer Museum exhibits roadworthy vehicles dating from 1911 to 1980 built by the renowned company from Arbon. The Mosterei Möhl Juice and Distillery Museum exhibits old machines and equipment once used in Oberthurgau for the traditional preparation of unfermented fruit juice and apple wine. Arboners and guests meet for an after-work drink in the cosy cellar of the Frohsinn Brewery.

Arbon lies on the Rorschach - Romanshorn - Kreuzlingen passenger ship route and is linked to Germany by busy shipping traffic. The town is also an ideal departure point for excursions over the border into Appenzellerland, or so-called «Mostindien», given its name because of its extensive fruit culture. The villages are full of beautiful timber framed houses.

Highlights

• Lakeside promenade – popular and well-tended lakeside path from the Kastanienallee (avenue of chestnut trees) to the lido and into the nature reserve.
• Bodensee (Lake Constance) – regular boat services allow excursions to neighbouring lakeside resorts and over the lake to Germany.
• Saurer Museum – the history of the famous Swiss trucks and buses. The last truck rolled out of the Arbon works in 1987.