An attractive townscape, water sports, fish restaurants and a wide range of excursion options: a natural environment with recreational potential makes the Thurgau municipality of Steckborn, on the southern shores of Untersee, a particular delight.

The favourable location between the Seerücken with its woodlands and vantage points, and the Untersee lake has been inhabited since Neolithic times, around 4300 BC. A fact proven by valuable finds including ceramic vessels, stone axe-heads and flint-stone items on display in the local museum, housed in Turmhof Castle, Steckborn’s landmark dating from 1300. The compact townscape was achieved by planned development. Steckborn is listed in the «Federal Inventory of Heritage Townscapes». Parts of the town walls remain preserved to this day.

Steckborn is the home of the «Bernina» sewing machine. Its inventor and company founder, Friedrich Gegauf began production of the world’s first hemstitch sewing machine in 1893 in the walls of the former Feldback Cistercian Convent.

The child-friendly lido and the many access ladders along the Steckborn lake shore are a clear invitation to bathe. The harbour (with boat hire) is ideal for leisure-time skippers and on windy days countless surfers skim over the Untersee, the western arm of the Bodensee. «Canoe cruising» along the shores of the Untersee is becoming increasingly popular; detailed route descriptions listing sightseeing attractions and rest spots are available for these water tours. The landscape is ideal for hiking and biking. Those wanting to take things easier can choose a route along the lake, more challenging routes lead towards the Seerücken and Seebach or Thur Valleys.

Ships and ferries provide access to neighbouring Germany, Konstanz and the Rhine to Schaffhausen with sights such as Hohenklingen Castle in Stein am Rhein, the Napoleon Museum in Arenenberg, the Wagenhausen (provost building) and the Eschenz Village Museum.

Highlights

• Steckborn townscape - the uniformly planned layout of the old town quarter is under a Federal preservation order.
• Fish restaurants – Thurgau hospitality, superb lakeside terraces and fresh delicacies from the Untersee lake are the perfect complement to each other.
• «Water tours» - tours by canoe along the Untersee shores are also described in detail.
• Ships on Untersee and Rhine from Kreuzlingen via Untersee, Stein am Rhein to Schaffhausen.