Discover Bad Zurzach: Thermal Baths, Rhine and History

Bad Zurzach combines thermal waters with cultural history and a landscape along the High Rhine. For planning your trip, a range of experiences take centre stage: the thermal baths, the sculpture park, churches and museums, as well as activities on and around the Rhine. You can tailor your stay to the topics that interest you most.

Thermal Baths and Getting There

Therme Zurzach combines warm, mineral-rich thermal water with the Bohrturm sauna complex, spa treatments and a fitness centre. If specific treatments or facilities are important to your plans, check what is currently available in advance.

Bad Zurzach can be reached by the S36 from Waldshut or Bülach, by the S27 from Baden and by bus 360 from Brugg. Free local buses continue in various directions from the railway station. Check current connections and operating times before travelling so you can plan your journey accordingly.

Himmelrych Park and Bad Zurzach Castle

Himmelrych Park is open to the public and can be visited free of charge. It is open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk. Thirty sculptures are spread throughout the park, beneath and around a 104-year-old giant sequoia that stands 54 metres tall. The tree and sculptures give the park a clear focus for a visit outdoors.

The castle itself is open only for special occasions. Private guided tours on the history of the castle and the sculpture exhibition in the park are available by arrangement. Keep these different access arrangements in mind when planning a visit to the castle and park. The seasonal Schlosspark Bistro serves coffee, homemade cake, cheese, wine, grilled dishes and pasta; the selection may change.

Churches, Local History and Museum

Verenamünster combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque features. The tomb of Saint Verena is located in the Gothic crypt. The tomb is connected with the town’s long pilgrimage and church history: around the year 1000, an early Romanesque collegiate church was built in Bad Zurzach, and the town developed into an important pilgrimage centre. In addition to Verenamünster, the Flecken guided tour includes the Obere Kirche, the Reformed Church, the Messehäuser and the historic market town. Check the tour’s availability before booking.

The Höfli District Museum displays prehistoric and early historic finds from the district, particularly finds from the Roman settlement of Tenedo. Other topics include the cult of Saint Verena, the Zurzach trade fairs, castles and the history of the doublet. The museum is about a seven-minute walk from the railway station; alternatively, the Zurzi bus stops at the “Höfli” stop. Check current connections if you plan to take the bus.

Puzzle Trails, Mini Golf and Salt History

The Papa Moll Trail is suitable for pushchairs and features 15 puzzles. Clues can be found at built and natural puzzle stations along the trail. Papa Moll Golf has 18 classic mini-golf holes, twelve adventure-golf holes and a PitPat course. These different facilities offer a range of games and puzzles, so you can choose based on the activity you prefer.

The salt drilling towers also bring industrial history to life. They are around 17 metres tall, and one of the towers houses a salt museum. Visitors can look inside through peepholes at any time and set the brine pump in motion at the push of a button. As interactive visitor facilities may change, it is worth checking in advance if these particular features are important to your visit.

The Rhine and the Surrounding Landscape

In summer, a section of the Rhine between Germany and Switzerland is recommended for river swimming: the entry point is at the Bad Zurzach/Rheinheim Rhine Bridge, and the exit is at the former campsite before Barzmühle. Swimming is at your own risk. This specific route differs from the trails in the wider area, which pass through river, forest and hilly landscapes.

Themed trails in the wider area include the Kunstweg, the Salzstrasse and the Chly Rhy floodplain. Cycling routes run along the Aargau stretch of the High Rhine and through vineyard landscapes. The municipality of Zurzach also offers opportunities for long-distance hikes. These include the ViaRhenana, which follows the historic waterway along the High Rhine and Lake Untersee between Basel and Kreuzlingen. The area around Bad Zurzach combines gentle hills, forests and river landscapes along the Aargau High Rhine, as well as diverse flora and fauna.

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