Regensdorf combines nature at Katzensee with local and building history. Highlights for a stay include a protected landscape, the local museum, historic granaries, a Kultour trail and a winegrowing tradition. Regensdorf is in the Dielsdorf district of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, and is considered the largest town in the Furttal. The municipality comprises the villages of Regensdorf, Watt and Adlikon, as well as the hamlets of Oberdorf, Altburg, Katzensee, Neu-Hard, Alt-Hard and Geissberg. The municipality lies on both sides of the Furtbach. Agriculture accounts for 43.5 percent of its area, and 23.6 percent is forested. These figures refer to the entire municipality, not just the place of the same name.

Nature at Katzensee

The landscape at Katzensee includes two small lakes, swamp forests and marsh meadows. It provides a habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including many that are endangered or rare. A new protection ordinance for the area was enacted in 2003. Marked paths lead through the landscape, and swimming is permitted at the designated bathing area. This lets you treat nature walks and swimming as distinct aspects of a visit: the paths lead through the landscape, while the bathing area is the designated place for swimming.

Building history, from granaries to a residential development

The Sonnhalde residential development is an exceptionally good example of the use of standardised prefabricated components in housing construction. At the same time, it is an important witness to economic, social, societal and construction-technology developments in the second half of the 20th century. Its historical focus therefore differs from that of Regensdorf’s older granaries.

The Regensdorf local museum is housed in a historic grain barn dated 1722 and displays objects relating to the village’s history and culture. The permanent exhibition includes an audiovisual presentation about various granaries in Regensdorf, Adlikon and Watt. The exhibition thus covers several places in the municipality. The Sander Spycher has another specific construction date: it is the oldest granary in the village, built in 1626 and extended with a second storey in 1638. Together, these examples span the building history from a 17th-century granary to the second half of the 20th century.

Kultour trail and winegrowing

For a clearly defined excursion, there is the Kultour trail “Historic Buildings Regensdorf-Watt”. The route is 9 kilometres long, takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes, and is rated easy. It starts and ends in the centre of Regensdorf. The distance, approximate duration and difficulty provide different points of reference for planning. Allow for the stated approximate duration and check local conditions before setting out.

Winegrowing in Watt offers another local perspective. For several decades, the Rebhausgemeinschaft Watt has cultivated the vineyard in the municipality of Regensdorf near Katzensee and had the grapes made into wine. Alongside nature and building history, winegrowing and agricultural land use also contribute to the picture of the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Dällikon, Schleinikon, Otelfingen, Regensberg, Buchs, Oberglatt, Dielsdorf, Rümlang.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Dielsdorf.