Castle history, swimming spots and cycle routes give Horn on Lake Constance several distinct highlights for a stay. Scheduled boats also call at Zollplatz, and a direct bus line runs to St. Gallen.
Horn Castle and its history
The name Horn is first recorded in 1155 as “Horna” in a document issued by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Horn Castle was built either in the second half of the 16th century or in the early 17th century. The castle has a very large park with a remarkable collection of mature trees; only Seestrasse separates it from the lakeshore. The castle and the shore are therefore in close proximity.
Details of the castle also point to different periods of construction. The greenhouse on its east side contains murals depicting the four seasons by Theo Glintz. They were created around 1930 and restored in 2001. The entrance portal incorporates the choir screen from the castle chapel. The chapel was built after 1716 and destroyed in 1826: the portal thus brings an older furnishing element into contact with the castle’s later history.
Churches with distinctive architecture
The Protestant church is right by the lake and was built in 1929 by Zurich architect Emil Schäfer. Its tower combines a very shallow hipped roof with an unusually slender spire. A stained-glass panel depicting the “Adoration of the Three Kings” by Paul Morach of Zurich dates from the time of its construction. The architecture and artwork offer different clues for interpreting the church’s design.
The Catholic Church of St. Francis Xavier was built between 1909 and 1911 to plans by Albert Rimli, an architect from Frauenfeld. This important Neo-Gothic church also features elements of the Heimatstil style; the winged altarpiece is the only part of its original furnishings to have survived. Horn Castle and both churches are protected cultural assets in Horn. Those interested in architectural history can explore several clearly distinct examples, from the castle portal to the surviving altarpiece.
Swimming, lakeshore and cycle routes
The protected Horn lido is right on Lake Constance. Its facilities include a paddling pool for young children, steps providing access to the lake, a 3-metre diving tower in the lake, and 1-metre and 3-metre diving boards. The large lawn next to the lido offers space for sports and leisure.
Two cycle routes are relevant for touring cyclists. Horn is one of the starting points of the approximately 260-kilometre Lake Constance Cycle Path. National Cycle Route No. 2, the Rhine Route, runs from St. Margrethen via Horn to Kreuzlingen and continues to Basel. Horn’s protected natural heritage also includes the horse chestnut avenue “Rosskastanien Seestrasse West”.
Getting here and getting around
All scheduled boats stop at Zollplatz in Horn. If you are planning a boat trip, check the timetable for your day of travel. A direct bus from Horn railway station reaches St. Gallen main station in 30 minutes. Bikes can be taken on board at Horn railway station and at the boat landing at Zollplatz, making both transport hubs relevant when planning a trip by bike.
The railway station has 76 covered bicycle parking spaces. P+Rail Horn offers 22 parking spaces, including one for people with disabilities. Horn also has three harbours with around 320 berths for boats and 60 berths for dinghies.
Discover more destinations: Amriswil, Kesswil, Arbon, Romanshorn, Sommeri, Dozwil, Hefenhofen, Uttwil.
Back to the main travel overview: Arbon.
