Switzerland7-Northeastern Switzerland - John Covey - University of ...

for views over a patchwork of rooftops
and spires to the Rhine and wooded hills
fringing the city.
Herrenacker SQUARE
Framed by pastel-coloured houses with
steep tiled roofs, this is one of Schaff hausen’s
prettiest squares. In August, it’s an
atmospheric backdrop for music fest Das
Festival (www.das-festival.ch); Mika and
Bryan Ferry were headliners in 2011.
2 Activities
Rhybadi SWIMMING
(Rheinuferstrasse; adult/child Sfr3/1.50; h7am-
8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm Sat & Sun May-Sep) If
you’re itching to leap into the Rhine, you
can at this rickety 19th-century wooden
bathhouse. There are diving boards and
old-fashioned changing rooms reminiscent
of an era when ‘proper’ folk bathed fully
clothed.
Altstadt Walks WALKING TOUR
(adult/child Sfr14/7; h10am Tue & 2pm Sat May–
mid-Oct) These one-hour tours of the Old
Town kick off at the tourist offi ce. The wellinformed
guides speak German, English
and French.
Untersee und Rhein BOAT TOUR
(%052 634 08 88; www.urh.ch, in German; Freier
Platz; one-way Sfr46.20; hApr-Oct) The 45km
boat trip from Schaff hausen to Konstanz
via Stein am Rhein and Reichenau is one of
the Rhine’s more-beautiful stretches. The
journey takes 3¾ hours downstream to
Schaff hausen and 4¾ hours the other way.
See the website for timetables.
4 Sleeping
The tourist offi ce can advise on B&Bs
(expect to pay Sfr55 for a single, Sfr95 for a
double) and holiday apartments.
Park Villa HOTEL $$
(%052 635 60 60; www.parkvilla.ch; Parkstrasse
18; s/d from Sfr170/190, without bathroom from
Sfr80/130; p) The eclectic furniture in this
faintly gothic house resembles a private
antique collection, with an array of fourposter
beds, Persian carpets, chandeliers,
patterned wallpaper and fake Ming vases in
rooms. Dine in Louis XVI splendour in the
banquet room.
Hotel Kronenhof HOTEL $$
(%052 635 75 75; www.kronenhof.ch; Kirchhofplatz
7; s Sfr125-145, d Sfr175-205, ste Sfr265; W)
A guesthouse since 1489, the Kronenhof
has welcomed the likes of Goethe and Tsar
Alexander. A recent makeover has spruced
up the historic interior, with the best rooms
now fl aunting dark wood fl oors, crimson
walls and bold art. The Ox bistro does a good
steak. Rates drop 20% Friday to Sunday.
Fischerzunft BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$
(%052 632 05 05; www.fi scherzunft.ch; Rheinquai
8; s/d Sfr210/295) The sloping tiled roof
and creamy-pink exterior of this low-slung
Rhine-side mansion contain this charming
boutique hotel, known above all for its
gourmet restaurant. Rooms are individually
decorated, often with lashings of chintzy
fl oral fabrics.
Hotel Promenade HOTEL $$
(%052 630 77 77; www.promenade-schaff hausen
.ch; Fäsenstaubstrasse 43; s Sfr145-175, d Sfr200-
250; pW) The welcome couldn’t be warmer
at this homely hotel, with large, sunny
rooms, a rose garden and a restaurant dishing
up seasonal cuisine. It’s 600m west of
Herrenacker.
ZAK Hotel & Backpackers HOSTEL $
(%052 625 42 60; www.zaksh.ch; Webergasse
47; dm/s/d Sfr45/70/110; W) These no-frills
FREEWHEELING ALONG THE
RHINE
The Rhine fl ows swiftly through the
heart of Schaff hausen and there’s no
better way to explore further afi eld
than by hiring your own set of wheels.
A number of well-marked trails shadow
the river and weave through the
surrounding countryside. Scenic rides
include the 20km Rheinfall-Rheinau
route, which leads past the thundering
Rheinfall to the Benedictine monastery
Kloster Rheinau. Or quaff wine as you
peddle through vineyards and past
half-timbered houses on the 43km
Klettgau Wine Route. Details of these
and other routes are given on www
.veloland.ch.
At the train station, Rent a Bike
(%051 223 42 17; www.rentabike.ch, in
German) rents out Flyer e-bikes, city
bikes and tandems for Sfr50, Sfr33 and
Sfr80 respectively per day. Book online
or by calling ahead.
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SCHAFFHAUSEN NORTHEASTERN CANTON SWITZERLAND ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES
SCHAFFHAUSEN