Schaffhausen may not be top of the brain when considering spots to visit out travelling to Switzerland, yet it totally ought to be. This little notable town in northern Switzerland has a lot of appeal and an amazing measure of attractions.
With Renaissance period engineering, a flawless riverside area, closeness to Switzerland’s biggest cascade, and openings for outside exercises. It’s an enchanting archaic town, found simply 51km north of Zürich close to the German line.
What to See and Do in Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is little and doesn’t take long to investigate. So whether you just have one day in Schaffhausen, there’s still an ideal opportunity to do a side excursion out of the city.
This is what I figured out how to see and do during my visit to Schaffhausen!
Meander Through Schaffhausen’s Medieval Old Town
Schaffhausen has a great vehicle free Old Town. It is full of fascinating subtleties from wellspring sculptures, complicatedly painted exteriors, embellished straight windows, and stone clock towers.
I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be enchanted by the design in Schaffhausen. Since it’s so not quite the same as the thing I’m accustomed to finding in Canada. Planned as a demonstration of abundance, the structures in the Old Town are enhanced with oriel windows (there are 171 of them), improving window trim, and luxuriously painted veneers.
Oriel window on Haus zum Goldenen Ochsen
The most outwardly dazzling structure in Schaffhausen’s Old Town is Haus Zum Ritter (House of the Knight). The outside highlights quite possibly the main Renaissance frescoes north of the Alps, a wall painting commending common temperances. The first frescoes were taken out in 1935 for safeguarding in the All Saints Museum. So the façade you see today is a diversion.
Another feature of the Old Town is Fronwagplatz, a focal square and mainstream meeting place for local people. Walkway bistros and shops outline the square. However, what I loved best were the sculptures that stand noticeably over the public wellsprings. Like wherever in Switzerland, it’s protected to drink the water from the city wellsprings.
Appreciate the Views from Munot Fortress
As an image of the city, the Munot is an absolute necessity when in Schaffhausen. This sixteenth-century round fort is based on a slope sitting above the Old Town. It is the best vantage point for appreciating the city and encompassing scene.
The Munot is encircled by a little grape plantation and a channel. That as opposed to f water, is currently full of water a house to a group of neglected deer. Strangely, the stag of the gathering is constantly named after the city’s present chairman. What an abnormal honour!
There’s not much in plain view inside the post. But rather once you stroll up the bent incline to the top, you’ll be remunerated with a general perspective on the Rhine River and Schaffhausen’s Old Town. I cherished the view a lot. I moved to the highest point of the post multiple times during my outing to Schaffhausen!
Pause and Smell the Roses at Munot Rose Garden
Opposite the Munot is a little rose nursery. Here you can keep on appreciating perspectives on Schaffhausen while enjoying the fragrant, sweet smell of blossoms.
There are roughly 170 types of roses. Around supports and trees, making the nursery a quiet spot to sit and rest. Before proceeding with my independent visit through Schaffhausen.
Walk and Dine Along the River
In the wake of visiting the Munot, I made a beeline for the Rhine to go for a short stroll along the waterfront.
This was my #1 spot to photo the Munot because I could perceive how the grape plantation pleasantly diverged from the monumental stone fortification approaching over the condos. I continued reasoning it was a scene fit for a postcard!
Soon thereafter I returned to the riverside to eat at Güterhof, a reestablished distribution centre that is presently home to an eatery, bistro, mixed drink bar and parlour. Eating adjacent to the Rhine, under the stars, was the ideal finish to my day in Schaffhausen.
All Saints Abbey
This previous Benedictine religious community is presently a focal point of history, workmanship, and culture in Schaffhausen. The complex has a couple of various locales of interest, including the Allerheiligen Museum, a Romanesque church, spice garden, aristocrat’s burial ground, and Switzerland’s biggest house open to general society.
I passed on visiting the museum, yet delighted in walking around the order and seeing the Schiller Bell (Schillerglocke). The ringer was projected in 1486, gauges a noteworthy 4.5 tons, and was utilized in Allerheiligen house of prayer until 1895.
Respect the Rhine Falls
Having investigated Schaffhausen’s little Old Town, I chose to get a train to the close by Rhine Falls.
At 150 meters wide and 23 meters tall, the Rhine Falls are the biggest cascade in Europe. In the late spring, around 600,000 litres of water for every subsequent sprinkle down to the Rheinfall bowl, making a light fog noticeable all around.
Truly, when I previously saw the falls I was stunned that this was the biggest cascade in Europe since I’ve unquestionably seen greater in Canada (it’s no Niagara Falls). Although the Rhine Falls did not have that “amazing” factor, it was a beautiful spot to take a walk.
From the train station on the southern riverbank, I strolled down a wooded way to the water and got my first look at the Rhine Falls. The vantage point was simply alright, yet had I needed to pay, I might have gotten to a survey stage that was directly next to the falls.
Then, I went up to Schloss Laufen, the precipice top mansion that ignores the Rhine Falls. From that point, I strolled across the extension toward the northern riverbank where there were vastly improved perspectives on the cascade. I particularly enjoyed perceiving how the water streamed past a huge stone in the falls. If you need, you can even go on a boat outing to this stone island and experience the tumbles from the review stage at the top.
I kept strolling right to Schlössli Wörth, a little stronghold where the Rhine Falls boat travels depart from, before backtracking to the train station on the northern riverbank and getting back to Schaffhausen.
Cycle to Stein am Rhein
If you have two days in Schaffhausen, I prescribe leasing a bicycle and cycling to Stein am Rhein, one of Switzerland’s best safeguarded archaic towns.
Stein am Rhein
The ride is simple and all around checked (Rhein Route 2), voyaging 17 km on generally level path and streets, a part of which is really in Germany. The course generally tracks with the Rhine River and passes by some humble communities, fields, grape plantations, and timberland.
My #1 spot along the cycle course from Schaffhausen to Stein am Rhein was Diessenhofen, a charming town on the opposite side of the stream. From the bicycle way, I got a pleasant perspective on the town’s congregation, some lumber outlined structures, and a wooden covered extension.
Once at Stein am Rhein, I went for a stroll around the archaic Old Town and respected the half-wooded houses and their intricately painted veneers.
Rathausplatz, the clamouring town square, has the absolute most wonderful structures, however, there were other intriguing developments dispersed all through the town, including the reestablished town entryways. It was enjoyable to just meander the cobblestone roads and see what I could discover!
After lunch you can ride back to Schaffhausen or return by boat, appreciating a loosening up voyage on the Rhine.
Last Thoughts About My Trip to Schaffhausen
I immediately went gaga for Schaffhausen and recall thinking from the highest point of the Munot that if the remainder of Switzerland was in any way similar to this, I realized I planned to have an extraordinary excursion.
There are numerous reasons why Schaffhausen stood apart such a huge amount during my TWO WEEKS IN SWITZERLAND, aside from its conspicuous magnificence. I appreciated the design and simple admittance to cycling ways, the stream, and Rhine Falls, however above all I enjoyed the climate of the town and how cheerful I felt while I was there.
Tips for Visiting Schaffhausen
Arriving:
Schaffhausen is a 50-hour long train ride from Zurich’s air terminal.
Rhine Falls:
The Rhine Falls is a brief train ride from Schaffhausen. There are two stations you can decide to show up at/leave from-Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall or Neuhausen Rheinfall. I suggest showing up at Schloss Laufen, strolling across the waterway and down to the lower part of the falls, at that point leaving from Neuhausen Rheinfall.
Administrations and exercises at the Rhine Falls incorporate a guest place, history display, cafés, bistros, keepsake shops, boat travels, seeing decks, strolling trail, and an undertaking park with rope courses.
It’s allowed to visit the falls, however, you do need to pay to get to the survey stages on the southern bank close to Schloss Laufen (incorporates admission to the Historama display). Boat travels and the experience park additionally cost extra.
Cycling from Schaffhausen to Stein am Rhein:
The bicycle ride to Stein am Rhein took me around 1 hour 15 minutes (one way). The way begins the riverfront between the scaffold and Güterhof. From here the ride is 17 km. Follow the finishes paperwork for Rhein Route 2.
Boat Cruises from Schaffhausen to Stein am Rhein:
If you like to take a boat as opposed to cycle, some travels do the full circle from Schaffhausen to Stein am Rhein (and past to Lake Constance). On the off chance that you just need to cycle one way, you can bring your bicycle locally available the boat for a charge.
