A 16th-century original print, a former gypsum mine and trails through varied landscapes give Schleitheim several sides. When planning your stay, the main question is whether you want to focus on the museum and local history, mining or a hiking route.

Museums, church and regional history

The archaeological exhibition at the Museum Schleitheimertal covers the prehistory of the Schleitheim Valley, from the Neolithic period to the High Middle Ages. The museum also features marine animals, dinosaurs, and Celtic, Roman and Alemannic artefacts from the valley. In the Anabaptist Room, you can see an original print of the Schleitheim Articles from the 16th century. The museum recalls another facet of local history with the legendary S.S.S. tramway between Schaffhausen and Schleitheim.

Schleitheim Church also offers a long historical perspective: its history dates back to the year 600. It is the oldest church in the Canton of Schaffhausen north of the Rhine. Schleitheim therefore offers several ways to explore history, from archaeological periods and a historic print to church history.

Roman remains and gypsum mining

The thermal baths museum is open year-round, wheelchair-accessible and suitable for children and school groups. Check the latest visitor information before your visit. A guided tour following in the footsteps of the Romans in Schaffhauserland visits the ruins of the former central baths in the Roman settlement of Juliomagus. The site dates from the 1st to the 3rd century AD.

The Schleitheim Gypsum Museum is located just outside the region’s last still-accessible gypsum mine. It explains the gypsum mining that was carried out intensively in the region of the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen in the 18th and 19th centuries. This also helps put the history of the regional resource in context: the museum explains past mining, while the mine offers a glimpse inside the mountain.

At the publicly accessible former Schleitheim gypsum mine, visitors can venture about 200 metres into the mountain, until a small lake blocks the way. Since the mine and museum reopened in November 2024, an electrically powered railcar has taken visitors into the tunnel; knowledgeable guides and train drivers lead and accompany guests through the mine. Check the current access arrangements before your trip.

Hiking on the Randen and around Schleitheim

The Randen is a limestone extension of the Jura, rich in species, in the western part of the Canton of Schaffhausen. In spring, you can admire magnificent orchid species there, including the lady’s slipper orchid. The flowering season adds a seasonal highlight to the landscape: if you are especially interested in orchids, spring is the best time to look out for them.

Two routes offer distinctly different options: the Randen Trail starts at the post office in Schleitheim and runs 16 kilometres to Merishausen. The Staabruchtour starts and ends in Schleitheim, circling the village through forests, fields and former quarry landscapes. You can choose between a route with a named destination and a circular tour that returns to Schleitheim and takes in different types of landscape. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Hallau, Beringen, Schaffhausen, Trasadingen

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