Rafz – Village History and Wine Trail

Rafz is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zurich, located on the German border. When choosing a hotel, you can weigh up the themes of your stay: the local museum and architectural history take centre stage in the village, while the wider Rafzerfeld landscape provides a setting for walks, cycling tours and excursions.

Local Museum: Flax and Traditional Crafts

The permanent exhibition “From Flax to Linen” shows the importance flax once had for linen production. Tools illustrate the journey from plant to fabric. The local museum also preserves complete workshops for shoemaking, watchmaking, cooperage, painting and wagon-making. The exhibition and workshops offer different insights: one into a production process from raw material to fabric, the other into several areas of skilled craftwork.

On museum Sundays from April to November, there is a free guided tour at 3 p.m.; the museum is then open from 2 to 5 p.m. As the published schedule may change, check it before your visit.

Historic Oberdorf and the Reformed Church

Oberdorf is an extensive historic village centre at the foot of the slope. Two or three parallel lanes run across the village street; dense rows of buildings and two- to three-storey timber-framed houses with multiple sections and gabled roofs define its appearance. The houses date mainly from the 17th to the 19th century. Rafz was first mentioned in a document in 870; during the Middle Ages, rights of rule over the village changed hands several times.

The Reformed Church is a defining feature of the historic village centre and an important witness to social history and architectural typology. It was built in 1585 to replace the late medieval St Nicholas Chapel. Together with the Reformed Church in Rorbas, built around the same time, it was the first post-Reformation church built in the Zurich countryside. Historic features include pointed-arch windows with late Gothic tracery.

Wine Trail and Walk to Gnal

The signposted “Living Wine Trail” runs 38 kilometres from Winterthur to Rafz. Along the way, you can meet winegrowers and sample local wines; individual events may change. At this length, the wine trail is a longer route, so you can take its scale into account when planning. Check the signage and accessibility before setting out on a hike.

Another route description starts at Rafz railway station: the path initially follows the road for about 1.3 kilometres before joining a hiking trail. After a short while, you reach the Gnal viewpoint above Rafz. The walking route through the Rafzerfeld described next runs mainly through woodland. Check the current route and conditions before setting out.

Landscape and Getting Around

The wider Rafzerfeld is open and gently undulating; fields, forests and vineyards shape the landscape. Most of the area is used for agriculture, and about a quarter is forested. The landscape invites visitors to enjoy walks, cycling tours and excursions. Its use has a history, too: agriculture shaped Rafz’s cultural character over centuries, while gravel extraction has altered parts of the landscape.

Rafz railway station is served by the S-Bahn, with direct connections to Zurich, Bülach and Schaffhausen. Regional bus routes connect Rafz with the surrounding municipalities. Rafzerfeld outdoor swimming pool is at Schwimmbadstrasse 20, 8197 Rafz. The municipalities of Rafz, Wasterkingen and Wil operate it jointly, with Rafz as the sponsoring municipality. Before planning a visit, check seasonal access details, which may change.

Discover more destinations: Höri, Lufingen, Zweidlen, Opfikon, Embrach, Eglisau, Kloten, Bülach

Go to the main travel overview: Bülach.