Half-timbered houses, the oval Upper Castle and views over the Wehntal give Regensberg a distinctly historic character. There are several ways to plan your visit: take a guided tour of the town, explore the castle tower with its exhibition and views, or enjoy the walking and hiking trails in the surrounding area. You can make the town’s history or time spent exploring the landscape the focus of your stay.
A small town on a rocky promontory
The medieval small town lies on a rocky promontory of the Lägern ridge, high above Dielsdorf. Regensberg is a political municipality in the Canton of Zurich and part of the Dielsdorf district. Baron Lütold V of Regensberg founded the town in 1244; at the time, it was also known as Neu-Regensberg. Numerous half-timbered houses shape its historic character. The Upper Castle has an oval ground plan, which is associated with an architectural influence from Savoy.
The church is also part of the town’s early history: it was originally built as a wooden chapel between 1244 and 1248, at the same time as the town. Another artistic detail is the choir window “The Cleansing of the Temple.” The stained-glass artist Louis Herion created it during the exterior renovation of 1911. A different historical layer is shown in a plan from 1751, which depicts Regensberg with a Baroque fortification dating from the 17th century.
Town tour and castle tower
On a guided town tour, you can learn more about the medieval water supply, including a look into Switzerland’s deepest well. Tours last about an hour, or an hour and a half for the more detailed option. This gives you a clear timeframe for the guided part of your visit. Check the current offering in advance if you plan to take a tour.
The tour also visits historic rooms in the Amtshaus (administrative building) that are not open to the public. This gives you the opportunity to see these rooms as well. The castle tower offers another way to explore the town’s history: it dates from the 13th century and houses a small exhibition, whose contents may change. From the tower, you can enjoy views over the Wehntal and the Lägern ridge. When planning your visit, bear in mind that the tower can only be climbed via a steep staircase with many steps.
Walks and the Planet Trail
A walk from Dielsdorf to Boppelsen leads to Regensberg through hedges and vineyards after a short, steep climb. A hike of just under two hours descends from Regensberg, passing a sculpture park on the way to the stork settlement in Steinmaur.
The Lägern Planet Trail offers another way to explore the area around Regensberg. It recreates the solar system, from the Sun to the dwarf planet Pluto, at a scale of 1:1 billion. Elaborately designed information panels explain orbital speed, distance from the Sun, surface temperature and the actual dimensions of the celestial bodies. The start of the trail also offers views of the medieval-looking town. Here, views of Regensberg go hand in hand with an engaging introduction to the solar system.
Plan your journey
After taking the S-Bahn train to Dielsdorf, continue by bus to Regensberg, Dorf. Check the current timetable before setting off. When planning your stay, the different options available locally can help guide your choice: a guided tour takes a manageable amount of time, the hike to Steinmaur is listed as just under two hours, and the steep staircase should be taken into account if you plan to visit the tower. This will help you decide which activities suit your itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Niederweningen, Schleinikon, Dällikon, Regensdorf, Otelfingen, Rümlang, Buchs, Oberglatt
For the higher-level travel overview: Dielsdorf.
