Konstanz Self Guided Audio Walking Tour Papal Schism

Konstanz, Germany
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Duration1h 30m - 2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, Portuguese, English, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Konstanz sits where Lake Constance narrows into the Rhine, and for four years in the fifteenth century it hosted the Council that ended the Great Western Schism, healing a papacy that had split three ways. The city has been needling that history ever since: a nine-metre concrete courtesan rotates at the harbour mouth, holding up small caricatures of a pope and an emperor. This self-guided walking tour follows that streak of civic irreverence through eight stops in the old town, from the medieval Rhine gate tower to the Council Building where a pope was elected. Everything runs from your smartphone, with no app to install and no physical guide to keep up with. You get a map of all eight stops, walking directions through Google Maps, and a short audio story with an interactive quiz at each location. Walk at your own pace, stop for a coffee by the lake whenever you like, and pick the route back up when you are ready.

What's included

  • Self-guided tour on your smartphone, APP not needed!
  • Audioguide with quizzes about each point of interest along the tour
  • A physical guide (the tour is accessible on your smartphone)
  • Access offline. Internet needed on your phone

What to expect

  1. Rheintorturm
    Pass by
    The tour starts at this thirteenth-century gate tower on the Rhine, built on pile foundations to control the river crossing. Your audio guide explains why the point where Lake Constance narrows into the Seerhein became the city's strategic anchor, and a quiz follows.
  2. Pass by
    Munster Unserer Lieben Frau, the cathedral on Munsterplatz where the Council of Constance held its sessions. Your audio guide covers the building's long construction history and its tall neo-Gothic spire, followed by a quiz.
  3. Lenk-Brunnen
    Pass by
    Peter Lenk's satirical fountain, reached by way of St. Stephan, the old town's parish church on Sankt-Stephans-Platz. Your audio guide unpacks the sculptor's jabs at local politics and the church's role in the quarter, each with a quiz.
  4. Schnetztor
    Pass by
    The last surviving gate of the medieval city wall, straddling Hussenstrasse at the edge of the old town. Your audio guide explains how the gate worked as a checkpoint and why this one outlived the rest, followed by a quiz.
  5. Kaiserbrunnen
    Pass by
    The red sandstone fountain on Marktstaette, at the gateway between the harbour, the station and the medieval old town. Your audio guide points out the sculptural details that turned a solemn imperial monument into something much cheekier, followed by a quiz.
  6. Konzilgebaude Konstanz
    Pass by
    The lakeside Council Building, built as a fortified warehouse and used for the 1417 conclave that elected Pope Martin V and ended the Great Western Schism. Your audio guide sets out how the Council worked, followed by a quiz.
  7. Imperia
    Pass by
    The tour ends at Peter Lenk's nine-metre rotating statue at the tip of the harbour pier, holding up two small figures that mock the emperor and the pope of the Council era. Your audio guide covers the row it caused when it appeared in 1993, and a final quiz.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Start your self-guided tour at the entrance of the Rheintorturm, the medieval gate tower on the Rhine at Rheinsteig. Open your Ciceru experience nearby and follow the route on your smartphone.

End point

The tour ends near the Imperia statue at the tip of the harbour pier on Hafenstrasse. Take a moment to enjoy the lake views before finishing your walk.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
€7.00 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Ciceru · Booked through Viator
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