Schaffhausen between the Rhine Falls and the Stone Age Trail

The Rhine Falls, archaeological sites, museums and winegrowing give Schaffhausen a range of different character. As you plan your trip, consider whether hiking trails, boat trips, the city’s history or regional wine culture should be at the center of your itinerary. Route starting points and timetables can help you plan visits and journeys; it’s best to choose your hotel location based on your own plans.

The Rhine Falls and boat trips

The Rhine Falls is Europe’s largest waterfall. The water plunges 23 meters over a width of 150 meters. Viewing platforms, hiking trails and boat trips offer different ways to experience the falls. They are freely accessible year-round; check local access conditions before your visit.

Scheduled boat services on the Rhine and Untersee offer another perspective on the landscape. Their 50-kilometer route connects Schaffhausen and Kreuzlingen. It passes through two countries and calls at Stein am Rhein, Steckborn and Reichenau Island. Scheduled boats operate from April to October. If you plan a trip, check the current timetable and seasonal dates in advance.

Smilestones, Switzerland’s largest indoor miniature world, is located directly above the Rhine Falls. Model trains run on more than 1,300 meters of track. The miniature world offers a different focus from the natural experience by the water; check current access conditions before your visit.

Hiking and Stone Age traces

The Stone Age Trail offers three routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. All three start at the Kesslerloch archaeological site, west of Thayngen station. Trains run from Schaffhausen to Thayngen station; check the current timetable for your journey.

The Short Loop is 8.4 kilometers long and takes about two hours and seven minutes. It is also suitable for strollers with all-terrain wheels. Duration and access conditions may vary, so it’s worth checking the route details before setting out. The Long Loop is 15.5 kilometers long and passes five archaeological sites and two geological stations. Another option is the 11.1-kilometer Kesslerloch–Schweizersbild route, which runs through the Langloch and Kurzloch gorges and combines cultural and natural experiences.

Kesslerloch was once a campsite for late Ice Age reindeer hunters. The artistically decorated reindeer-antler objects found there attracted international attention at the end of the 19th century. The Stone Age Trail therefore leads not only through a landscape but also to a place with an archaeological history. The wider hiking landscape around Schaffhausen includes the Rhine, the gently rolling Randen hills, vineyards, deciduous forests, open valleys and riverside paths. The cross-border Regional Nature Park Schaffhausen includes 13 municipalities in the canton and two municipalities in Baden-Württemberg, and covers an area of 209 km².

Museums and city history

The collections at the Museum zu Allerheiligen cover several subjects. The archaeological collection includes finds from the Canton of Schaffhausen and the surrounding region. Around 25,000 objects in the cultural history collection relate to the history of the city and region and their residents. The art collection comprises around 2,500 paintings and more than 400 three-dimensional works and sculptures.

The Reiat Museum documents life and work in the region from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods through to modern times. The local history exhibition includes household items, furniture, clothing and tools, as well as equipment from historic crafts. Guided tours are available on request throughout the year; arrange your visit in advance.

The Hallau Local Museum displays, among other things, weapons, regional uniforms and traditional costumes, tools, documents and fire service exhibits, as well as displays about the Hallau water and electricity works (WEH). One of the museum’s Linotype line-casting machines is still in operation. The Gattersagi Buchberg Craft Museum has no regular opening hours and is open with free admission on Swiss Mill Day and in autumn for the so-called Sagi-Fisch. The frame saw dates from 1925 and was rebuilt in Buchberg in 1947. Check the relevant dates before your visit.

Renaissance façades, ornate oriel windows and restored historic townhouses shape the appearance of Schaffhausen’s old town. The Munot is a circular fortress dating from the 16th century and is considered a landmark of the city; it offers views across the city and the Rhine.

Winegrowing and the regional landscape

Wine is grown in 20 municipalities in the Canton of Schaffhausen. Around 75 percent of the vineyard area is planted with Pinot Noir, also known as Blauburgunder; the winegrowing region operates under the label “Schaffhauser Blauburgunderland.” The Weinkrone offers a specific wine experience, with 55 wines from 25 wineries in the Schaffhausen Pinot Noir region available for tasting and purchase. As the selection may change, check the current offering before your visit. The Weinkrone Wine Museum presents the history of regional winegrowing in a historic winegrower’s house.

When planning a hotel stay, the different themes may help guide your choice: the Stone Age Trail routes share a starting point at Kesslerloch, while boat trips operate only from April to October. Museums and winegrowing complement these nature and water experiences with regional history and culture. So tailor your search for hotels in Schaffhausen to the experiences you’d like to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Stein, Schaffhausen, Oberklettgau, Schleitheim, Reiat, Unterklettgau, Vaud, Basel-Landschaft.

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