Stein am Rhein: Medieval Swiss town with a beautiful historic centre

04. 12. 2023

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Stein am Rhein is a small town in Switzerland with a historic centre and picturesque medieval houses. It is a perfect place for a shorter trip.

The town Stein am Rhein is located on the border of Switzerland and Germany. It is a small town with a historic centre full of picturesque medieval buildings. Besides the centre, the interesting Hohenklingen Castle and the surrounding countryside are ideal for a short hike.

Parking

If you’re heading to Stein am Rhein by vehicle or motorbike, parking is available at Parkplatz Untertor, which is located right at the entrance gate to the city. I recommend arriving around 8:00 to 9:00. I personally was there at 8:30am in July and the parking lot was gradually starting to fill up. Before paying, check to see when parking is free. The parking meters subtly stated this in French and German.

Streets and historic centre

I recommend entering the city through the main entrance gate. It’s a great way to start your visit. Once through the gate, you’ll be in an alleyway that is lined on both sides with picturesque historic buildings and leads to the square. The houses are decorated with different coloured frescoes and have different coloured facades. There are also several souvenir shops in the alley and, for example, the Lindwurm Museum. On the little square there is a fountain and the beautiful historic town hall.

Seating and refreshments on the square

Right in the middle of the square there are several coffee shops, restaurants and bistros that are open from early morning.

St. George’s Church

If you walk past the town hall you get to St George’s Church. The church was built in the 11th century and was a spiritual and cultural centre for the local people during the Middle Ages.

To the right of this church there is a path to a bridge which takes you to a more secluded part of the town, which is across the river.

Surroundings

The area around Stein am rhein is beautiful nature. I recommend going to see, for example, the already mentioned Hohenklingen Castle. From the top of the tower you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Another option is to cross the bridge and look at the more remote part of the town.

Museums

If you like to visit museums, there are several in Stein am Rhein. But check their websites for opening times. Some museums don’t open during the winter.

Lindwurm Museum - Museum “Work and Life in the 19th Century”
Museum Kloster Sankt Georgen - Museum of the life of the monks of St. George’s Monastery
Museum KrippenWelt - Museum of Nativity Scenes
Hohenklingen Castle - Castle, armours and a beautiful view of the surrounding area from the tower