Like the migrating storks that enrich its surroundings each year, Lake Constance has attracted generations of northern Europeans, drawn by the mild climate and civilised lifestyle on the shores of the continent’s second-biggest lake.

From the almost Venetian island of Lindau in the far south of Germany, through Bregenz’s lakeside promenades and into neighbouring Switzerland, the eastern corner of the lake is a magnet for outsiders. Snow-capped mountains in winter, watersports in summer and a reputation for tasty food, good wine and cultural variety have made the area popular with seasonal tourists and permanent retirees alike.