Mit dem E-Bike zu Kunstwerken von Peter Lenk am Überlinger See

The works of art by sculptor Peter Lenk can be found in numerous places around Lake Constance. Some of them can be easily visited from Überlingen by bike or e-bike.

The tour starts at Überlingen Landungsplatz, where the "Der Bodenseereiter" fountain immediately catches the eye. The sculptor, who lives in Bodman, was inspired by Gustav Schwab's famous ballad The Rider of Lake Constance when designing his fountain, which was unveiled in 2000. The poet recounts a legend from the 16th century, according to which a rider unknowingly crosses the frozen Lake Constance and dies of fright after becoming aware of it.

Before getting into the saddle, it is also worth making a detour to the inner courtyard of the Gasthof Krone in Kronengasse, just a few steps away, where the Napoleon monument by Peter Lenk is somewhat hidden.

Follow the signs for the Lake Constance cycle path westwards past Sipplingen to Ludwigshafen. The Relief "Ludwig's Heritage" has been on the façade of the customs house at the harbor since 2008. There are plenty of famous political figures to discover here.On the way to the nature reserve in the direction of Bodman, you will come across the sculpture "Yolanda", which was created by Miriam Lenk, the daughter of Peter Lenk.

The path continues through the Lake Constance shore nature reserve, which connects the two towns of Ludwigshafen and Bodman on the shore. The idyllic landscape here is combined with fantastic views of the lake. A short stop at the viewing platform is well worthwhile. From the nature reserve, you walk through the center of Bodman.

At the harbor is the Seeum, on the outer wall of which the work "The Ship of Fools" has been located since 2018. The relief made of cast limestone weighs several tons and is the first work by Peter Lenk that can be admired in his home town. On the way, it is worth making a detour to the artist's garden at Kaiserpfalzstr. 20, where numerous works of art can be seen and where guided tours are offered by Lenk himself.

Tip:
If you want to spread this tour over two days, you can take the boat from Ludwigshafen back to Überlingen during the shipping season from Easter to mid-October and and visit the remaining Lenk sculptures.

For those who cycle the whole tour, the next stop on the Lenk cycle tour is the Lake Constance town of Constance. The route there leads along the Lake Constance cycle path via Stahringen and Güttingen to Radolfzell and then along the shores of Untersee via Markelfingen and past Hegne Monastery and the island of Reichenau towards Constance. The Lake Constance cycle path runs parallel to the railroad tracks for a long time before leaving them after Petershausen station and heading south. Cross the cycle bridge in the direction of Constance city center, where you will find Lenk's "Triumphal Arch" fountain in the middle of the main road "Laube"

The route then continues through the old town of Constance (please dismount and push if necessary) to the harbor, where the Imperia, probably Lenk's most famous work of art and the landmark of the city of Constance, welcomes visitors to the city.

From Constance, you can now reach Meersburg on the northern side of the lake by boat operated by Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe. Outside of the shipping season, cyclists can follow the cycle path signs from Constance city center to the car ferry to Constance/Staad, from where they can cross over to Meersburg around the clock, 365 days a year.

In the Meersburg harbor of the BSB (the ferries dock at another harbor), you will find the "Magic Column", the last piece of steering art on the round trip. Numerous famous personalities from the city, including Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, have been immortalized here.Finally, you now follow the Lake Constance cycle path via Unteruhldingen and past the Birnau monastery church and the district of Nußdorf back to Überlingen.

In 2023, the "Fauler Pelz" municipal gallery on Überlingen's Landungsplatz is showing an exhibition by Peter Lenk on his Stuttgart 21 monument. A visit to the exhibition is therefore the crowning glory of the Lenk Day on western Lake Constance.