ViaRhenana

The route via the Untersee lake and Hochrhein river was for centuries Switzerland's most important waterway. Today, it follows the ViaRhenana from Kreuzlingen via Schaffhausen to Basel, through a varied landscape shaped by water.

The hike begins in Kreuzlingen, just a few steps from the public transport stop of the same name. The yellow-waymarked hiking trail soon reaches Lake Constance and continues via Gottlieben to Ermatingen. At Schloss Arenenberg, views extend across the Untersee. Villages, open meadows and stretches of woodland then alternate along the route. Above Mammern, at just under 600 metres, lies the highest point of the entire route, before Stein am Rhein and later Schaffhausen are reached.

Near the Rhine Falls, which plunge 23 metres and are 150 metres wide, the Rhine takes the lead. The trail follows its bends westwards via Rheinau and Eglisau. Wooded riverbanks, fields and small settlements alternate time and again. Despite covering around 195 kilometres, the trail remains technically easy; a good 51 hours should be allowed for the entire route.

Via Laufenburg and Rheinfelden, the route gradually approaches Basel. In the St. Alban-Tal, it passes directly by St.-Alban-Kirche, then continues through the old town of Grossbasel to the destination. The Basel Schifflände stop is just a few steps away.