Sightseeing

Stein am Rhein enchants with its cohesive historic old town, the ensemble of excellently preserved town houses decorated with façade paintings, oriels and stepped gables, as well as medieval gates and towers. The small Swiss town on the banks of the High Rhine is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the international Lake Constance region.

Stein am Rhein can easily be reached by a scheduled boat of the Rhine Navigation Company https://www.urh.ch/, a romantic and unforgettable river trip.

Schaffhausen is undoubtedly one of the most charming towns in Switzerland. But most visitors leave the cosy little town on the left on their way to the Rhine Falls. Yet the Rhine Falls are not in Schaffhausen at all, but in the neighbouring municipality of Neuhausen. A mistake to simply leave out Schaffhausen! Even if Schaffhausen neglects its sights somewhat, you can still discover one or two unexpected treasures in the town:

• The traffic-free old town with its typical bay windows and frescoes on the houses.
• The Munot Fortress as a landmark
• The All Saints Monastery
• The Rhybadi, the oldest box bath in Switzerland

Rheinau Monastery is located on an island, an oasis of tranquillity. The baroque monastery church is open to the public. The old buildings now house a music centre.

“The monastery was built in 778 by Duke Wolfhard, the son of Ruthard and father-in-law of the Carolingian ruler Louis the Pious” – a foundation that initially had to contend with only vaguely named difficulties:

“The first half century of the foundation seems to have been less than happy, so that Wolfhard’s son Wolfinus or Ethico and grandson Wolfenus had to rebuild the monastery from the ground up; Wolfenus was assisted as spiritual advisor by the Scottish monk Fintan, who died in 878 in the odour of sanctity.

A hiking trail leads from Uhwiesen to Dachsen and the Bachdelle swimming pool on the Rhine.

At the small kiosk you can get bathing information and enjoy a snack. Swimming in the Rhine is not without its dangers, but it is a dream. You can let yourself float with the water from the bunker (a few minutes’ walk upstream) to the Bachdelle. It is advisable to take swimming aids with you.

The children can have fun in the pool!

St. Gallen, the capital of the canton of St. Gallen and the centre of Eastern Switzerland.

In Eastern Switzerland, the St.Gallen-Lake Constance adventure region awaits with a varied offer and many sights for every taste. The cultural metropolis of St.Gallen enchants with a picturesque old town and a rich historical heritage. The Abbey District with its baroque cathedral and the world-famous Abbey Library is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the city’s landmark.

Appenzell is located in north-eastern Switzerland, surrounded by nature, gentle mountains, at the foot of the Alpstein massif. Hiking trails and cable cars connect several mountain peaks, including that of the towering Säntis and Kronberg. On the steep rock faces of Ebenalp, the Wildkirchli cave complex houses a 17th-century chapel and a hermitage. Nearby is the old Aescher mountain inn nestled against the side of a steep cliff. Appenzell’s car-free centre is characterised by wooden houses with colourful façades.

A highlight of the tourist attractions in the canton of Appenzell are, on the one hand, alpine runs and the Landsgemeinden.

The city of Constance is located on Lake Constance on German soil. The neighbouring Swiss town is Kreuzlingen. You can reach Kreuzlingen from Schaffhausen by taking a boat trip up the Rhine.

From 1414 to 1418, the city of Constance on Lake Constance was the centre of the Christian world. Up to 70,000 people came to the town of 6,000 inhabitants at that time. Clerical and secular delegations from all over the world struggled for four years in medieval Constance to resolve inner-church conflicts and thus also to establish a stable political order.

Today, Constance is a cosmopolitan city with many sights and water sports and leisure opportunities.

Not to be missed on a visit to Constance is a visit to Mainau Island, a flower paradise.