Laufen Castle


The richest country in Switzerland with clean air, cozy streets, magnificent landscapes has always enjoyed increased attention from tourists. In addition to the famous ski resorts , Switzerland is famous for its spectacular natural beauty, one of which is the Rhine Falls , located within the city. It is not surprising that in the immediate vicinity of this natural wonder there are also man-made treasures - the main symbol and decoration of the Rhine waterfall is Laufen Castle.

A bit of history

The first mention of this castle dates back to 858, then this building belonged to the Laufen family (hence the name of the castle), later the castle of Laufen belonged to other owners, until in 1544 Zurich redeemed it into municipal ownership. After 1803, the castle became private property again, and already in 1941 the authorities of Zurich again bought it from the owner and are engaged in the restoration and installation of the castle.

What to see?

Now Laufen Castle is a tourist area listed on the Swiss heritage list, where there is a restaurant of national cuisine , a museum that displays an exposition from the history of the Rhine Falls, a youth hostel and a souvenir shop where, in addition to waterfall images, you can buy other souvenirs . The castle is on a high cliff, and from its observation deck a wonderful view of the waterfall opens up. The territory of the castle Laufen is decorated with a cozy courtyard with many flowers and well-groomed lawns, and under its walls there is a tunnel where trains stop. The station and the castle are connected with each other by a special footpath.

How to get there?

The most convenient route will be through Winterthur, where you need to transfer to a suburban train S33 and drive to Schloss Laufen an Rheinafall, the journey time is 25 minutes. Laufen Castle is open daily from 8.00 to 19.00 hours.