Laufen Castle stands in the very north of the Zurich wine country, separated from Schaffhausen only by the Rhine. The Lords of Laufen settled right next to the magnificent Rhine Falls in the 9th century. The wild Rhine and one of the largest waterfalls in Europe must have fascinated people even then.
History of the castle
The bailiwick of the communities around Andelfingen and Uhwiesen was subject to the lord of the castle or his deputy bailiwick. However, the manorial authority was held by the Bishop of Constance. The city of Zurich acquired the castle early on in 1544. At that time, major architectural changes were also noticed. After the French invasion under Napoleon, Johann Heinrich Bleuler the Elder established a painting studio in the castle. His son then turned it into a painting school in the castle. The castle was returned to public ownership during the Second World War. Today, the castle houses a restaurant and a youth hostel.
Background to the Rhine Falls
The Rhine Falls are more than 20 meters high and up to 150 meters wide. Normally, almost 400 to 600 cubic meters of water flow down the falls per second, although the record values are twice that. From a geological perspective, the Rhine Falls are relatively new. The river's current shape only came into being after the Ice Age. The Rhine Falls in their current basic form were only formed 14,000 to 17,000 years ago. In summer, the rock in the middle of the Rhine Falls can be reached by boat and climbed. It offers an unforgettable view in the midst of the elements. On the side of Laufen Castle, you can also walk up some steps right into the Rhine Falls. Here, too, you will be refreshed by the water and splashes. The Rhine Falls offer an unforgettable experience not only visually but with all the senses.
The Nobleman from the Rhine Falls
A long, long time ago, a noble man set out to fish on the Rhine, as he often did. But despite a lot of patience, he didn't manage to catch a fish. Rumor has it that he was better at drinking than fishing. So he steered his boat to the bank and soon lay down in the boat. Unnoticed, the Weidling started moving and wave after wave approached the Rhine Falls, which were much, much higher at the time. In a hellish shot, the Weidling was swept down the falls. But miraculously, nothing happened to the ship or the nobleman. It was not until long after the Rhine Falls that the ship hit the bank and the nobleman finally woke up. In disbelief and confusion, the gentleman sensed something bad had happened to him. Out of sheer gratitude that he had survived unharmed, he stretched his hands towards the sky and soon founded a monastery on that very spot.
Directions and location
The Rhine Falls are located in Switzerland in the area of the municipalities of Neuhausen am Rheinfall in the canton of Schaffhausen (right bank) and Laufen-Uhwiesen in the canton of Zurich (left bank), around four kilometers west of the city of Schaffhausen. There is an SBB stop directly below the castle, where the S12 and S33 from Winterthur to Schaffhausen stop.
