The town was founded by the Kyburger dynasty. Evidence of this is provided by the castle, a former bailiffs’ seat, with its mighty tower dating from around 1227, and the rectangular layout of the old town quarter built about the middle of the 13th century. The castle houses the Cantonal History Museum. Lying outside the compact old town area is the St. Laurentiuskirche zu Oberkirch, a church famous for medieval stained-glass windows, as well as the former Capuchin monastery and the Guggenhürli hill with its small vineyard. The Bernerhaus, Luzernerhaus and Zürcherhaus buildings with their baroque facades are a reminder of the town’s role as an official meeting place in the 18th century. The Luzernerhaus houses the Thurgau Natural and Archaeological Museum. The Municipal Gallery is at Kreuzplatz in the Baliere, one of the oldest timber-framed houses in Thurgau. Worthwhile excursion to nearby Stählibuck, Frauenfeld’s local mountain at Dingenhart with an observation tower. Sonnenberg Castle and the privately-owned Plättli Zoo high above the Thur plain also enjoy scenic locations. Other leisure attractions are found at the Brauhaus with show brewery as well as at the, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and Jaccuzzi, ice rink, skate park and sport complex, botanical garden and a planet path.

The Greuterhof Cultural and Educational Centre in Islikon houses a former textile dyeing plant and several small museums including the Swiss «Telefonica» Telephone Museum.