Eglisau nestles in sunny vineyards in Canton Zurich’s steep slopes on the north shore of the Rhine, close to the German border. A stroll through the medieval town, a visit to a wine cellar and a Rhine cruise are all worthwhile.

The country town in Canton Zurich is at the crossing point of two medieval traffic routes; it controlled shipping on the Rhine, the Rhine crossing on the north-south link between Klettgau and Zurich and was the seat of the Zurich’s provincial governor as well as a market town. Important sources of income were shipping and salt transport on the Rhine. The foundations of the medieval old town in the centre are well preserved and still recognizable today. The building of the Rheinfelden power station in 1919 raised the Rhine water level and a row of old houses and a 100-year-old wooden bridge had to be sacrificed.

Eglisau’s position on the Rhine, the compact old town with its late-Gothic houses, most of which date from the 17th century, the Protestant church (1716/17) with views of the river and a wine trail on the southern slopes high above the Rhine make it well worth a visit. Eglisau is also an ideal starting point for hikes through the vineyards and forest along the Rhine or to nearby Rafzerfeld.

The local museum is upriver, in a winemaker’s house of historic value: the baroque Weierbachhus dating from 1670 displays artefacts on the history of the Rhine town, shipping, salmon fishing, salt trade and industry.

Rhine pleasure cruises are very popular, with a choice of rental boats to skipper yourself as well as larger vessels for scheduled cruises and groups. A Dragon Boat can be hired for company events and is also used for races.

At Eglisau, a railway viaduct with a 90m main lattice girder leads over the Rhine. On each side are connecting bridge spans with 12m and 9m stone arches respectively, giving the bridge a span length of 440m. Zurich, Winterthur and Schaffhausen are quick and easy to reach from Eglisau by regional train.

Highlights

• Historic centre of Eglisau - easily recognizable medieval town layout is now distinguished by impressive 17th-century houses.
• Rhine cruises - during the summer months, scheduled boats cruise various sections between Rheinsfelden and the Rhine Falls
• Beaver trail - the Zurich WWF has created a Beaver Trail on the Rhine between the Tössegg and Rüdlingen landing stages, with information on Europe’s largest rodent and its habitat.
• Orangina - in 1935 the former Eglisau Mineral Springs began production of today’s world famous Orangina, its most successful product.