Schaffhausen

Schaffhausen is a cantonal capital in northern Switzerland, sitting directly on the High Rhine. The old town spreads across several levels between river and hillside, with narrow lanes and historic buildings filling the core.

A ford and later bridge across the Rhine led to the founding of a settlement in the 11th century. The town joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501 after having been a free imperial city before that.

The name comes from the medieval boathouses along the Rhine where merchants once stored goods. Today visitors walk past painted facades with bay windows and covered alleys that show how trading towns looked centuries ago.

The old town is easy to explore on foot, with many stairs and slopes connecting the different levels. The railway station sits outside the center and links Swiss and German routes.

An accidental American bombing in 1944 destroyed parts of the town and led to formal apologies from Washington. The reconstruction brought new buildings into the historic street pattern.

Location: Canton of Schaffhausen

Elevation above the sea: 409 m

Shares border with: Beringen, Büttenhardt, Flurlingen, Merishausen, Thayngen, Dörflingen, Feuerthalen, Stetten, Büsingen am Hochrhein, Beggingen, Schleitheim, Siblingen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall

Website: https://stadt-schaffhausen.ch

GPS coordinates: 47.69605,8.63451

Latest update: December 14, 2025 23:47