Stein: Culture, Monasteries and River Routes

The Stein district includes the municipalities of Buch (SH), Hemishofen, Ramsen and Stein am Rhein. A trip here can have many different focuses: medieval architecture and museums, cultural events, river routes or the landscape of the Bibertal valley. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which places and experiences you want to shape your stay.

Old Town and Historic Traces

In Stein am Rhein, the fortified Old Town has largely retained its compact late-medieval layout. Surviving defensive structures include remains of the town wall, the Untertor and Obertor gates, the Hexenturm tower and the semicircular Kretzenturm tower. Timber-framed houses and frescoes define the townscape. The Via Rhenana and the Stein am Rhein riverside path pass the fortified Old Town, offering a starting point for a visit on foot.

The Burg Church in the left-bank district of «Vor der Brugg» also combines history and views: originally the collegiate church of St. Georgen Monastery, it features 15th-century wall paintings. The church offers a picturesque view of Stein am Rhein and the surrounding area. St. Georgen Monastery was a Benedictine convent until 1525. Its museum tour takes visitors through the former monks’ rooms, the abbot’s houses and the monastery garden with medicinal plants.

The Lindwurm Museum offers a different historical perspective. It shows domestic life around 1850 in a burgher’s house in the lower town, as well as agricultural work in the rear building. Thus, medieval town history and insights into 19th-century bourgeois and agricultural life sit side by side in the same place.

Museums and Culture Throughout the Year

KrippenWelt is devoted to more than a single collection: its annual changing exhibitions feature up to 600 nativity scenes from around the world. The vaulted cellar also houses artworks by CIRO and Roberto Cipollone, exhibitions by renowned artists from Switzerland and abroad, and special collections. Group tours can also be arranged outside regular opening hours by appointment.

From March to October, exhibitions are held at the Kulturhaus Obere Stube; readings, talks and concerts take place there throughout the year. Two recurring events add their own seasonal highlights: Erzählzeit ohne Grenzen is a cross-border literary festival held in spring. The nordArt theatre festival runs for two weeks each August and takes place at numerous locations in the heart of Stein am Rhein. It is worth checking the dates of each event when planning your visit.

Riverside Landscape and Routes

Near Ramsen, the striking cross-valley of the Bibertal shapes the landscape: it lies between the Hegau region to the north and the Untersee and Rhine region to the south. The Biber flows through Ramsen and joins the High Rhine downstream from Stein am Rhein.

For a longer hike, the third stage of the ViaRhenana runs from Stein am Rhein to Schaffhausen and is 22 kilometres long. It follows a flat riverside path along the Rhine, with stretches of natural shoreline. Depending on the season and weather, the ViaRhenana may be closed or interrupted; check current conditions before setting out. The stage and the Stein am Rhein riverside path are different starting points for a stay by the water and a visit to the fortified Old Town.

The cycling routes also offer different highlights. The Schaffhauserland Bike route passes through Ramsen and the German village of Schienen, climbs to Hohenklingen Castle and continues to medieval Stein am Rhein. Wyland–Downtown runs from Stein am Rhein to Zurich.

Special Experiences and Practical Information

The medieval Hohenklingen Castle was completely renovated from 2005 to 2007. In 2026, the guided tour programme includes access to rooms and areas that are not open to other visitors. The Castle Express connects the landing stage in Stein am Rhein with the castle and back; it runs on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the specific tour dates and timetable before planning your visit.

At the Bolderhof’s cheese-making experience, each participant receives their own cheese in a wooden box to take home, along with a «Chäs-Diplom» certificate. The Bolderhof is located on Rhine Route 2 in the Rhine landscape. Stein am Rhein also has a playground in the Stadtgarten, right on the banks of the Rhine. Its facilities include a sandpit, climbing frame, water play area, rock caves and a knight’s castle.

When choosing where to stay, it helps to decide on the focus of your trip first: the Old Town, museums and cultural programme in Stein am Rhein, one of the routes described here, or the Biber landscape near Ramsen. This lets you search for hotels based on the experiences you want to put at the centre of your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stein am Rhein, Hemishofen, Ramsen, Buch, Unterklettgau, Schaffhausen, Reiat, Schleitheim.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Schaffhausen.