Surrounded by fruit orchards, the well-preserved old town of Bischofszell sits high above the confluence of the rivers Sitter and Thur. As «Rose Town» and Wakker conservation prize winner, the small town is rightly proud of its baroque townscape.

Bischofszell was already a rose town at the beginning of the 18th century, and Switzerland’s largest rose show developed from this. More rose gardens are continually being created and can be visited. In 2005 Bischofszell was awarded the title of a Rose Town in Canton Thurgau. A disastrous fire in 1743 destroyed almost the entire medieval town. The reconstruction provided a homogenous centre in baroque style, distinguished by the splendid town hall (built 1747-1750 with gold, white and pink coloured rococo ornamentation) as well as other manor houses, including the magnificent patrician pair «Zum Rosenstock» and «Zum Weinstock».

The clock tower with its onion dome from the 13th/14th centuries forms the fortified town gate of the market district. Also worth seeing is the «Krumme Brücke» bridge spanning the Thur and shrouded in legend. In 1987, Bischofszell was awarded the Swiss Conservation Society’s Wakkerpreis for carefully preserving the entire old town quarter complete with castle, Pelagius church, monastic buildings and canon’s houses and the lanes of the Marktgasse, Kirchgasse, Tuchgasse and Schottengasse.

The surrounding natural recreational area is popular for cycle tours, hiking and rambling, e.g. along the Thur. Particularly enjoyable are the views from Hummelberg or a stop at a forest tavern after a stroll through the Bischofsberg woods. Attractions are rounded off by sporting amenities including a swimming pool, tennis, Vitaparcours fitness trail and three nearby golf courses as well as a camp site.

Highlights

• Baroque old town quarter – after a major fire a uniform townscape was built, preserved, looked after and has won an award.
• Bischofszell Museum – a look at life in late-Gothic times and a cartography and porcelain collection make the local museum in a patrician house well worth a visit.
• Sitterdorf airfield – not only a starting and landing strip, but also an animal park, playground and leisure park (with nautic-jet, butterfly, luna loop, cableway, hamster wheel etc.) for all ages.