Between the Alps and Lake Constance
In the deutschland.de series “My City”, Town Hall chiefs reveal their insider’s tips. Part 35: Mayor Andreas Brand of Friedrichshafen.
Mr Brand, what is special about your city?
Friedrichshafen is an incredibly dynamic city in a marvellous region: situated deep in the south of Germany, direct on Lake Constance, with a strong economy, healthy tourism and excellent quality of life for our residents. You can tell of course that the town was practically completely rebuilt after the war, but it’s exactly this that gives rise to its dynamics, the readiness to think and venture the new. Ferdinand Count von Zeppelin already showed this kind of daring in the city and not only made history with his zeppelins but also decisively shaped Friedrichshafen. From his legacy several companies have developed that today are active on the international market with great success – and have their headquarters here. They too contribute to the dynamic.
What do you see when you look out your office window?
Quite specifically, I can see from the Town Hall the Adenauerplatz, surrounded by residential and commercial buildings, and the Nicolas Church, a central square for our markets, ranging from weekly markets to Christmas fair. And in summer, very popular with our young people, a watercourse leads from the slightly higher Kirchplatz to a fountain in the Adenauerplatz and has developed into a marvellous place for happy water games. Translated, this means for me that a city government must keep the people on the spot in view, must be visible and approachable and have its feet planted firmly on the ground. And that’s what we are here in Friedrichshafen.
Where in your city do you most like to spend time?
The outdoor swimming pool and lake resort in the Fischbach district is for me a place to rest, swim and enjoy, and offers a spectacular panorama of the lake and the Alps – in winter as in summer.
Which figure from your city do you esteem the most?
Here I return to Ferdinand Count von Zeppelin. For Friedrichshafen he did really great things, his life and work still influences the city today. His oft-quoted maxim is still a striking motto: “You must only desire and believe in something in order for it to succeed”.
What place would you like to show tourists?
Most tourists to Friedrichshafen are of course drawn to the lake; that’s understandable. I find the scenic vantage points in the “hinterland” particularly attractive; there you can really see the countryside in its full glory. I like to recommend Raderach or the Haldenberg Chapel in Ailingen.
Where can you best get to meet people in your city?
At the festivities on the lakeside promenade – for example, the Seehasenfest, our hometown festival. Or at the Kulturufer, at the inter-cultural city festival. Or simply at the weekly market.
And where do you like best to spend your holidays?
In the Val Gardena in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. And every few years the yen to see distant places grabs me; then I’m drawn to the American West Coast.
Bicycle Fair “Eurobike”, 31 August to 4 September 2016 in Friedrichshafen
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