Laufen Castle, Medieval castle at Rhine Falls, Switzerland
Laufen Castle is a stone structure sitting on a rocky outcrop directly above the Rhine Falls. Multiple viewing platforms let you watch Europe's largest waterfall from different angles and heights.
The castle first appeared in written records in 858 when it served as the home of the Barons of Laufen. Zurich took control of it in 1544 and has maintained it since then.
The castle holds an exhibition showing how the region developed over more than a thousand years through objects and displays. The collection tells the story of people who lived and worked in this area.
A glass panoramic elevator and accessible pathways make it easy for anyone to explore the building. The nearby Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall train station provides direct access to the grounds.
A railway tunnel runs underneath the castle's foundations, with trains stopping at a station built below the walls. This unusual arrangement made building and maintaining the structure a special challenge.
Location: Laufen-Uhwiesen
Part of: list of cultural properties in Laufen-Uhwiesen
Address: Rheinfallweg, Laufen
Website: https://schlosslaufen.ch/de
GPS coordinates: 47.67670,8.61500
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Baden-Württemberg offers a wide range of destinations beyond the usual routes. The region includes medieval castle ruins such as Hohentwiel, Hohenbaden, and Yburg, medieval monasteries like Maulbronn and Alpirsbach, and palaces such as Lichtenstein and Weikersheim. Geological formations shape the landscape: the Blautopf displays a karst spring with distinctive water color, the Wutach Gorge cuts through limestone layers, and Wimsen Cave lies in the Danube Valley. Numerous waterfalls including Urach Falls and Menzenschwand Falls complement the natural offerings. The region combines historical and contemporary elements. The Wildline suspension bridge spans the Enz Valley, the Rottweil Test Tower serves as an elevator testing facility and viewing platform, and the historic Sauschwänzlebahn railway runs on a track featuring loops and tunnels. Parks such as Hohenheim Gardens and Rosenstein Park offer botanical collections. The market square in Freudenstadt displays typical Black Forest architecture, and the Neubulach Silver Mine provides insights into historic mining operations. These destinations allow detailed exploration of the region's nature, history, and engineering.
Rhine Falls
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Wörth Castle
271 m
Villa Charlottenfels
1.6 km
Cholfirst Radio Tower
2.4 km
Eisenbahnbrücke am Rheinfall
125 m
Rheinbrücke N4
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Aussichtsturm Hörnli (Cholfirst)
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Catholic Church of St. Mary
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Diebsturm
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Rheinsteg Dachsen–Nohl
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Rheinbrücke Schaffhausen–Flurlingen
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Sender Neuhausen am Rheinfall
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Haberhaus
2.4 km
Rheinbrücke Neuhausen am Rheinfall–Flurlingen
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Aazheimerhof mit Scheune
2.3 km
Haus zum Luchs, Schaffhausen
2.5 km
Rhine bath
2.1 km
Zum Frieden Inn
2.5 km
Katholische Kirche
600 m
Kapelle
1.4 km
Watermill at Rheinfall
245 m
Former town hall and journeyman's house
1.6 km
Kornhaus
2.5 km
Art Nouveau town houses
868 m
Church building
565 m
Railroad station with goods shed
1.1 km
Zur Oberen Giesserei house
2.4 km
SIG Fabrik am Rheinfall (mit Mittelbau)
338 mReviews
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