Kreuzlingen sits right on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, so close to the German city of Konstanz that the border runs through the streets and you can step from one country to the other without noticing, except for the occasional customs sign. The lake itself is huge, the third largest in Central Europe, shared between Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and the water has a calm, wide-open feeling that the Alpine lakes lack. On a clear day the Säntis and the Austrian mountains show along the far horizon.
Konstanz carries a weighty history. In the early fifteenth century it hosted the Council of Constance, which ended a split in the papacy and condemned the reformer Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake in 1415. A monument and a house in the old town recall the events. Today the city is a lively university town, and its lakeside promenade and old centre are well worth a walk, though if you cross, remember your passport or identity card and be aware of border traffic at busy times.
For a water stop, the Swiss side offers parks and bathing spots right at the shore. The Seeburgpark has lawns that slope to the water and room for a picnic, and you can swim in summer. The lake is shallow near the shore and warms more than the Alpine lakes do, with a gentle shingle bottom. Sailing boats and ferries cross constantly, and in the evening the lights of Konstanz begin to reflect on the water.
The riding in the area is flat and orderly, with roads running between orchards and vineyards, and the occasional glimpse of the lake through the trees. This is not a thrill ride but a pleasant one, with moderate traffic and plenty of cyclists. The best time is a warm late afternoon, when the air smells of water and the light turns gold.
Kreuzlingen has nearly eighteen thousand residents, so fuel and food are straightforward, and the larger Konstanz is on the doorstep. Swiss prices are higher than German ones, so many riders fill up on the German side, though fuel stations on either side are easy to find. If you cross, carry documents and check the rules for vehicles.
Wind can build on the lake in the afternoon, so keep a jacket handy if you plan to sit by the water. In spring and autumn, mist drifts over the surface at dawn, and the whole scene looks like a watercolour.