Hettlingen: Nature, Leisure and History

Hettlingen offers travellers several different points of interest: natural areas of national importance, an outdoor swimming pool with games and sports facilities, and historic buildings. When planning a stay, it is worth considering these attractions separately. The Baldisriet and the Mittelfeld gravel pit represent two different aspects of nature. The outdoor swimming pool brings together swimming, games and sports; the Sauna Hettlingen is also located on the grounds. Hanfriibi and Burgtrotte take you through different periods of building history. When making your choice, you can consider whether nature, leisure at the outdoor swimming pool or the history of the village is the deciding factor.

Natural areas and protected sites

The Baldisriet is one of the last lowland mires still preserved in Switzerland. It is also a wetland of national importance, home to rare animals and plants. For travellers interested in nature, this means several specific features: a rare type of mire, the importance of the wetland and its biodiversity. The Mittelfeld gravel pit in Hettlingen has a different ecological role. It is designated as an amphibian spawning site of national importance and was included in the Federal Inventory in 2007. While the lowland mire is the focus at the Baldisriet, the gravel pit’s designation describes its importance for amphibians. The two areas therefore represent different aspects of Hettlingen’s natural environment. If you would like to include nature in your travel plans, these differences can help you decide what to focus on: wetlands and rare species on the one hand, and an amphibian spawning site on the other.

Outdoor swimming pool and sauna

The Hettlingen outdoor swimming pool offers facilities for swimming, games and sports. The barbecue area is open to all swimmers free of charge. A table tennis table, table football, a beach volleyball court and a football pitch are available for use. Footballs and volleyballs, as well as table tennis bats and balls, can also be rented. When deciding which leisure facilities might interest you during your stay, you can distinguish between the courts and tables available for use and the sports equipment available for rent.

The Sauna Hettlingen association operates a sauna with a romantic wood-fired heating system on the outdoor swimming pool grounds. When the public sauna is closed, private time slots can be booked online on Sundays and public holidays. Public sauna sessions and private time slots are therefore two different options. If your plans depend on a private time slot, check whether your preferred date is available to book.

Hanfriibi, castle site and Burgtrotte

Hanfriibi was built in 1822 and is a listed building. It was originally designed to serve as a mill, a “Relle” (a hemp-processing machine), a sawmill and a grater mill. These four functions offer insight into the different purposes the building was intended to serve, making Hanfriibi a specific point of interest for travellers interested in historic architecture and industry.

The Hettlingen castle site is in the village of the same name, six kilometres north of Winterthur. It was once the site of a moated castle belonging to the Lords of Hettlingen; the last remnants of its walls were removed around 1880. The Burgtrotte, which is still visible today, is separate from the castle site. It was built in the 18th century on the site of a residential tower that had been demolished in 1752. The old press on the castle grounds is on Burgtrottenweg, near the village centre by the village stream. The former moated castle and the visible press are therefore distinct historic structures: the press should not be confused with the last remnants of the castle walls, which were removed.

Discover more destinations: Neftenbach, Altikon, Pfungen, Brütten, Winterthur, Turbenthal, Dinhard, Hofstetten

Go to the main travel overview: Winterthur.