Stein Am Rhein: Old Town, Monastery and the Rhine

Stein Am Rhein combines a well-preserved Old Town with a rich history of churches, monasteries and museums. It also offers exhibitions, a circular hike to Hohenklingen Castle and experiences on the Rhine. When choosing a hotel for your trip, these different highlights can shape your daily plans: historical sites, cultural offerings and the river landscape each have their own appeal.

Churches, Monastery and Museums

The Church of Burg stands at the center of the remains of the Roman fort of Tasgetium, built as early as the 3rd century. Its significance is enhanced by 15th-century murals. Stein Am Rhein’s town church has a history of its own: it was originally the collegiate church of St. George’s Monastery. This Romanesque basilica now serves as the parish church for Stein Am Rhein and Hemishofen.

The Museum at St. George’s Monastery is one of Switzerland’s best-preserved late medieval monastic complexes. The museum tour takes you through the monks’ former quarters, the abbot’s residences and the monastery garden with its medicinal plants. In the so-called Banqueting Hall, the 1515 painting cycle is one of the highlights of early Renaissance painting in Switzerland.

KrippenWelt presents up to 600 nativity scenes from around the world in exhibitions that change each year. The program also includes exhibitions by renowned artists from Switzerland and abroad, as well as special collections. At the Lindwurm Museum in the Old Town, you can explore how a prosperous middle-class family lived and worked around 1850, across more than 1,500 m².

From March to October, the Obere Stube Cultural Center hosts exhibitions, while readings, talks and concerts take place throughout the year. The legend of “No e Wili” is performed as an open-air play in Stein Am Rhein at irregular intervals. The range of events therefore spans historical rooms and paintings, as well as performances and theater.

Rhine Landscape and Trails

Stein Am Rhein lies mostly on the right bank of the High Rhine, where the Rhine flows out of Lake Constance. The municipality has access to Lake Constance and includes a bridgehead with an area south of the Rhine. To the east and northeast, the municipal boundary is also the border between Germany and Switzerland.

A 7.8 km circular hike connects Stein Am Rhein with Hohenklingen Castle and leads to the Wolkenstein viewpoint. The medieval castle sits high above the town. From there, you can enjoy views of the Rhine landscape, Stein Am Rhein, Untersee and Werd Island. The route combines a specific hiking trail with a viewpoint and a historic building.

SwitzerlandMobility Route Via Rhenana No. 60 follows the right bank of the Rhine to Stein Am Rhein; the trip can also be made by bicycle. From Stein Am Rhein, Schaffhausen can be reached by boat or train. The stretch of the Rhine between the two towns is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful river journeys. If you are planning a boat trip, check the timetable in advance.

Espi Badi is a small riverside swimming area with a kiosk that operates seasonally. A wooden barrier and landing stage protect swimmers from the Rhine’s current and depths. As information about the season and facilities may change, check the latest details before visiting.

Food and Drink Along the Way

The Stein Am Rhein culinary trail is a food tour where you move to a different venue between courses. It begins with a local winemaker presenting their wines. Operating days, participating venues and the winemaker may change, so check the latest information when planning to take part.

Discover more destinations: Buch, Ramsen, Hemishofen.

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