Laufenburg (Baden): Historic Towns, the Rhine and Cross-Border Routes

Laufenburg (Baden) offers several distinct reasons to stay by the Rhine: the connection between the two historic town centres, cross-border routes and views from the Schlossberg over rooftops and the river. Culture is also part of the town’s character. If you are planning a hotel stay, the differences between the bridge, the routes and the cultural events can help you decide what best matches your interests.

The Laufen Bridge connects the historic town centres

The Laufen Bridge connects the two historic town centres of Laufenburg and is open only to pedestrians and cyclists. This also makes the type of connection clear for planning purposes: the bridge links the historic centres on foot or by bicycle. Its use differs from the route details for the Jubilee Trail and the Laufenburger ACHT, where distance and course play a greater role.

Two cross-border routes

The cross-border Laufenburg Jubilee Trail is 20 kilometres long and takes hikers and cyclists through the historic town centres. Its full route also extends to Albbruck. At around 6.6 kilometres, the Laufenburger ACHT is the shorter of the two routes mentioned. It is a cross-border adventure trail between Laufenburg (Baden) and Laufenburg in Switzerland. At three Rhine crossings, you move between the two towns. This gives you a choice of different distances and route formats: the Jubilee Trail passes through the historic town centres and is suitable for both hikers and cyclists, while the ACHT is described as an adventure trail.

Along the Laufenburger ACHT, activity stations invite you to participate, try things out and learn through play. The route runs mostly along natural-surface paths and also includes stairs and suspension bridges. Along the way, there are views of the Rhine and both historic town centres. Benches and sun loungers on the banks of the Rhine invite you to take a break. So the route offers more than its approximate length and three Rhine crossings: it also features activity stations, varied terrain and places to rest by the river.

Views of the Rhine and from the Schlossberg

From the Schlossberg, the view stretches over the rooftops of the historic town houses, across the Rhine to the German sister town of Laufenburg (Baden), and as far as the green hills of the Jura. Views of the Rhine and both historic town centres can also be enjoyed along the Laufenburger ACHT. The perspectives differ: the views along the ACHT come at points along the route, while from the Schlossberg the panorama also takes in the rooftops and extends to the hills of the Jura.

Cultural days with a cross-border programme

The cross-border Laufenburg Cultural Days, “Flowing Borders”, feature concerts, theatre, art exhibitions, cabaret, jazz, tango and cultural events for children. The Cultural Days usually begin with the Swiss school holidays and end with the summer holidays on the German side. They therefore form a distinct focus alongside the routes and viewpoints: the programme ranges from music and theatre to exhibitions and cultural events for children.

If you would like to include the Cultural Days in your travel plans, check the event dates for your travel period. For the routes, you can compare their length and course and, for the Laufenburger ACHT, also take into account the activity stations, trail conditions and places to pause mentioned above. This will help you weigh up the different aspects of your stay before looking for a hotel for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Eggingen, Lottstetten, Ühlingen-Birkendorf, Wehr, Grafenhausen, Dogern, Murg, Ibach

Go to the overview of the wider region: Waldshut.