It goes without saying how beautiful Switzerland is and how many marvellous places it has to offer, doesn't it? And I'm going to tell you about one of these places today: what to do in Schaffhausen
and the Rhine Falls.
Schaffausen is a town in the far north of Switzerland, situated on one of the bends of the Rhine, on its right bank, on the border with Germany.
In fact, I got to know this Swiss municipality on a trip to Germany, when we did a five-day itinerary following in the footsteps of the Waldesians and Huguenots.
I think it was the town that I liked the most and found the most beautiful. There are many places to stay when visiting, with options for every budget. If you prefer intimacy and a home-like atmosphere, consider booking an apartment https://www.top-hotels-switzerland.com/en/type/apartments-3/ for your stay in this charming town.
That's why I invite you to visit the sights of Schaffausen with me, especially the Rheinfall waterfall, one of the most beautiful falls I've ever seen.
Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls
Schaffausen's origins are closely linked to the Rhine river and the Rheinfall waterfall.
The first settlements of the colony appeared there around the year 1045, when sailors needed to dock their boats and unload their goods, as the rapids were impassable by ships.
The town of Schaffhausen is also important in terms of railways, as it is where the Swiss and German railway networks meet.
The town is surrounded by vineyards and is located between the Black Forest and Lake Constance, on the north side of the River Rhine. route through Switzerland.
Historic city centre
The old part of the city, the Schaffhausen Old Town, has many Renaissance buildings decorated with frescoes and exterior sculptures.
The old town centre is closed to traffic and cars are prohibited.
It is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Switzerland. There are several buildings - former merchants' houses - from the Gothic and Baroque periods, with painted façades and decorated, glazed windows, as well as the Church of St John, also from the Gothic period.
For those who like shopping, this is the place to be. This is where the city began, with the street market on what is now Vordergasse Street.
Munot Fortress
Right in Schaffhausen's medieval old town you can visit the Munot Fortress.
The fortress is one of the symbols of the city and can be seen from afar, as it is high up. It was built between 1564 and 1589.
Every night, the Munot bell is rung at 9pm by the guard who lives in the tower... an old tradition, dating back to when the chimes signalled the closing of the city gates.
River Rhine
The Rhine River in Schaffhausen surprised me.
This part of the river between Schaffhausen and the medieval town of Stein am Rhein - another well-preserved town with frescoed houses - has a special charm.
The water is very clean, even though the river is used for sailing, with many boat trips.
We saw several birds swimming and also a person swimming right in the middle of it. In fact, there are pools of water in the river, where an area is fenced off so that people can swim safely.
Along the riverbed there are promenades and several restaurants, great for a pleasant afternoon. The landscape along the Rhine is perfect for cycling, hiking, boating and other activities...
Zu Allerhelligen Museum
O Benedictine Monastery of All Saints was founded around 1050 and became the centre of the city.
Today it houses the Museum zu Allerheiligen, one of Schaffhausen's most significant sights, housing collections of archaeology, history, art and natural history in permanent exhibitions and special exhibitions.
There you can also visit the church, the herb garden and the largest cloister in Switzerland open to the public.
RheinFalls, the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen?
When I arrived at the Rhine Falls, I was awestruck by the beauty. It's not just the falls, but the whole region is beautiful!
The falls are 23 metres high and 150 metres wide, making it one of the largest in Europe.
Obviously, the Rhine Falls are one of the biggest attractions in the whole region.
There are several platforms and lookout points to enjoy the fascinating views of the masses of water between the rocks from various platforms.
Another attraction there is Wörth Castle, which sits on an island in the Rhine.
You can also take boat trips to the Rhine Falls, with shorter or longer round trips that take you close to the falls.
The boat even takes you to a large rock right in the middle of the falls, where there are stairs and a platform at the top to see the falls up close.
Remember that boat trips only take place from April to October.
Located on the other side of the Rhine is Laufen Castle (Schloss Laufen), whose facilities are partly occupied by a youth hostel.
The castle complex offers an impressive view of the Rhine Falls and the rocks in the middle of the river.
Laufen Castle high above, and boats taking tourists down below
On the one hand, you'll get fascinating impressions of the huge volumes of water that make the Rhine roar; on the other, you'll hear interesting details about rock restoration, tourism in earlier times and so on.
How to get to the Rhine Falls
The Rhine Falls can be reached from several cities, including Zurich, which is 46 kilometres away.
From Zurich, for example, you can get there by car via the A1 and A4 and arrive in 40 minutes. There, you can park in Neuhausen, as well as at Laufen Castle, right next to the falls.
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Another option from there is to go by train. You take the train from Zurich Main Station to Neuhausen Rheinfall station (50 minutes). From there you walk to the falls (220 metres).
From the centre of Schaffhausen, you can even go by on footif you want to brave the 3.2 kilometres.
Otherwise, you can go by caror by trainwith departures every 30 minutes, taking just 7 minutes to get there.
So, aren't the Rhine Falls impressive?
So, when you get the chance, put them on your itinerary!
Enjoy your trip!
Declev Dib-Ferreira
Declev Reynier Dib-Ferreira is a photographer and editor of the Professional Tourist blog, following all the adventures and stories told here closely. He is a science teacher and holds a PhD in the Environment. He also runs the education blog Diário do Professor.
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