Marienschlucht

Useful Information

Location:	78476 Allensbach. A81/A98 Kreuz Hegau follow B33 towards Constance to exit Allensbach, to Langenrain, turn right then left to Golf Club Konstanz, turn left on Wanderparkplatz. (47.765063469045700, 9.094708824231754)
Open:	temporarily closed. [2024]
Fee:	temporarily closed. [2024]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided. V=150,000/a [2010]
Photography:	erlaubt
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Tourist-Information, Im Zollhaus, Hafenstraße 5, 78351 Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Tel. +49-7773-930040. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1897	first developed.
1978	trails renovated.
1986	relief of Mary installed.
2000	trails renovated.
2015	the gorge is closed after a landslide.
2022	plans for securing the path presented.
2024	scheduled reopening of the gorge.

Description

photography — Marienschlucht, Alpenvorland, Germany. Public Domain.

The Marienschlucht (Mary’s Gorge) is located opposite Überlingen on the south side of Lake Überlingen, the north-western arm of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The gorge is up to 30 m deep, cut into the Molasse rock and leads from the plateau 100 m down to the lake. It begins at Kargegg, a hamlet near Langenrain. It ends at Lake Constance, where there is a kiosk, a barbecue site, a bathing beach and a landing place. Many visitors walk to the gorge, about 6 km from Bodman or 4 km from Wallhausen. There is also a boat service from Bodman, Ludwigshafen, Sipplingen and Überlingen which stops at the gorge. You can also hire a canoe at the Strandbad Wallhausen and take it to the gorge. Visiting the gorge is quite easy, but requires a lot of climbing, with a number of wooden steps to negotiate. The hiking trail is therefore only suitable for experienced hikers and sturdy footwear is essential. The trail is not suitable for families, pushchairs or wheelchairs. Nevertheless, around 150,000 visitors visit the gorge every year.

The Marienschlucht gorge was built in 1897, at a time when Lake Constance had already been developed for tourism. At this time, Othmar (*1868-✝1930), the son of Baron Johann Franz von Bodman, became engaged to Countess Maria Gräfin von Walderdorff (*1871-✝1958). The gorge was therefore christened Maria-Schlucht in her honour, and some also jokingly referred to it as Braut-Maria-Schlucht (Bride Maria Gorge). However, the name soon changed to Marienschlucht and was associated with the Christian Saint Mary by the local population. The family has accepted this change of meaning in the meantime, and in 1986 Wilderich Graf von und zu Bodman had a relief of the Virgin Mary made by the Radolfzell artist Markus Daum at the entrance to the gorge.

As always with gorges, the pathways have to be regularly restored. Rain, rubble and falling tree trunks damage the paths and work becomes necessary. The gorge was closed on Easter 2005 after heavy rainfall and was not reopened until May 2008. After the dramatic landslide in spring 2015, there is an acute danger to life in the Marienschlucht area. A woman and a man were buried when several tonnes of earth and rock slid down. The man was able to free himself and was taken to hospital injured, the woman died in the masses of rubble. The path and the Kargegg castle ruins were closed, and the gorge has not been accessible by boat or land since. The riverside path towards Bodman and the riverside path from Burghof to Wallhausen are also closed. In 2022, at least a plan for restoration was drawn up, but the restoration will probably take until the end of 2024. It is not yet clear when the gorge will actually be reopened.

The gorge is up to 30 m deep, cut into the rocks of the Molasse by a small river, with a vertical range of 100 m from the plateau to the lake. It starts at Kargegg, a small village near Langenrain. It ends at the Bodensee (Lake Konstanz), where a small kiosk and a beach can be found. Many people reach the gorge by foot along the beach from Bodman (6 km) or Wallhausen (4 km). There is also a regular ship from Bodman, Ludwigshafen, Sipplingen, and Überlingen which stops at the gorge. At the Strandbad Wallhausen canoes are rented, and it is possible to reach the gorge with the canoe. The trip through the gorge is very easy, but has a lot of steps. Some physical fitness and the ability to climb a long staircase are required.