Ράπερσβιλ-Γιόνα

May to September is the best time for the lakefront, the castle and the rose gardens. The roses bloom from June. Summer is warm. Autumn is mild. Winter is cold and grey, and the lake is quiet. Rain is common in spring and summer.

• Schloss Rapperswil is a medieval castle on the hill, with views of the lake and the Alps. It holds Polenmuseum.
• Holzsteg is a long wooden pedestrian bridge across Lake Zurich.
• Rosengarten beim Kapuzinerkloster is a rose garden with many varieties.
• Lindenhof is a terrace by the castle with views of the lake.
• Hauptplatz is the main square of the old town.
• Stadtpfarrkirche Rapperswil is the main church of the old town.
• Breny-Turm is a tower in the old town wall.
• Knie's Kinderzoo is a small zoo for children.
• Kunst(Zeug)Haus shows modern art.

• Walk the old town and climb to the castle terrace.
• Cross the lake on the wooden bridge.
• Stroll through the rose gardens in summer.
• Take a lake boat to Zurich or other lake towns.
• Swim in the lake at the beach in summer.
• Visit the children's zoo with a family.

• Zurich is about 40 minutes away by train.
• St. Gallen is about 1 hour away by train.
• Einsiedeln has a large abbey and is a pilgrimage place, reached by train.
• Lake boats go to other towns on Lake Zurich.

• St. Gallen is the nearest city in the same canton.

• By air: Zurich Airport is the nearest main airport.
• By train: Rapperswil is on the lake line from Zurich. Check times on SBB.
• The station is a few minutes from the old town.

• The old town is small, car-free and easy to walk.
• Local buses serve Jona and the lake.
• Lake boats leave from the harbour.
• The wooden bridge leads to Hurden on the other shore.

• A car is not needed in the old town, which is car-free.
• Car parks lie around the old town and near the station.
• Traffic on the lake road can be heavy at rush hour.

Try lake fish, such as perch and whitefish. The old town has many cafés and lakeside restaurants. Local wine is made on the hills by the lake.

People speak German with a Swiss dialect. English is widely understood.

• Rapperswil is very safe.
• Lake water is cold in spring. Swim in marked areas.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• The wooden bridge can be slippery when wet.

Rapperswil began as a castle town in the 13th century. In the 19th century, Polish exiles set up a museum in the castle. It was a national museum for Poland until 1927.

The long wooden bridge across the lake was first built in the Middle Ages. It has been rebuilt in modern times as a footbridge.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: