Fig.1. Raptorsville Castle
Rapperswil is a part of the Rapperswil-Jona municipality. It is a blooming place that attracts people with the beauty of the surrounding nature and measured pace of life. Situated on the opposite shore of Lake Zurich, this settlement is famous for its preserved medieval architecture. The hallmark of Rapperswil is a castle, equipped with wide stairs decorated with roses rather than heavy gates and defenses typical for such structures. Standing on a hill, the castle is the central element of the landscape.
Roses are a distinctive feature of Rapperswil. Aside from the aforementioned castle, they can be found in the streets, in shop windows, and even on Rapperswil’s official coat of arms. While you are here, you can get to know more than 160 species of this flower in a few days.
Rapperswil has a well-preserved old town. You can walk around it on your own or get a guided tour. If the weather is good, we recommend you to order a taxi in Rapperswil to have a chance to see all the key sights. This is something that should not be done in haste, so a tour is not always the best option.
The most convenient to way is to book a transfer to Rapperswil from Zurich Airport. This way you can reach the city in just 30 minutes. There is also a train and the ship going there regularly. The train takes about 40 minutes and the ship takes 2 hours. At the same time you will have a magnificent views of the Lake Zurich surroundings.
The main tourist sight in Rapperswil is the castle we mentioned earlier. It is located on a hill in the medieval part of the city. It takes just about 5 minute to get to it from the station. The uniqueness of the castle lies in an unusual staircase, which does not fit into a typical medieval image. The best view of the fortress is from a wooden pedestrian bridge over the lake.
Fig.2. Wooden bridge in Rappersville
If you go a little to the east, you will see the parish church of St. John. It has a special charm thanks to standing right next to the castle - both buildings proudly tower above all others in the city.
The famous wooden bridge that passes through Lake Zurich is certainly worth mentioning. In 2001, the building underwent major reconstruction, but still retained its look.
In addition to these attractions, be sure to visit the Capuchin monastery, the Town Hall and the Hermitage. Each of these places deserves special attention and at least one hour of your time. And in order not to waste too much time on walking from one landmark to another, you can book a taxi service in Rapperswil. Fortunately, the roads are not usually congested, and nothing will prevent you from quickly getting to the places of interest in the city.