Rorbas between the Töss and the Rhine

Rorbas lies at the lower end of the Töss Valley, just before the Töss flows into the Rhine at the Tössegg. Located between the Dättenberg and Irchel, the landscape is shaped by the two rivers and the surrounding hills. The area offers several specific highlights to help you plan your trip: trails along the Töss, historic structures and seasonal leisure activities. If you are looking for a hotel in Rorbas, these themes can be a useful guide when choosing where to stay.

Hiking routes with different destinations

One official hiking route follows the Töss from Rorbas to the Tössegg, then returns to Rorbas via Wagenbreche, Römerweg and Petersboden. It is laid out as a circular route and connects the river with several named stops. Another route on the official hiking network crosses the Römerbrücke to Freienstein and follows the Töss to Dättlikon, Pfungen or Winterthur. The two options differ in their course: the first returns to Rorbas, while the second leads to other places along the route. This is a practical point to consider if you want to choose between a circular walk and a hike with a different destination during your stay.

The Töss landscape and nature

The Töss shapes the landscape around Rorbas and is an exceptionally species-rich river. It is also an important waterway for fish species that spawn in gravel. The river landscape therefore has ecological significance beyond the hiking routes. Nearby, at the Tössegg in the Embrach-Rorbas area, a beaver nature trail provides information about beavers. Visitors interested in these animals and their way of life will find a dedicated nature education feature there.

The Tössegg can also be reached on foot from Embrach-Rorbas: the walk takes no more than an hour and a half and passes an unspoilt stretch of the Töss. The starting point is Embrach-Rorbas. This hiking information is therefore distinct from the routes described by the hiking network for Rorbas itself.

Seasonal leisure activities

The TÖSS SIDE outdoor pool has a swimming pool, a non-swimmer pool and a shallow paddling pool for small children. It also features a three-lane, 60-metre-long water slide. Other facilities include a beach volleyball court, a ping-pong table and a barbecue area with a pergola. The pool operates seasonally, so take its seasonal opening into account when planning your visit.

Rorbas Skatepark is a free public leisure facility for skateboards, scooters, inline skates and BMX.

Bridges and local history

The “Römerbrücke” spans the Töss and connects Rorbas and Freienstein in the lower Töss Valley. It was built between 1806 and 1808 and was the first major masonry bridge in the Canton of Zurich; it is also considered an outstanding example of architectural craftsmanship. Its name, therefore, contrasts with a comparatively precise construction period. One of the hiking routes described crosses this bridge, bringing the river crossing and the historic structure together along the way.

The two Wildbach bridges also represent different aspects of regional bridge construction. The Lower Wildbach Bridge is one of the region’s last tuff-stone bridges with much of its original construction fabric intact, and forms part of Rorbas’s historic village centre. The Upper Wildbach Bridge is one of the region’s last surviving 19th-century masonry road bridges. It is classified as nationally significant in the Swiss Inventory of Historic Roads; its historic alignment and surviving fabric are part of this classification.

Further traces of the past can be found at the church and the “Adler” inn. The church in Rorbas was built in 1586, replacing an 11th-century chapel. Built around 1730 above the historic village centre, the “Adler” inn is considered an important witness to social, economic and architectural history. The tavern licence granted to the inn by the authorities allowed it at the time to accommodate guests and serve hot meals.

Creative activities at Mühle Wildbach

The open workshop at Mühle Wildbach gives visitors the opportunity to create their own objects, put ideas into practice and learn new skills. If you would like to include a creative activity in your trip alongside the river landscape, hiking trails and local history, the workshop offers a practical way to do so. In Rorbas, nature and outdoor activities meet architectural history and an opportunity to make something yourself.

Discover more destinations: Bülach, Zweidlen, Höri, Rafz, Wallisellen, Bassersdorf, Opfikon, Embrach

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