Like this! Or differently? 1200 years of Radolfzell – Exhibition Villa Bosch

In the 1200 years of its history, Radolfzell has reinvented itself time and again – through
decisions that have shaped its community, opened up new paths and closed others.

To mark the anniversary, the exhibition looks back at history and ahead to the future.
What historical decisions have shaped Radolfzell and could things have turned out differently
? What challenges does the city of today face and what paths will it
take?

Under the title “Like this! Or different? 1200 years of Radolfzell”, the exhibition focuses on such
decisions in order to highlight possible pasts and possible futures. The result is
a unique exhibition experience that conveys knowledge, encourages reflection and promotes
social dialog.

The “Milchwerk” or the “Tanke”, the “Rathaus” or the “See” – in the rooms of the Villa Bosch
, visitors enter familiar places and rediscover them in surprising ways. What
would happen if Radolfzell had become a university town? What if the town had once again
become the site of a barracks? And what if the sinking lake level created a land connection
to Reichenau?

To the next 1200 years

The conclusion and highlight of the exhibition is a time capsule. For centuries,
people have been preserving messages for posterity, hidden in foundation stones, church spires or in
attics. They contain things of such great importance that they are intended to stand the test of time and
may only be opened in the distant future.

The exhibition takes up this tradition and poses the question: What should Radolfzell leave behind for the future
? Which memories, experiences and hopes are worth preserving for future
generations?

At the interactive stations of the exhibition, visitors can contribute their own thoughts and wishes in a playful way
and actively participate in developing a vision for Radolfzell at
– at the end, they decide for themselves what should be included in the time capsule and preserved until the next anniversary at
.

City and universities

The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Radolfzell Cultural Office, the University of
Konstanz and the HTWG Konstanz. In the winter semester 2025/26, students of
History, Architecture and Communication Design conceived the exhibition and implemented it in the
summer semester.

The exhibition is the seventh project of the interdisciplinary cooperation “Mediale
Ausstellungsgestaltung”, which has repeatedly set innovative accents and has received many awards
.

The exhibition opens on July 31, 2026 in the Villa Bosch and can be seen until November 15.
The exhibition will conclude with the handover of the sealed time capsule containing the hopes and
visions of the people of Radolfzell – it will be opened at the next 1200th anniversary in 3226!

Reading of the historical Lake Constance novel “Flüsterzeit” – Petra Palumbo

“Flüsterzeit – zwischen Herkunft und Sehnsucht” tells the moving story of the Manogg family over several generations. Rooted in the picturesque landscape between Lake Constance, Hegau and the Swabian Alb, the descendants wrestle with the shadows of the past and the challenges of an uncertain future. From the turmoil of the German Empire to the collapse of the Weimar Republic, personal destinies are interwoven with the great upheavals of the time. Between the southern German provinces and pulsating metropolises, the life of a family unfolds as they set out without denying their origins. A captivating novel about home, departure, loss and new beginnings and an impressive testimony to the times.

“Flüsterzeit – zwischen Herkunft und Sehnsucht” is the first historical novel by Petra Palumbo, who was previously known as a crime writer under the name Luzi van Gisteren. Petra Palumbo was born in 1973 in Singen am Hohentwiel and studied business administration before working for an international corporation in Munich for more than twenty years. She now lives with her family in Radolfzell on Lake Constance, where her father’s roots lie. Writing has been her passion since early childhood: the author wrote her first book at the age of 13. She has been teaching creative writing to young people and adults for many years, including at adult education centers and as part of literary education projects. She works professionally in marketing.

Admission is free.

Please register:
museum@radolfzell.de
or phone 07732/81-530 (Thu-Sun, 11am-5pm)