In Buch, cultural history and cross-border connections can be traced through specific places and routes: a historic sawmill from the late 18th century stands at the entrance to the village, while public bus route 25 crosses the German-Swiss border several times. Buch is also a junction on a cross-border cycling tour. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing local points of interest from offerings in the wider region.
Buch’s History and the Historic Sawmill
Buch was first mentioned in a document in 1080. In the Middle Ages, the village was an upper bailiwick and was then more significant than the surrounding villages, which are now considerably larger. These details give the village’s history a long timeline, from its early written mention to its administrative role in the Middle Ages.
As of the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property Protection dated January 1, 2025, the Säge Open-Air Museum in Buch (SH) is listed as a Category B cultural asset. This is distinct from the historic sawmill at the entrance to the village: it dates from the late 18th century and is freely accessible. Check access locally before your visit.
Eselhof Säge: Clear Visitor Access
At Eselhof Säge, visitors may visit the donkeys in the front enclosure; the rest of the grounds are not freely accessible. The donkey farm also offers themed afternoons for children. If you would like to plan a visit for one of these afternoons, check the current dates in advance. This lets you plan around the activities actually on offer without assuming access to the rest of the grounds.
Getting to Buch by Bus and Train
The public bus to Buch runs hourly as VBSH bus route 25 from Schaffhausen via Büsingen, Dörflingen and Randegg to Buch and Ramsen. The route crosses the German-Swiss border several times. Check the operator’s timetable in advance for your journey.
The nearest train station to Buch is Gottmadingen. From there, trains run every 30 minutes toward Schaffhausen and Singen. Bus and train provide different reference points for your journey: the bus route reaches Buch along the listed sequence of places, while the train connection starts at Gottmadingen station. Compare the timetables with your starting point and check the current times before you travel.
Cycling and Hiking: Buch and the Region
Buch is a junction on cross-border cycling tour Route 12, “Erlebniswege westlicher Bodensee, Hegau” (Western Lake Constance and Hegau Experience Routes). The wider region also offers the “SchweizMobil 753: Hegau Route,” a 29.5 km cycling tour, and the “Natura Trail Westlicher Untersee, Radolfzeller Aach, Randen,” a 106.7 km route. The stated distances differ considerably; by contrast, the Route 12 junction is the specific cycling connection to Buch.
A hike over the Bucher Säntis and Ramsener Blick offers views across almost the entire upper part of the Canton of Schaffhausen, the Bibertal valley and the volcanic peaks of the Hegau. Other hikes run through the Hegau, around Gailingen and along the German-Swiss border. Alongside the named views from the Bucher Säntis and Ramsener Blick, these routes also take in larger regional landscapes.
The Wider Region
The wider region around Buch includes volcanic formations, castles, the Rhine Falls of Schaffhausen and river landscapes in the Hegau. These features complement the local history and specific cycling and hiking routes with a broader view of the region. If you are looking to combine culture and outdoor activities when choosing where to stay, you can distinguish between the historic sawmill in Buch, the views from the named hiking points and the different cycling options.
Discover more destinations: Ramsen, Stein Am Rhein, Hemishofen.
See the main travel overview: Stein.
