Rafz lies in the Bülach district of the Canton of Zurich, on the German border. Your stay can focus on different things: the historic village centre in the Oberdorf and the routes through the wider Rafzerfeld area. Rafz was first mentioned in a document in 870; in the Middle Ages, rights of lordship over the village changed hands several times. The village’s history and landscape therefore offer two different starting points for planning your trip.
Oberdorf and the Reformed Church
The Oberdorf is an extensive historic village centre at the foot of a slope. Two or three parallel lanes run across the village street, and dense rows of buildings define the area. The buildings include two- to three-storey, multi-section half-timbered houses with pitched roofs, dating mainly from the 17th to the 19th century. The layout of the lanes and the architectural forms give this village centre its distinctive character.
The Reformed Church is a prominent feature of the historic village centre and an important witness to its social history and architectural typology. It was built in 1585 to replace a late-medieval predecessor, the St Nicholas Chapel. Its historic features include pointed-arch windows with late Gothic tracery. Together with the Reformed Church in Rorbas, built at the same time, it was the first post-Reformation church built in the Zurich countryside.
Rafz Local Museum
The permanent exhibition “From Flax to Linen” shows the importance flax once had in linen production. Tools and equipment illustrate the process from plant to fabric. The local museum also preserves fully equipped workshops for shoemaking, watchmaking, cooperage, painting and wagon-making. The exhibition and workshops offer different insights into the history of local crafts.
On museum Sundays from April to November, the museum is open from 2 to 5 pm; the free guided tour starts at 3 pm. Check the museum’s current schedule before your visit.
Walks and the Wine Trail
The open, gently rolling Rafzerfeld is characterised by fields, forests and vineyards. Most of the area is used for agriculture, while about a quarter is forested. After the Gnal viewpoint, the walking route described here leads mainly through woodland. From Rafz railway station, it initially follows the road for about 1.3 kilometres, then switches to a hiking trail. After a short time, you reach the Gnal viewpoint above Rafz. The distance of about 1.3 kilometres refers to the road section before the route switches to the hiking trail.
Another route option is the signposted “Lebendiger Weinweg” (Living Wine Trail): it is 38 kilometres long and runs from Winterthur to Rafz. Along the way, you can meet winegrowers and sample local wines. The route to Gnal and the longer route between Winterthur and Rafz therefore differ both in their course and their thematic focus. Check trail conditions, signposting and access before setting out; individual Wine Trail experiences may change.
Getting there and further orientation
Rafz railway station is served by the S-Bahn, with direct connections to Zurich, BĂĽlach and Schaffhausen. Regional bus routes connect Rafz with the surrounding municipalities. Another point of reference for your stay is the Rafzerfeld outdoor swimming pool at Schwimmbadstrasse 20, 8197 Rafz. It is jointly operated by the municipalities of Rafz, Wasterkingen and Wil; Rafz is the responsible municipality. If you plan to visit the pool, check the seasonal opening details in advance.
Discover more destinations: Embrach, Zweidlen, Opfikon, Kloten, Lufingen, Eglisau, Höri, Bülach.
Back to the main travel overview: BĂĽlach.
