Friedrichshafen, famed as the birthplace of the zeppelin, is the largest town on Lake Constance after Konstanz, a considerable industrial town and an important port on the lake.
In the Friedrichshafen town center (rebuilt after wartime destruction) is the Late Gothic parish church of St Nicholas (R.C.). Also in the town center is the five-story Town Hall (Rathaus; 1953-56), which houses the Lake Constance Museum (Bodenseemuseum; prehistory and early historical period, art since the Gothic period) and a collection of models and parts of zeppelins.
To the west of Friedrichshafen's Graf-Zeppelin-Haus, set in a park, is the Schloss (1654-1701), with its conspicuous church. It is now the residence of Duke Karl von Württemberg.
From Friedrichshafen's commercial harbor Seestrasse and its continuation on the lakeside road run west, passing the beautiful Stadtgarten (Zeppelin Memorial), to the boating harbor; fine views of the lake and the Alps.
A little way north of Friedrichshafen's harbor in Friedrichstrasse, is the Upper Swabian School Museum, with typical classrooms of 1850, 1900 and 1930.
The world's largest Zeppelin museum commemorates the airships built in Friedrichshafen. Located in the Bauhaus-style old railway station, the main attraction is a full-scale reconstruction of part of the LZ127 Graf Zeppelin with dining room and lounge.