“A Swedish prince awakens Mainau Island with a kiss and transforms it into a huge, mediterranean garden of Eden”. Mainau's success story from 1932 onward is in large part due to the energy and passion of the count, who ploughed all his energies into the island, which was his dream project and became his life's work. He carried out overall redevelopment work and transformed the island into its current, mediterranean state, later assisted by his second wife. Although he relinquished his claim to the Swedish throne, the former Prince had long since become the “King” of Lake Constance when he died in 2004 aged 94. The work of the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation is being carried on by two of the count's children in the spirit of its creator.

Dreams of mediterranean climes and the longing for the land of the citrus groves have both become reality on a small island in Lake Constance. Blessed with an excellent location and climate, its mere 45 hectares are home to an extraordinary diversity of flowers, trees and shrubs. Firm favourites with the public are the palm house, with its collection of 1,200 orchids, and the largest butterfly house in Germany, which contains 1,000 examples of exotic species. The impressive baroque palace, visible from afar above the trees, dates back to the Teutonic Order of Knights from the 13th century. The church and palace, built by Johann Caspar Bagnato from 1732, are now a popular setting for weddings and classical concerts.
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