Rheinfelden, Medieval town district along Rhine River in Aargau, Switzerland
Rheinfelden is a municipality that stretches on both sides of the High Rhine, featuring sandstone buildings, narrow lanes, and a well-kept medieval old town center. The place preserves its historical structure with stone and timber buildings, and a natural water landscape that shapes the townscape.
The settlement gained imperial city status in 1225 and remained under Habsburg rule until Napoleon made the Rhine the Swiss-German border in 1802. This boundary drew a line through the town and turned it into a Swiss settlement on the border with its former lands.
The place takes on its character from life on both banks of the Rhine, where locals and visitors cross the historic bridge and experience the interplay between the German and Swiss sides. The compact old town with its cafés and shops reflects this border location, which shapes daily rhythms and the way buildings blend together.
The place is easily reached by direct train connections to Basel, Zurich, and border towns, with regular boat services on the Rhine. Visitors should know that the old town is quite compact and walking along both banks is straightforward.
The area houses the headquarters and production facility of Feldschlösschen, Switzerland's largest brewery, located in a 19th-century castle building. This brewery is deeply woven into the place's identity and shapes how it appears today.
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