Rapperswil-Jona Old Town

Rapperswil-Jona is a town on the northern shore of the upper part of Lake Zürich, and its old town is concentrated in Rapperswil, on a low promontory crowned by a castle. The town was founded in the early thirteenth century by the Counts of Rapperswil, who built the castle on the hill and laid out a planned settlement below it. The castle, Schloss Rapperswil, still dominates the skyline and is visible from across the lake, and its towers frame views from almost every corner of the old town.

The old town is compact and best explored on foot. Its lanes are narrow, cobbled and lined with houses with painted facades, arcades and flower boxes. Squares such as Hauptplatz, the main square, and Fischmarktplatz, the old fish market, give a sense of the market town's past. Streets rise toward the castle hill, called Lindenhügel, where the lime trees make a pleasant place to sit, and the path through the Hirschpark, a small deer park on the slope below the castle, is a favourite with families. The Stadtmuseum Rapperswil-Jona in Herrenberg occupies old town buildings and tells the story of the area, including the history of the town and of Jona, which merged with Rapperswil in 2007 to form the municipality.

One of the most distinctive features is the wooden footbridge across the lake. The long pedestrian bridge links Rapperswil with Hurden on the opposite side, and it follows the line of a much older crossing used by pilgrims on the Way of St. James. Walking out onto the bridge gives a good view back at the old town and the castle. The lakeside promenade, with gardens, mooring places for passenger boats, and a town beach, completes the scene, and in summer excursion ships run on Lake Zürich.

Rapperswil also calls itself the Rose Town, and there are rose gardens near the lake and the castle, which bloom in early summer. In winter the Christkindlmarkt brings stalls and lights to the old town, and other seasonal events are held through the year. The Knies Kinderzoo, a children's zoo, and the Enea Tree Museum, an outdoor collection of notable trees, are among the nearby places that fill out a day.

Getting here is easy. The town has its own railway station, with trains from Zürich taking around forty minutes, and the lake steamers connect it with other shore towns. The distance from station to old town is a short walk.

The old town suits couples, families, day-trippers from Zürich, and anyone who likes a small historic centre with water views. Allow two to three hours for a relaxed circuit, longer if you cross the bridge or visit the castle and museum. Museum hours and castle access vary, so check them before you go.