In the city of Friedrichshafen, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany

 "The forces of nature cannot be eliminated but they may be balanced one against the other."

 — Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin
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(in southwestern Germany) The city of Friedrichshafen, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, lies on the north shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee), about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Zürich, Switzerland. It was formed in 1811 by Frederick I of Württemberg as a result of the unification of the former free imperial city of Buchhorn and the monastery and village of Hofen. A Benedictine convent since 1050, Hofen became a provostship of monks in 1420; it was suppressed in 1802, and passed to Württemberg in 1805. Buchhorn was assigned to Württemberg in 1810. Before World War II, in which the city was heavily damaged, Zeppelin airships were built here, and it now has a Zeppelin museum.

+ Near the borders of both Switzerland and Austria. Friedrichshafen is the capital of the Bodensee district in Germany's federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Now a lake resort with an active convention center and an annual fair, Friedrichshafen has ferry connections to Switzerland. Its industries include electronics and communications. The city produces machinery, motors, gears, turbines, and bicycles. (Friedrichshafen also has research institutes and a trade school.)

+ Friedrichshafen is located on a gently curved bay on the north shore of Lake Constance and on the southwest edge of the Schussen (a tributary of the Bodensee, which drains to the Rhine River, in the southern portion of Upper Swabia in Baden-Württemberg). The city sits at an altitude of about 395 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Constance (and some 500 meters in its Ailingen quarter.) The city's center is located just to the west of the confluence of the Rotach River and Lake Constance. Coming from the town of Oberteuringen, the Rotach reaches Friedrichshafen west of the village of Ailingen and flows through some smaller districts before spilling into the lake. (The somewhat larger Schussen touches the northeast corner of the urban area.)

+ Airship construction in the first third of the 20th century attracted considerable industry and contributed significantly to this city's relative prosperity. Friedrichshafen is best known for having been home to the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Airship Company, the aircraft manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke, ZF Friedrichshafen, a manufacturer of transmission systems, and MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, the engine manufacturing company founded by Wilhelm Maybach.

+ Friedrichshafen is also great for outdoor-loving families. Swim, bike, hike, or explore some of the museums here while visiting the beautiful city. Autumn is a great time for strolling along the historically themed trails in this area. Many visitors enjoy visiting The Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen, which houses the world's largest aviation collection. (It also chronicles the history of the Zeppelin airships and combines technology and art.)