Ravishing Rapperswil, Switzerland

Ravishing Rapperswil, Switzerland

Switzerland is a country which must have inspired the great masterpieces of art and literature, it is like a painting come to life, a poem wafting tantalizingly in the air, a sculpture skillfully etched by Nature. One relatively unknown gem where you can listen to the sound of your own footfalls and gaze reverently at the lake and soak in nature is Rapperswil. The place makes for an excellent day trip from Zurich.

Rapperswil is a former municipality and since January 2007 part of the municipality of Rapperswil-Jona in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland, located at the east side of the Lake Zurich.

It is pretty easy to get to Rapperswil, you can take a train from Zurich and you would be there in less than 40 minutes. You can also take a round trip cruise from Zurich to Rapperswil and back by boat if you have the time. The cruise offers you excellent views of the small towns that dot the periphery of the lake and the vineyards and culminates with a view of the Alps as you reach Rapperswil. Most if not all of the boats have restaurants on board where you can enjoy a Coffee or some local wine. I felt the best option was to do the boat cruise, one way and then take the train. Rapperswil station is very close to the lake and you can walk to the Jetty in no time.

There is a beautiful wooden bridge across the lake which connects Rapperswil to Hurden on the opposite bank, do take a walk along the bridge and take in the beautiful view of the lake as it blends into the mountains, there are benches if you get tired which is not likely as the atmosphere is so invigorating, you may also be able to catch a glimpse of a train winding across the lake and disappearing into the mountains.

All you need to do in Rapperswil is just soak in the sights and the fresh air, let your mind’s camera capture those lovely moments for posterity to relive again and again. But yes do not forget your digicam to share the wonderful memories with your loved ones.

Here are some things that you can do while in Rapperswil:

Visit the Polish Museum

This is an old museum which was founded in 1870, by a Polish immigrant. In those days Rapperswil was the cultural centre for the Polish diaspora. The museum’s collections bring alive the Polish culture and history in all its vivid colours. The museum itself is housed in an old castle and one can get an awesome view from its towers. The museum ticket includes admission to the towers as well. The collections in the museum include busts and portraits of noteworthy men and women in Polish history, old relics, Polish military uniforms over the years and a host of other memorabilia. To sum up it is indeed really a fascinating experience to move around this quaint library and learn a bit about Polish history and its impact on Switzerland.

Interact closely with animals at Knies Kinderzoo

The Knies Kinderzoo is a great place to visit, especially if you are with children. The kids would love the opportunity to interact with different animals as the zoo provides opportunities for pony rides and elephant and camel feeding experiences. There is also a Sea Lion show which would amuse kids. The zoo is also home to cheetahs, penguins and giraffes. There are approximately 49 species which account for the 450 animals that live in the zoo. A visit to this zoo would be a fun activity for the entire family.

Admire the beauty of Roses at the Rose garden

Rapperswil is also know as the town of roses, because of the roses that bloom in the Rose garden and elsewhere. The rose garden is unique for the fact that it is meant for the blind and has specifically fragrant roses with the names written in Braille

After your visit to Rapperswil, you end up with a feeling that you have visited a fairyland, that lies somewhere far and beyond the realms of imagination, such is the charm of this little town.