Rapperswil Oldtown, Medieval city center in Rapperswil, Switzerland

Rapperswil's old town is a medieval center with a castle perched on a rocky rise, surrounded by narrow lanes that lead toward the northern shore of Lake Zurich. The buildings form a compact townscape with historic structures and squares that reflect the layout of a medieval fortified settlement.

The oldest core of the old town lies along the Hintergasse, the former castle lane where the ministeriales of the counts of Rapperswil had their residences, including the Bleulerhaus from the 13th century. The town was enclosed by a wall until 1835; from 1834 most of the fortifications were demolished, and the medieval fortified inner harbour at today's Fischmarktplatz was filled in 1837. Until the 1830s traffic entered from the east through the Halstor, crossed the Hauptplatz and the Fischmarktstrasse to the fortified gate at the Fischmarkt; the south gate remained the main passage to the lake bridge until 1859.

The old town's core is the Hintergasse, once the Burggasse, where the ministeriales of the Counts of Rapperswil had their residences, including the 13th-century Bleulerhaus. The house zum Alten Sternen at Engelplatz marks the eastern end of the old town. The Fischmarktplatz, harbour and lakeside promenade with inns and bars grew with the rise of tourism.

The old town is easily navigable on foot with paved pedestrian paths that are comfortable to walk. Along the way you will find restaurants, cafes, and shops throughout the lanes, plus several places to stay directly within the historic center.

The oldest part of the old town is probably the buildings on Hintergasse, the former Burggasse, where the ministerials of the Counts of Rapperswil lived; the Bleulerhaus there dates from the 13th century. The house zum Alten Sternen on Engelplatz marks the eastern end of the old town.