The best thing about Lake Constance may not be the lake itself, but the view of it. This blue-green water, often like an emerald, with shimmering wave tops streaked by sun rays and spurred on by a gentle breeze. Or deep dark in storms, harsh but still a feast for the eyes. This hike to the 5 Länder Blick on the Gehrenberg will reward you with a fantastic view of Lake Constance. But where do the 5 countries come from? Lake Constance is the third largest inland body of water in Central Europe; only Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Balaton in Hungary are larger. But Lake Constance is not bordered by 5 countries, it is mostly enclosed by Germany, with another long section by Switzerland, and a smaller one by Austria. Liechtenstein is also just around the corner, between Switzerland and Austria, so the region is often called a four-country region. But the 5 countries of the 5-country view on the Gehrenberg? Find out for yourself on-site with the help of the information board. See also as a teaser on the following pictures, some explanations are also given on this board. Like, very helpful, also the names of the neighbouring peaks in Switzerland. In good weather they are almost within reach, and often still with (by now far too few) powdered peaks.
Hiking at Lake Constance
Hiking is the perfect combination of getting close to nature and a nice recreational activity for your body. Here are two hiking routes for you to the 5 Länder Blick on the Gehrenberg, one of my most beautiful hiking routes on the northern shore of Lake Constance between Oberteuringen and Markdorf, roughly Oberschwaben and the Linzgau. Both start at hikers’ car parks, so they can also be easily reached by car or motor vehicle. By the way, the 5 countries of the viewpoint refer to Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. You can easily open the following hiking routes via Google Maps on your smartphone or tablet, or simply follow your gut feeling from the respective starting point to reach this picturesque area.
Hiking route 1 to the 5-country view at Gehrenberg from the hikers’ car park in Bitzenhofen / Oberteuringen
The hikers’ car park at Bitzenhofen in Oberteuringen is an ideal starting point for a hike through or around the Gehrenberg. The distance to the 5 Länder Blick is about 2.8 km, as a circular route a nice relatively relaxed hike of almost 6 km. The direct route mostly leads straight through the forest, on wide paths. Bicycles or even prams are also “possible” on this of the two recommended routes, although it is certainly more pleasant for bicycles. And on foot anyway.
Address (according to Google Maps) for hikers’ car park: Gnadenau 1, 88677 Markdorf
Address (according to Google Maps) for Fünfländerblick viewpoint: Fünfländerblick, 88677 Markdorf.
Hiking route 2 to the 5-country view at the Gehrenberg from the car park at the Gehrenberg tower
This second hiking route starting in Markdorf can be hiked in two lengths. However, both are less suitable for prams, more suitable for bicycles, and best of all for hikers. The longest of the two routes starts from the Gehrenberg tower, with a hikers’ car park directly adjacent, while the shorter one starts from Markdorf near the historic water reservoir. The longer of the two routes is recommended not only for the fantastic view of Lake Constance from the Gehrenberg tower. However, if you are a little short of time, the shorter route from the Vogelsang hiking car park will do just as well. The longer route is 3.8 km, the shorter 2.8 km, each for one stretch. I recommend taking the more southerly route on Google Maps, at least on one way; the shortest route leads directly through the forest and does not exactly reward you with a fantastic panorama of Lake Constance.
Address (according to Google Maps) for the hikers’ car park at the Gehrenbergturm: Gehrenbergturm car park, K7750, 88677 Markdorf
Address (according to Google Maps) for hikers’ car park in Markdorf: Vogelsang hikers’ car park, Möggenweilerstraße, 88677 Markdorf
Address (according to Google Maps) for Fünfländerblick viewpoint: Fünfländerblick, 88677 Markdorf
Longer route from the Gehrenberg tower
