28. Rapperswil Castle (SG)

Rapperswil Castle is the landmark of the picturesque “City of Roses”, which lies on the shores of Lake Zurich. The castle, which was built towards the end of the 12th century and subsequently renovated on a number of occasions, can be seen from far away. It towers high above the town, perched atop a long rocky hill called the Lindenhof, which extends through Rapperswil.

The southern flank of the hill is known as the Schlossberg. This area is home to the oldest vineyard on Lake Zurich, which cultivates wonderful Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) grapes.

A particular highlight for children is without doubt the north flank of the castle hill, where fallow deer have lived since 1871 as a reminder of the legend surrounding the city’s foundation.

Rapperswil deserves the name ‘City of Roses’ because of the 16,000 roses in bloom between May and October in the gardens of the Capuchin Monastery and the Schanz. The latter is a special ‘perfume garden’ with scented roses for the blind. Their names are provided in Braille writing on information boards.

Inauguration: 23th March 2018