The historic old town of Stein am Rhein

The sights in the Stein am Rhein old town

Imagine you step through a city gate and find yourself in another time. That is how we felt during our visit to the small Swiss town Stein am Rhein in the canton of Schaffhausen. The sights of Stein am Rhein are worth a visit. We drove from our hotel in Radolfzell on Lake Constance, the Bora HotSpa Resort, with the public bus, which we were able to use free of charge as holiday guests, around the Höri peninsula to Stein am Rhein. The town is located directly on the German-Swiss border. The bus stops in a large car park in front of the Untertor, which stands proudly between residential buildings. Here we have no idea what historical treasure trove awaits us in the old town of Stein am Rhein.

 

 

The historic old town of Stein am Rhein

As soon as we step through the city gate, one half-timbered house follows the other. Ornate oriels with metal roofs, flower-decorated half-timbered gables that protrude from tiled roofs, murals from several centuries and shop signs, one of which is more beautiful than the next, take us back in time. “The houses date from the 13th and 14th centuries,” explains Yvonne Bähler from the tourist office. "However, they didn't always look like this. It was only when the city became richer and tighter due to the taxes levied on the inflow of the Rhine into Lake Constance that the facades of the buildings began to be decorated with the murals that can be seen on many houses in the old town of Stein am Rhein today . "

 

 

 

Stein am Rhein map

 

Our city tour shows that this art has not died out. Some of the house fronts are adorned with a painting that is more recent. Facade painting has continued here until modern times. "And we live quite well from it," laughs Yvonne Bähler and says: "Thousands of day trippers come here year after year, from whom the city derives its main income today."

 

 

Excursion destination on the Rhine

We don't notice much of it, as we are here on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in mid-June. Just in time before the holidaymakers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland come here to take a closer look at this gem on the lower Rhine. As we stroll down the main street, however, we can't stop marveling. Climbing plants wind their way up the wall of one house to the ridge of the roof. In between, one of the pretty shop signs protrudes through the greenery, indicating that the building used to house a weaving mill. On another facade, a not quite fitting sign with beautiful grapevines announces a beer garden behind the front of the house. Every inn and even the ice cream parlor is adorned with signs announcing what customers will find behind the historic walls.

 

 

Stein am Rhein - the location made it rich

Stein am Rhein is one of the few Swiss cities that sits on both sides of the Rhine and is connected by a bridge that crosses the river. It has become rich mainly because of its location at a very shallow point in the Rhine. If the water masses were not sufficient for the merchant ships to pass through the shallow sections of the river on their way to Bodensee, To get through, the goods had to be unloaded and transported further overland - a good way to ask the traders to pay. And that was obviously done to a sufficient extent, since Stein am Rhein has developed into a real gem among the Swiss border towns.

 

 

In Stein am Rhein you can see that things were not going so well for everyone in the city. We visit the former citizen's asylum, which is directly adjacent to the city's tourist information. Historical remains of the wall have been uncovered there and some niches show what it was once used for: delinquents were arrested here. Tramps, beggars, impoverished tradesmen and drunks were accommodated in the so-called beggar's room. On one of the walls we find a small serving hatch through which food was distributed to the poor. This supposedly dates back to the 19th century.

 

 

Where can you eat in Stein am Rhein?

Again and again we come upon our city tour through the village on signs that point to the inns that look out along the main street through the old town and the banks of the Rhine to customers. There are Swiss wines at the Rothen Ochsen, the Salmenstübli praises all sorts of food, and in the Schoggibox there should be more than 300 varieties of Swiss chocolate. Unfortunately, we are a bit too early, but this has still closed when we get past it, otherwise I would not have resisted here.

 

 

So we finally stop at the restaurant Rheingerbe on the banks of the Rhine, which once, as the landlady tells us, actually housed a tannery. We stop here, um To taste the pilgrims' meal, which is currently offered there to the guests, How it tasted, and what was served, you can read here. One thing is for sure: you do not stay hungry in Stein am Rhein.

 

In the nativity scene museum in Stein am Rhein

 

 

Stein am Rhein is definitely worth a visit for medieval friends and anyone interested in living history. We especially liked that Klostermuseum St. Georgen with its well-preserved monastery facilities from the period between the 12th and 16th centuries. We only regret that we didn't have enough time to see all the sights of the city. But there is always the possibility of returning again. And it is definitely worth it in this small city on the lower reaches of the Rhine.

Current opening hours and further information

Stein am Rhein Monastery Museum

 

 

Current opening hours and further information

 

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Source Stein am Rhein Sights: own research on site. We would like to thank Untersee Tourism for the kind invitation. However, our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Videos: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline