Rapperswil Travel Guide

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Rapperswil is located on the eastern shore of Lake Zuerich. The lake acts as a stunning centrepiece for the town and the promenade by the lake with its many restaurants and cafes is a popular place to be.

The water of the lake is exceptionally clean making for some very good swimming areas. The water is also potable and services many of the townships around the lake.

There are many ferries and vehicular ferries operating around the towns on the lake and to and from Zuerich not to mention the cruiseboats which are always in view. This constant floating traffic makes for a very interesting spot to stop for a breather or to have lunch or a coffee and enjoy the busy but peaceful sights.

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The Capuchin Monastery/Friary dates back to 1606 and is still in use today. It has a long history and began its existence as the Roman Catholic answer to the Reformation centre in Zuerich. It orignally was home to a handful of Capuchin priests and brothers (known as friars).

The monastery can be found in a beautiful location right on the edge of Lake Zuerich and is surrounded by some of the famous rose gardens of Rapperswil. It nestles beside a vineyard which rises up to the Scloss Rapperswil high above.

The church is beautifully renovated to what I would guess to be a far more contemporary style to its original design and is a quiet and peaceful place to visit. Here too you will find the Grotto dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. Just over a hundred years ago the monastery opened to the general public as a place where lay people could spend a week or so living and experiencing the monastic way of lie.

Today there are still about nine priests and two nuns in residence.

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The original fortress was built in 1220 and first mentioned in 1229. It was built of sandstone from the neighbouring Lutzelau island as were the city walls and indeed the city itself. In 1350 The Fortress and the city walls were destroyed in an unsuccesful coup but the fortress was rebuilt in its present form by the Duke of Austria.

Since 1870, the building has been home to a Polish Museum and is open to the public.

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The Hermit House is believed to have been built in the tenth century as a boat house for boats going across the lake to neighbouring islands. It was built before the city of Rapperswil and hence is thought to be the oldest building in the city.

When the city of Rapperswil was built the house became part of the city walls and adjoins one of the last remaining towers of the ancient wall. It was given to the monastery when it was first built in the 1600s.

For a long time it was used as a woollen mill.

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Rapperswil Castle (Schloss Rapperswil) is a castle in the city of Rapperswil. It is located on the eastern shore of the Lake Zurich and belongs to the municipality of Rapperswil-Jona in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Since 1870, the castle has been home to the Polish National Museum created by Polish émigrés, including the castle's lessee and restorer, Count Wladyslaw Broel-Plater. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

On the castle's terrace, the eastern part of the so-called Lindenhof, the Polish freedom pillar is situated, as a sign of Switzerland's solidarity with peoples who struggle for their freedom.

From there is also an impressing view over the Altstadt, upper and lower Lake Zürich, on the Seedamm from Rapperswil to Hurden and the to Glarus Alps, as well to the Bachtel mountain. On the northern side of the Lindenhof plateau stretches a supervised Deer park with 10-15 deer down toward the lake, which is a reminder of the legend of its founding.

In the castle's palais, there is located next to the Polish Museum a restaurant. Guided tours are offered by the museum.

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.....there are some sensational frescoes in Rapperswil. All you need to do is to wander around the streets and you will see them everywhere you go. This is such a fascinating art which stops me in my tracks whenever I see some fine examples such as these.

I found this wonderful clock on my travels around Rapperswil and I know absolutely nothing about it. It is in the form of a striking frescoe but with wires attached which act as hands I guess. If anyone can throw some light on this, I would be very interested to hear from you. If I could translate from the Swiss dialect German on it,I might have a clue. However suffice to say that I thought it was well worth photographing anyway as it was so very eye catching.

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Everywhere you go in the Altstadt of Rapperswil you wil be surrounded by the most beautiful and well kept buildings. What interested me the most was the contrast in design from one to another. There were so many different types of design that I didn't know what to expect around the next corner. I just had to click away because I wanted to be able to remember them.

I am very sure that many of these wonderful buildings have a story to tell and oh how I would like to hear some of those tales. I think they would be fascinating to say the very least.