A 1.2-kilometre wine trail, a museum in a 1670 winegrower’s house and a historic town centre on the Rhine give Eglisau a distinctive character. Here you can discover winegrowing and local history, as well as the river landscape and the nature around the town.
Town on the Rhine
Eglisau’s town centre was built in the 13th century on the northern bank of the Rhine, at the foot of a slope. This historic market town lies close to the German border and is surrounded by sunlit vineyards. Its historic townscape is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS). These features define the town, set between the river, the hillside and the vineyards. As you explore Eglisau, you’ll encounter a history reflected both in the townscape and in the themes of its museums.
Wine trail and local wines
The wine trail is 1.2 kilometres long. It starts close to the Weierbachhus and leads to Hinterer Stadtberg. The Weierbachhus is a former winegrower’s house and is now home to the local museum. Along the way, you can learn more about the work of the winegrowers and the growth of the vines. The route offers a practical insight into winegrowing over a manageable distance; check local conditions before setting out.
Tastings of local wines are also available in Eglisau, including “Eglisauer Stadtberger”. The wines of the Eglisau Winegrowers’ Cooperative are known by this name. If a tasting is part of your travel plans, check what is currently available in advance, as offers and participating producers may change.
Two museums, different focuses
The Eglisau Local Museum is housed in the Weierbachhus, a historic winegrower’s house of particular value dating from 1670. Its themes range from salmon fishing on the High Rhine to the architectural history of the town. A flat-bottomed boat, fishing equipment and a video convey the story of salmon fishing; views, models and objects illustrate how the town developed. The local museum therefore brings together the history of the river and the history of the town’s buildings.
The Eglisau Farm Museum is located in an old barn in Wiler, above the town. Its exhibition focuses on winegrowing and arable farming. Together, the two museums offer different insights into local history: the local museum explores, among other subjects, the High Rhine and changes to the town’s built environment, while the farm museum focuses on agriculture and winegrowing.
Boat trips and dragon boat races
Rheinschifffahrten Wirth welcomes guests in Eglisau on the Rhine. The company operates river trips between Rekingen and the Rhine Falls on the Rhenania passenger boat and the Biber and Möve flat-bottomed boats. Routes and timetables may change, so check the details if you are planning a trip. Eglisau’s dragon boat race takes place on the last weekend of June each year. As the date may affect your travel plans, it is advisable to check the current date.
Riverbanks, vineyards and nature
The Rhine and the surrounding vineyards shape the landscape when hiking around Eglisau. The wider area includes riverbanks, open countryside and forests. The Tössriederen nature reserve lies within the municipality of Eglisau and comprises extensive dry and wet nutrient-poor grasslands. Common lizards and grass snakes can be spotted there. The landscape thus ranges from vineyards shaped by agriculture to protected meadows and the habitats of the species that live there.
Getting here and road connections
Eglisau railway station has 69 covered bicycle parking spaces. The P+Rail car park has 101 spaces, including one parking space for people with disabilities. These details may change; check the current facilities before your arrival if they are important for your plans.
West of the historic town centre stands the road bridge, built in 1919 as part of the construction of the Rhine dam. It provides a road connection to the Rafzerfeld and, via the Jestetten enclave, to Schaffhausen. As a point of reference, it adds a practical link to the surrounding areas to the description of Eglisau on the Rhine.
Discover more destinations: Wallisellen, Embrach, Bülach, Zweidlen, Höri, Lufingen, Kloten, Rafz.
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