Konstanz Minster

Konstanz Minster (Konstanzer Münster) in Konstanz on Lake Constance served for more than a thousand years as the cathedral of one of the largest dioceses in the German-speaking world. Today, the Basilica of Our Lady is the landmark of the old town, with a spire visible far across the lake. It hosted sessions of the Council of Constance, and its tower offers one of the best views of Lake Constance.

History in brief

The diocese of Konstanz was founded around 585–590, and a church on this spot is first recorded in 780. After the earlier nave collapsed in 1052, Bishop Rumold built a new Romanesque basilica, consecrated in 1089, whose structure survives at the heart of today's church.

During the Council of Constance (1414–1418), the minster hosted 45 general sessions. On July 6, 1415, the Czech reformer Jan Hus was condemned here and burned outside the city the same day. Konstanz remained a bishop's seat until 1821, and the neo-Gothic spire was added between 1850 and 1853.

What to see

• The crypt: one of the oldest parts of the church, probably built for the relics of St. Pelagius.
• The Holy Sepulchre: a Gothic sculpted tomb of Christ from 1260, set in the Mauritius Rotunda.
• The Schnegg: an elaborately carved hexagonal spiral staircase begun in 1438.
• The west portal: carved relief panels on the doors, probably from the workshop of Simon Haider.
• The tower: 193 steps lead to the viewing platform, with 52 more to the balconies, overlooking the old town, the lake, and on clear days the Alps.

Tickets and opening hours

Entry to the church is free. As of October 2026, the parish lists the tower as open until the end of October, Monday to Saturday 11 a.m.–4:45 p.m. and Sundays and holidays 12:30–4:45 p.m., with limited, weather-dependent winter hours. Tower tickets cost €4 for adults and €1 for children aged 8 to 17. The climb is steep and not wheelchair accessible.

How to get to Konstanz Minster

Konstanz sits on the Swiss border at the western end of Lake Constance. Zurich is roughly an hour away by train, and Stuttgart about two and a half to three hours. From Konstanz station, the minster is about a ten-minute walk through the old town. Regional trains in Germany accept the Deutschlandticket, and lake ferries connect Konstanz with Meersburg and other lakeside towns. Prices are in euros (EUR), although Swiss francs are common in shops near the border.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially for the tower view and the link to the Council of Constance, a turning point in European church history. Allow one to one and a half hours for the church and the climb, then combine it with a stroll through the Niederburg quarter and along the harbor.

Nearby

• Niederburg: the oldest quarter of Konstanz, just north of the minster.
• Council Building and harbor: with the rotating Imperia statue at the harbor entrance.
• Mainau Island: the famous flower island, reachable by bus or boat.