Konstanz Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: Council History

Follow the Great Schism through eight stops on your phone, pausing whenever you choose

This self-guided audio walking tour of Konstanz covers eight stops in the old town, from the thirteenth-century Rhine gate tower to the Council Building, using only your smartphone with no app to install. The audio guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and three other languages includes a quiz at each location. You walk at your own pace, set your own breaks, and pick the route back up whenever ready. Duration runs one and a half to two hours depending on how long you linger at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Konstanz's historic old town

• Start at thirteenth-century Rhine gate tower
• Visit Munster Unserer Lieben Frau cathedral
• See Peter Lenk's satirical fountain via St. Stephan church
• Pass through last surviving medieval city gate
• View red sandstone fountain on Marktstaette
• Explore lakeside Council Building
• End at Peter Lenk's rotating harbour statue

The experience

The tour starts at the Rhine gate tower, a thirteenth-century structure built on pile foundations to control the river crossing where Lake Constance narrows into the Seerhein. From there, eight stops trace the city's role in ending the Great Western Schism: the Munster cathedral on Munsterplatz where the Council held its sessions, the old parish church of St. Stephan, the last surviving gate of the medieval city wall, the red sandstone fountain on Marktstaette, and the Council Building itself: a fortified warehouse that hosted the 1417 conclave electing Pope Martin V. Each stop includes an audio story and a quiz delivered straight to your phone.

Peter Lenk's satirical fountain and his nine-metre rotating statue at the harbour pier bookend the route with civic irreverence: the sculptor's work mocks the emperor and pope of the Council era, a row that erupted when the statue appeared in 1993. Walking directions come via Google Maps, so you navigate without a separate app, and you choose when to move on: linger for coffee by the lake, backtrack to a stop, or skip ahead. The audio guide works in eight languages, and you need only an internet connection on your phone to start. Offline access is available if you download it beforehand.

What’s included

• Self-guided tour accessed on your smartphone with no app to install.
• audio guide in eight languages with an interactive quiz at each of the eight stops.
• walking directions via Google Maps.
• option to download audio for offline access.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ciceru

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone who wants to explore at their own rhythm without keeping pace with a guide or a group. The self-guided format means you stop for as long as you like, backtrack if something catches your interest, or take breaks whenever you choose: ideal if you prefer flexibility over a fixed schedule.

Top questions

How long does it take to walk all eight stops in Konstanz?

The tour takes one and a half to two hours depending on how long you spend at each location and whether you pause for breaks along the way.

What is the Council Building in Konstanz, and why does it matter?

The Council Building is a fortified warehouse on the lakeside where the Council of Constance held its sessions in the fifteenth century. In 1417, it hosted the conclave that elected Pope Martin V and ended the Great Western Schism, healing a papacy that had split three ways.

Do I need to download an app to use this audio walking tour?

No app is required. The tour runs entirely from your smartphone using a web link. You need an internet connection to stream the audio and access Google Maps for directions, though you can download the audio guide beforehand for offline use.

What languages is the audio guide available in?

The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and three additional languages.

Who is Peter Lenk, and what do his works in Konstanz represent?

Peter Lenk is a sculptor whose works in Konstanz are known for satirical commentary on local politics and history. His fountain near St. Stephan and his nine-metre rotating statue at the harbour pier both mock the emperor and pope of the Council era, turning solemn monuments into irreverent critiques of power.