Mainau
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Mainau is an island in Lake Constance.
The owner of the island is the Swedish Count Bernadotte, former Royal Prince of Sweden and Duke of Smalandia. It is one of the main tourists attractions of Lake Constance. Beside flowers, there is a great park landscape with beautiful views on the lake. There is also a greenhouse with tropical climate and thousands of butterflies in it.
In summer you will see lots of small sailing boats. The Mainau bay is where the university sailing club is located.
Until the Napoleonic mediatisations and secularizations of small German fiefs, this island belonged to the Order of Teutonic Knights. Then sold to private ownership. In 1850's, the then Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden purchased the island. It and the manor belonged to his heirs. The former Grand Duke Frederick II of Baden was succeeded by a cousin as Sovereign (because of Salic Law), but the private property went to his sister, Victoria of Baden, the Queen of Sweden. She testamented it to his second son's descendants. Lennart Bernadotte received the property as grandson of Queen Victoria.
External link
- Island Webcam (http://www.uni-konstanz.de/struktur/campus/webcam/index.php)de:Mainau