Arbon

The next town of any size after Romanshorn is Arbon (alt. 398 m/1,306ft: pop. 12,300), a port and an industrial town situated on a peninsula, occupying the site of the Celtic settlement of Arbona and the Roman Arbor Felix. St Gallus died here about 645. From 1285 to 1798 the town was held by the Bishops of Constance. Northwest of the Alter Hafen (Old Harbor) and the Schlosshafen is the Roman Catholic parish church of St Martin (choir 1490, nave 1788; Madonna of 1525). Farther northwest is the 16th C. Schloss, built on the foundations of a Roman fort of A.D. 294, with a seven-story tower originally dating from 400, which contains a local historical museum (closed in winter). Other features of interest are the Römerhof (ca. 1500), the chapel of St Gallus (originally 10th C.; 14th C. frescoes) and the lakeside promenade 3km/2mi long.