Something to Declare

Post No. 4. (Gemütlich) Sein in Stein

September 5, 2023

Translated roughly, “Be happy in Stein,” referring to Stein-am-Rhein, today’s adventure.

Drove off this morning and headed first to the Rheinfall (Rhine waterfall), northeast of Zürich, near the above-mentioned town of Stein-am-Rhein. The waterfall was formed by tectonic shifts during the last ice age (about 15,000 years ago). Each second, 700 cubic meters of water rage over the rocks. The falls are reputed to be the biggest in Europe.

By the standards of Niagara, Iguazú and Victoria, Rheinfall is not that mind-blowing. But it was very pretty, and impressive in its own way. Especially for Stef, since she had never seen a large natural waterfall before.

After watching a tour boat docking, we were glad that we decided to see the falls from a viewing platform on land:

Then off to Stein-am-Rhein. A hidden gem, with gingerbread-y half-timbered houses, decorated with original medieval and renaissance frescoes, intricately-carved oriel windows and billowing flower-boxes.

These are all arrayed along the long, cobbled street called the Rathausplatz.

named for the the City Hall (Rathaus):

The whole thing had a fairy-tale quality. We remembered that Dresden, in Germany, also has some of this old-world look. But that was the result of painstaking reconstruction, brick-by-brick. This stuff is original!

We concluded our visit to Stein-am-Rhein with a visit to the Lindwurm Museum, which consists of an 1850s-style house.

The interior rooms are decorated and furnished as of that time:

Okay, gotta go and pack for the two-night stay in Colmar (Alsace-Lorraine). Later.