The island is separated from the city center by a six-metre-wide (20 ft) channel, and connected to it by a bridge.

The island is barely recognizable as such because the narrow channel is visible only to pedestrians walking on the wharf along the old waterfront.

In the central building of the hotel, we find the grave of Manuel Chrysoloras, who died here during the Council of Constance.

[5] The University of Constance was founded in 1966 and was initially housed in the south wing of the convent building.

Such finds have also been made in the swan pond between the southern shore of the Dominican island and the city park created in 1880.

[12] At the end of the second Century BCE Celtic people lived in fishing settlements on the territory of Constance and on the Dominican island.

[12] The Roman rule in the area around Lake Constance started in the year 15 CE with the conquest of Augustus.

He granted freedom of trade, which led to settlement forming around his hunting lodge, forming an additional layer of protection against his enemies, who included Alman von Stoffen, a Hungarian ruler, and an early Bavarian Duke.

Constantine was killed in an accident with a frightened horse and his enemies destroyed the castle and drove away most of the inhabitants of the island.

In 1100, bishop Gebhard (III) of Constance sought refuge on the island during the Investiture Controversy.

[15] According to various sources, the island was handed over to the Dominicans in 1220, and in 1234 was assigned as a location to build a monastery by an order of the prince bishop Heinrich von Tanne of Constance.

At the beginning of the Council of Constance, from 6 December 1414 to 24 March 1415, Jan Hus, considered the first Church reformer as he lived before Martin Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, was held in the dungeon of the monastery.

This was in the basement of the round tower on the eastern side, overlooking the lake, next to the Dominicans' dining room.