Cycling in Switzerland
Rhein–Hirzel–Linth
Stage 1, Kaiserstuhl–Zürich
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Rhein–Hirzel–Linth
Stage 1, Kaiserstuhl–Zürich
From cheerful, sleepy little Kaiserstuhl am Rhein through the turbulent Wehntal and Furttal industrial landscapes. After a stop at the Chatzensee lake, on to Switzerland’s throbbing business heart, «we are living Zurich» to plagiarize Zurich’s Euro 2008 slogan.
Compact construction and landmark protection – the medieval little town of Kaiserstuhl is showing its romantic side. It is shaped in the form of an acute triangle. Even more noticeable is the steep descent leading down to the Rhine. Passing a polygonal fountain on the way to the river, the handbrake is probably applied. In the neighbouring country on the other side of the water you see Rötteln Castle, whose 800-year old front is mirrored in the river. The water makes it look like it’s swaying a little. Back up in town the mighty Obere Turm, or upper tower, points the way out of the Middle Ages and into modern times.
Airplanes are droning high above. The approach to the landing runway at Zurich-Kloten airport passes directly over a residential area. This part of the tour follows the Fisibach river. The views of strikingly beautiful half-timbered houses sweeten the path through the lovely Bachsertäli valley. The Steinmaur mill is one of the oldest in the Canton Zurich. However, the times of baking bread are long gone. The sturdy building sits abandoned in the centre of Niedersteinmaur. Life in the community of Dielsdorf is considerably more hectic. You pass through neighbourhoods where yet another construction site, plus a crane, of course, always seems to be squeezed in somehow. A pleasant bike route then follows the main road, but traffic coming from the other side is heavy. Where do they all come from? Certainly not from above, where a raptor is silently circling and an airplane is leaving a white trail.
The area of the Katzenseelein lakes, including the upper and lower Chatzensee and Büsisee, is peaceful and relaxing. The protected zone is considered to be one of the most beautiful nature and recreational landscapes in Switzerland located near a town. This gem was created late in the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when the melting Linth Glacier left a lake behind. For thousands of years it continuously silted up and slowly closed over with peat-forming bog meadows and woodlands. With the call of a cuckoo still echoing in your ears, you now approach the city of Zurich, Switzerland’s most important business centre. Many swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the Limmat River in the summer, while the activities at the Dynamo youth cultural centre are of a different nature entirely. Drahtschmidlisteg crosses the Limmat to get to Platzspitz, where the sugary odour of canned beer always seems to drift through the air. Sihl and Limmat finally take you through the “Park am Wasser” to the Swiss National Museum. Right across the street is Zurich’s main station, where trains depart to destinations all over Europe.
Airplanes are droning high above. The approach to the landing runway at Zurich-Kloten airport passes directly over a residential area. This part of the tour follows the Fisibach river. The views of strikingly beautiful half-timbered houses sweeten the path through the lovely Bachsertäli valley. The Steinmaur mill is one of the oldest in the Canton Zurich. However, the times of baking bread are long gone. The sturdy building sits abandoned in the centre of Niedersteinmaur. Life in the community of Dielsdorf is considerably more hectic. You pass through neighbourhoods where yet another construction site, plus a crane, of course, always seems to be squeezed in somehow. A pleasant bike route then follows the main road, but traffic coming from the other side is heavy. Where do they all come from? Certainly not from above, where a raptor is silently circling and an airplane is leaving a white trail.
The area of the Katzenseelein lakes, including the upper and lower Chatzensee and Büsisee, is peaceful and relaxing. The protected zone is considered to be one of the most beautiful nature and recreational landscapes in Switzerland located near a town. This gem was created late in the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when the melting Linth Glacier left a lake behind. For thousands of years it continuously silted up and slowly closed over with peat-forming bog meadows and woodlands. With the call of a cuckoo still echoing in your ears, you now approach the city of Zurich, Switzerland’s most important business centre. Many swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the Limmat River in the summer, while the activities at the Dynamo youth cultural centre are of a different nature entirely. Drahtschmidlisteg crosses the Limmat to get to Platzspitz, where the sugary odour of canned beer always seems to drift through the air. Sihl and Limmat finally take you through the “Park am Wasser” to the Swiss National Museum. Right across the street is Zurich’s main station, where trains depart to destinations all over Europe.
From cheerful, sleepy little Kaiserstuhl am Rhein through the turbulent Wehntal and Furttal industrial landscapes. After a stop at the Chatzensee lake, on to Switzerland’s throbbing business heart, «we are living Zurich» to plagiarize Zurich’s Euro 2008 slogan.
Compact construction and landmark protection – the medieval little town of Kaiserstuhl is showing its romantic side. It is shaped in the form of an acute triangle. Even more noticeable is the steep descent leading down to the Rhine. Passing a polygonal fountain on the way to the river, the handbrake is probably applied. In the neighbouring country on the other side of the water you see Rötteln Castle, whose 800-year old front is mirrored in the river. The water makes it look like it’s swaying a little. Back up in town the mighty Obere Turm, or upper tower, points the way out of the Middle Ages and into modern times.
Airplanes are droning high above. The approach to the landing runway at Zurich-Kloten airport passes directly over a residential area. This part of the tour follows the Fisibach river. The views of strikingly beautiful half-timbered houses sweeten the path through the lovely Bachsertäli valley. The Steinmaur mill is one of the oldest in the Canton Zurich. However, the times of baking bread are long gone. The sturdy building sits abandoned in the centre of Niedersteinmaur. Life in the community of Dielsdorf is considerably more hectic. You pass through neighbourhoods where yet another construction site, plus a crane, of course, always seems to be squeezed in somehow. A pleasant bike route then follows the main road, but traffic coming from the other side is heavy. Where do they all come from? Certainly not from above, where a raptor is silently circling and an airplane is leaving a white trail.
The area of the Katzenseelein lakes, including the upper and lower Chatzensee and Büsisee, is peaceful and relaxing. The protected zone is considered to be one of the most beautiful nature and recreational landscapes in Switzerland located near a town. This gem was created late in the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when the melting Linth Glacier left a lake behind. For thousands of years it continuously silted up and slowly closed over with peat-forming bog meadows and woodlands. With the call of a cuckoo still echoing in your ears, you now approach the city of Zurich, Switzerland’s most important business centre. Many swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the Limmat River in the summer, while the activities at the Dynamo youth cultural centre are of a different nature entirely. Drahtschmidlisteg crosses the Limmat to get to Platzspitz, where the sugary odour of canned beer always seems to drift through the air. Sihl and Limmat finally take you through the “Park am Wasser” to the Swiss National Museum. Right across the street is Zurich’s main station, where trains depart to destinations all over Europe.
Airplanes are droning high above. The approach to the landing runway at Zurich-Kloten airport passes directly over a residential area. This part of the tour follows the Fisibach river. The views of strikingly beautiful half-timbered houses sweeten the path through the lovely Bachsertäli valley. The Steinmaur mill is one of the oldest in the Canton Zurich. However, the times of baking bread are long gone. The sturdy building sits abandoned in the centre of Niedersteinmaur. Life in the community of Dielsdorf is considerably more hectic. You pass through neighbourhoods where yet another construction site, plus a crane, of course, always seems to be squeezed in somehow. A pleasant bike route then follows the main road, but traffic coming from the other side is heavy. Where do they all come from? Certainly not from above, where a raptor is silently circling and an airplane is leaving a white trail.
The area of the Katzenseelein lakes, including the upper and lower Chatzensee and Büsisee, is peaceful and relaxing. The protected zone is considered to be one of the most beautiful nature and recreational landscapes in Switzerland located near a town. This gem was created late in the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when the melting Linth Glacier left a lake behind. For thousands of years it continuously silted up and slowly closed over with peat-forming bog meadows and woodlands. With the call of a cuckoo still echoing in your ears, you now approach the city of Zurich, Switzerland’s most important business centre. Many swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the Limmat River in the summer, while the activities at the Dynamo youth cultural centre are of a different nature entirely. Drahtschmidlisteg crosses the Limmat to get to Platzspitz, where the sugary odour of canned beer always seems to drift through the air. Sihl and Limmat finally take you through the “Park am Wasser” to the Swiss National Museum. Right across the street is Zurich’s main station, where trains depart to destinations all over Europe.
Length
29 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 28 km
Natural surface: 1 km
Natural surface: 1 km
Ascent | Descent
360 m | 320 m
Fitness level
easy
Arrival | return travel
More …
km1 - km10
The route leads along tranquil byways and an asphalted cycle track through the idyllic Bachsertal valley. The entire valley was placed under protection in 1969.
Diversion, Regensdorf
Duration
08.08.2022 - 26.08.2022
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
Diversion, Zurich, Affolternstrasse
Duration
until further notice
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
km10 - km14
The route features a separate cycle track along the busy Hauptstrasse and through quiet residential streets.
km14 - km16
The route features a separate cycle track along the busy Hauptstrasse and through quiet residential streets.
km16 - km19
The route leads along quiet residential streets and mostly asphalted country paths to the upper of the two Chatzensee lakes. The lower lake has a bathing beach about one kilometer south of the route.
km19 - km27
The route leads along streets with little traffic (except for Bucheggplatz) and crosses the river Limmat.
km27 - km29
The route leads through the Platzspitz Park. The park is colsed at night. The route crosses the Limmat via the Drahtschmidlisteg footbridge.
Opening hours Platzspitz
Avoidance of urban area
A train runs between Zürich Oerlikon and Zürich HB, allowing city traffic to be avoided.
Hints
Hint
Those wishing to visit the small mediaeval town of Kaiserstuhl down on the banks of the Rhine will have to add a few more meters to their climb – but the effort is well worth while.
Hint
It's worth taking a detour from Steinmaur to the stork colony located on the Fischbach stream, barely 1 km to the east of the route. Pairs of storks breed here regularly.
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Hint
The hamlet of Chrästel is located barely 1 kilometer to the west of the route (a sign marked «Bergwerk» points the way). The Buchs quartz sand mine is to be found here. Between 1894 and 1922, quartz sand for the famous Bülach glass was quarried here. The sand was carried to Bülach on the Schipka Pass Railway, as it was known. The railway has now been closed down but it can still be seen in the nearby forest to the east of the «Bösbuck» («Bahnweg» forest path). This interesting mine can be visited with advance notice.
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