Fellchen

Inhabiting the pure waters of Lake Constance, or Bodensee as they call it in Germany, fellchen is a type of common white fish whose natural habitat includes Siberian streams and Alpine lakes. With a shade of green or olive down its spine and streaks of bright silver on its sides, this freshwater fish has a long body that reaches up to 50 or 60 cm and is characterized by a fairly solid flesh and very few bones.

Often referred to as märane in Northern Germany and renke in Bavaria, the fish is considered a culinary specialty of the region, celebrated during a food festival that takes place on the German shore, featuring fellchen and other fish from the lake.

Fellchen can be prepared in numerous ways - raw, grilled, fried, or smoked. In recent years, however, the fish have significantly reduced in size and number as a consequence of the lake's nutrient deficiency and the increased cleanliness of its waters.