Schaffhausen

After visiting Switzerland, my world will no longer be the same. It is a fairy tale country, where with each step you think: “Wait, this was possible??”

When I went to Switzerland to Schaffhausen, I had standard pictures in my head: lush green alpine meadows, cows, neat villages, blue lakes, mountains and waterfalls. Just like in the advertisement for Milka chocolate! One might say that reality often does not coincide with expectations, but no. So far Switzerland is the only country that coincides 100% with my expectations of it.

Swiss nature is worthy of the brush of the best painters. She doesn't need filters. I wonder why here the grass is the greenest and the lakes are the bluest? Switzerland rightfully leads the ranking of clean countries. More than 50% of the country's territory is covered with forests. It also has the cleanest water in the world. You can safely drink from any fountain on the street without worrying about catching an infection. Therefore, the Swiss have a long-life expectancy. Ecology, clean water and a high standard of living are the three components of a long and high-quality life.

The country practically does not extract any minerals; there are no oil or gas reserves, nor deposits of precious metals. But there is the magnificent nature and amazing hard work of local residents. The Swiss are conscientious and approach any business with as much responsibly as possible. They don't like lazy people, but they respect any work. Thanks to this national trait, the country's residents received the image of responsible partners. The Swiss banking system is one of the most reliable in the world. And Swiss goods are recognized as a mark of quality.

City of Schaffhausen

I wanted to talk about the city that especially astounded me. It is not in the top five most beautiful cities in Switzerland, unfairly so, in my opinion. Schaffhausen - the northernmost point on the country map. Schaffhausen is the capital of the canton of the same name. In Switzerland, a canton is a territorial unit. By the way, there is no actual capital in the country. Officially, its functions are performed by the city of Bern.

If you look at the map, the canton of Schaffhausen looks like a protrusion. 80% of it is surrounded by the neighboring country Germany. The city of Schaffhausen is located on the upper reaches of the Rhine River. Here is the main attraction for which tourists travel tens of kilometers - the Rhine Falls.

History of Schaffhausen

Historian scientists believe that the first settlers appeared in these lands more than 10 thousand years ago. On the canton territory there is the Kesslerloch cave, in which ancient people lived. Judging by ancient finds, the cave was used by deer hunters. In the 19th century, large-scale excavations were carried out here. Bones, household items and art were found - for example, a drawing of a grazing deer on a wooden stick. The age of the finds is significant: from 14 to 12 thousand years BC.

A particularly interesting artifact is a fragment of the jaw of an ancient dog found in 1873. It was kept in storage for a long time, until in the early 2000s it was studied by German scientists using modern equipment. It turned out that the bone belonged to a dog that lived more than 14 thousand years ago! And also, the structure of the jaw indicates that it was already a domesticated animal, not a wild wolf. Now scientists wish to recreate the dog's appearance using that fragment of its jaw. The Kesslerloch Cave still holds many secrets; the research continues to this day. UNESCO took the natural and historical monument under its protection.

The city of Schaffhausen was first mentioned in 1045. It was a significant trade center with a convenient geographical location. In the 16th century, Schaffhausen joined the Old Swiss Confederation. 2001 was a milestone year: the canton celebrated its 500th anniversary as part of Switzerland.

Schaffhausen Today

Germany's proximity is reflected in the language: people here speak Swiss German with a local dialect.

The canton has a well-developed industry, and its high economic position attracts investors. Elite Swiss watches are produced in Schaffhausen at the IWC Schaffhausen factory.

About 30 varieties of grapes are grown on the fertile soil of the canton. There are about 900 wineries here. The most popular variety is Pinot Noir, which accounts for about 85% of all vineyards.

When we arrived in the city of Schaffhausen, it was early morning. The sun was just gaining strength, the city looked magical in such lighting. The stone pavements and ancient houses did not look gloomy, but on the contrary, there was a feeling of a celebration. It is worth mentioning separately that in Switzerland the streets are very clean, you will hardly see any garbage. I was surprised by the omnipresent drinking fountains.

I would like to talk about one scene that is etched in my memory. We were walking along the streets when a small tourist train passed us. It was full of elderly people: great looking, happy, smiling, with cameras. It was an idyllic scene - older people enjoying life, talking at the tables of cozy cafes, walking around. It was so beautiful, perfect and right!

Then we went sightseeing.

Old town of Schaffhausen and Munot fortress

This fortification was built in the 16th century. Interestingly, the famous artist Albrecht Durer was involved in the project. The Swiss strive to be the best in everything; they even hired a person with aesthetic taste to build a fortress. But Dürer was not only responsible for beauty: he believed that the circular shape of the fortress was better in terms of protection from enemies. Munot was captured only once - in the 18th century by the French.

For a long time the fortress was in a sorry state until it was restored. Now everyone can freely climb the fortress walls, admire the magnificent Swiss landscapes and take spectacular photos. From the height of the fortress wall, the city seems like a toy; there are no high-rise buildings here, only the roofs of ancient houses, stone streets and the greenery, a lot of greenery.

Every evening at 21:00, according to ancient tradition, a bell rings in the fortress. Previously, the townspeople, having heard the ringing, had to close the city gates: something like a curfew.

Houses of the Old Town of Schaffhausen

They deserve special mention. These are truly a work of art. I am partial to the beautiful architecture: while walking through the old city, all I could do was look around in admiration. The facades of some houses are decorated with frescoes and paintings. Another distinctive feature is the bay windows. In Schaffhausen, aesthetics was clearly given a lot of attention. The bay windows, the protruding parts of the facade, are decorated with carved wooden elements and metal forging, images and sculptures.

One of the most famous houses in Schaffhausen is the Knight's House

It's a must see! It is unlikely that a building such as this can be found anywhere else. Its facade was completely decorated with frescoes right up to the roof in the 16th century. In the 20th century, the frescoes were carefully removed and placed in a museum in the Benedictine Monastery of All Saints to protect them from disappearing. And in their place, a talented artist completely reproduced everything as it was. Sorry, I don't have any photos to show.

Laufen Castle in Schaffhausen

A picturesque castle built on a rock. It was so successfully integrated into the surrounding landscape that it appears to be a continuation of the mountain. There is a lot of greenery around. There is an entrance fee to the castle grounds. In some rooms there is a historical exhibition that tells the history of Schaffhausen. An atmospheric place that will be interesting to visit for anyone who is interested in history. There is also an observation deck on the territory, which offers stunning views of the pearl of Schaffhausen - the Rhine Falls.

Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen

This is the case when it is better to see for yourself. Photos do not convey the full power and grandeur of the waterfall. There are observation decks at different levels. It looks amazing from all angles. The huge mass of water that rumbles, sparkles in the sun, and scatters into millions of splashes. Falling from huge boulders, water forms a curtain of small drops, above which you can see a rainbow. Many tourists come to Schaffhausen precisely to see this natural wonder.

The city itself is small, but this does not apply to the impression it makes. The main attractions can be visited in one day. And it is definitely worth devoting a whole day entirely to this magical town. Here, time seems to stay still, and all problems and worries remain somewhere beyond the horizon. Only the silence of the ancient walls, the rustle of leaves, the serene Rhine and the restless waterfall.

Original article: https://howtomove.help/ru/articles/saffxauzen