Thurgau’s Napoleon Trail, the gardens at Arenenberg and historic castles give Salenstein several travel highlights, combining landscape, culture and lake scenery. The trail runs from Siegershausen to Mannenbach-Salenstein, through fields and orchards with views of Lake Untersee. It passes Salenstein Castle and continues to Mannenbach-Salenstein railway station. Public bathing spots are also practical places to consider when planning your trip.
Hiking among fields, orchards and the lake
The Thurgau Napoleon Trail is signposted in both directions. Its route through a patchwork of fields and orchards offers spectacular views of Lake Untersee. Salenstein Castle is a named landmark along the way; from there, the trail continues to Mannenbach-Salenstein railway station. This option therefore puts the route and landscape at the center. That sets it apart from a museum visit, where a guided tour provides the historical interpretation.
Gardens, viticulture and the Napoleon Museum
At Arenenberg Castle, you can discover a medieval patrician garden, vineyards and modern teaching gardens belonging to the agricultural school. The range spans a historic garden, viticulture and the agricultural school’s gardens. The Arenenberg vines grow across three hectares in one of the most beautiful locations on Lake Untersee. Historically, Salenstein’s mild climate also encouraged the planting of vines, fruit crops such as cherries, and gardens.
The Napoleon Museum Arenenberg offers a guided tour of rooms furnished with original objects and shows how Queen Hortense lived with her son Louis, the future Napoleon III. The museum holds special exhibitions every year. If a particular exhibition is a deciding factor for your visit, check the dates in advance. The tour and annual exhibitions focus on something different from the signposted walking route: here, the focus is on the story of Hortense and her son.
Castles and local history
Salenstein Castle was built in the 11th century and gave the municipality its name and coat of arms. Eugensberg Castle is located within the territory of Salenstein, on the southern shore of Lake Untersee opposite Reichenau Island. It is protected by a legally binding designation and classified as particularly valuable. Its extensive English-style park includes gravel paths, a terrace, a fountain, a water lily pond, an ice cellar, a woodland pond and an avenue of golden chain trees.
Other castle stories can be associated with the individual villages: Louisenberg Castle is on Lake Untersee in Mannenbach. Hubberg Castle, first mentioned in 1377, is in Fruthwilen. The village of Salenstein itself lies on a terrace of the SeerĂĽcken between Berlingen and Ermatingen. Together, these place names provide precise orientation if you would like to explore beyond the village that gives the municipality its name.
Bathing spots and precise location details
Badi Salenstein is a public bathing spot on Lake Untersee, with a sunbathing lawn, a small beach and a bathing island. Facilities may change; if this bathing spot is important to your plans, check its current status before visiting. Mannenbach also has the public Badi Mannenbach.
If you specifically want to stay in the village of Salenstein or one of the municipality’s other villages, check the precise location listed for an accommodation. This will make your chosen base clear as you weigh up the hiking trail, museum, castle history and bathing spots.
Discover more destinations: Mannenbach, Langrickenbach, Tägerwilen, Bottighofen, Kreuzlingen, Wäldi, Lipperswil, Gottlieben.
Back to the broader travel overview: Kreuzlingen.
