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Laufenburg
ℹ️Practical info — Laufenburg
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Cross the historic Laufenbrücke on foot to move directly between Germany and Switzerland.
- Look for the border marker in the middle of the bridge for a special souvenir photo.
- Use the 'Laufenburger Acht' circular trail to explore both riverbanks and the historic old town.
- Park on the German side in the Brunnenmatt parking garage for quick access to the center.
- Note that Swiss Francs (CHF) are mostly needed in Switzerland, but card payments work almost everywhere.
🍽 Food
Try top-notch Italian-Swiss cuisine in a magnificent historic building.
Enjoy upscale dining in a medieval defensive tower on the German side.
for homemade gelato during a stroll along the Rhine promenade.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Take advantage of the border crossing to buy high-quality confectionery specialties on the Swiss side.
Browse the small shops in the winding alleys for handicrafts and regional ceramics.
A short climb to the castle ruins has absolute peace and the best panoramic view.
A hidden path on the riverbank leads you to the small rapids away from the tourist crowds.
Water temperature…
Laufenburg (Baden) is located on the High Rhine, directly on the border with Switzerland. The town possesses a compelling history of division: until 1801, it was a unified city under Habsburg rule. Following the Treaty of Lunéville, Napoleon designated the Rhine as the border, splitting the town into a Baden (German) half and a Swiss half. The historic centers of both sides remain linked by the Laufen Bridge, crossing the river at one of its narrowest points. The town's name derives from the once-mighty rapids (Laufen) that defined the river landscape until they were blasted in the early 20th century to make way for a hydroelectric power plant. Today, Laufenburg is a scenic town with a medieval core, narrow alleys, and exceptionally close cross-border cooperation. Its economy is supported by energy production and small businesses, and it serves as a gateway to the southern Black Forest for tourists and nature lovers.
- Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Top sights: Laufen Bridge · Laufenburg Castle Ruins · Laufenburg Old Town
- Nearby: Bad Säckingen (9 km)
- Population: ~9.182
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain mm | 83 | 65 | 82 | 83 | 129 | 118 | 124 | 124 | 87 | 96 | 80 | 92 |
Geography
Facts
- Elevation: 315 m
- Area: 23.58 km²
- Division of the city: 1801
- Landmark: Laufen Bridge
- Region: High Rhine-Lake Constance
- Feature: Laufenburg Power Station
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Laufenburg (12)
Skulpturenmuseum Erwin Rehmann🏛 museum
A museum and atelier in Laufenburg exhibiting the works of the sculptor Erwin Rehmann.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about Laufenburg's location?
Do you need a passport to cross the Rhine bridge?
What can you see in the historic old town?
What is the 'Laufenburger Fasnacht'?
Are there boat trips on the Rhine?
Laufenburg: where is it located?
Laufenburg: what is there to see?
Laufenburg: when is the best time to visit?
Laufenburg: why is it worth visiting?
Nearby cities
