Jestetten, municipality in Germany
Jestetten is a small village in Baden-Württemberg on the German-Swiss border with low-density housing and quiet streets arranged across gently rolling terrain. Houses are modest and spread out among fields and small woodlands, creating an open and connected rural landscape.
The village became part of Baden in 1806 and was a customs-free zone from 1840 to 1935, allowing residents to trade goods with Switzerland without extra charges. This period of exemption brought economic advantages and improved living standards that shaped local prosperity.
The village displays a blend of local customs with Swiss influences visible in everyday life, where residents routinely cross the border for work and shopping. Conversations in multiple languages and the relaxed atmosphere of small shops reflect how living between two countries shapes the community.
The village has two border crossings to Swiss towns, one along Schaffhauserstraße toward Neuhausen am Rheinfall and another in the southwest to Osterfingen. The railway station operated by Swiss companies offers frequent connections to cities in both countries.
The railway station is one of only two in Germany operated by Swiss railway companies and has no direct connection to the German railway network. This makes Jestetten a rare example of cross-border transport infrastructure within Germany itself.
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