Rheinfelden, a Swiss municipality in the canton of Aargau, is one of fourteen towns founded by an ancient and influential German family that took its name from the town and village of Zähringen, which is now part of Freiburg im Breisgau.
Located at the highest point of the navigable Rhine, Rheinfelden is the oldest Zähringer town in Switzerland. It was in 1846 that the saltwater baths that have made it internationally famous were opened, and today, with its health centre, the Sole Uno wellness world, the Park-Hotel on the Rhine and the Hotel Eden Solbad, it has become the ideal destination for health care and lovers of healthy living.
The historic centre of a vibrant city in the Middle Ages
Exploring the vehicle-free historic centre of the city is a memorable experience that is not to be missed when visiting the canton of Aargau. Frescoed façades, arches, towers and, of course, the ornate town hall with its Gothic staircase are a reflection of its glorious past.
The old town, which lacked large squares until the arrival of the Habsburgs, is dominated by the main street, Marktgasse or market street, which is always bustling with cafés, restaurants and boutiques and where you will find the town hall, which is a must-see for its wonderful Baroque façade, enormous tower and interior courtyard with the aforementioned Gothic staircase.
Magical and evocative alleys branch off from Rheinfelden’s main thoroughfare, where craftsmen and merchants, but not peasants, once lived. The coexistence between the latter and the rest of the citizens was not always idyllic, as evidenced by the decree issued by the city council in 1597 expressing its indignation at the piles of manure that filled the streets, making the city look more like a village. Among these alleys we find Winkelgasse for wizards and witches, shopping streets that became world famous thanks to the Harry Potter book and film series.
Rheinfelden, city of salt
It was in the mid-19th century when salt deposits were discovered, leading to the establishment of the first establishments offering brine baths. More than 180 years later, the city offers a whole experience centred around white gold.
The different options offered by this experience can be found at Sole Uno Wellness World, a pleasant journey through the world of wellness where you can discover the sauna culture of Finland and Siberia or float in weightlessness as if you were in the Dead Sea thanks to its intensive saltwater pool. Also at the Hotel Eden Im Park Rheinfelden, where you can experience absolute relaxation with a steam bath, a massage or by enjoying the warm water of the outdoor pool in a park that is the closest thing to the Garden of Eden.
Together with Reha Rheinfelden, the Schützen Clinic, the Salina Private Clinic and the Health Centre, Rheinfelden is Switzerland’s most important health resort.
The salt experience can be rounded off with a visit to the salt mines in Riburg and Schweizerhalle.
The fascinating world of beer
The Feldschlösschen Beer World is the perfect place to discover it. Feldschlösschen Getränke AG is Switzerland’s leading brewery and largest beverage distributor. Here, more than 150 years of beer brewing are concentrated in an impressive historicist-style building that looks more like a castle, acquired in 1874 by the founders of the brewery, farmer Mathias Wüthrich and brewer and politician Theophil Roniger, who had learned his trade in Germany.
Three floors dedicated to beer production, a spectacular rooftop terrace and interactive and digital exhibitions shape the visit to the brewery. But one of its most surprising attractions is the digital beer dispensing system consisting of twenty-five taps where each visitor can serve themselves freely.
If your curiosity takes you even further, you can take courses to brew your own beer in the incomparable setting of the historic building’s walls.
Attractive leisure and cultural offerings
Rheinfelden’s cultural calendar is designed to appeal to all audiences. Some of the events on offer can be found at the Q4 Rheinfelden jazz club, which offers jazz at its best in the Schützenkeller. Every 1st May, the city celebrates the awakening of spring with a market that heralds the beginning of this beautiful time of year, while summer invites you to enjoy OpenAir cinema on the grounds of the Feldschlösschen brewery. The year is bid farewell with Christmas and the ‘Advent Sparkle’, which enchants with its magical lights, concerts and attractions for young and old alike, not to mention the traditional Christmas market.
Returning to the summer season, a perfect plan is to take a dip in the refreshing waters of the Rhine or go on a boat trip along the river. Another day, we can enjoy a pleasant walk along the beautiful Fricktal hiking trail.
