Rhein–Hirzel–Linth
Overview
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Distance 29 km
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Ascent 380 m
Intro
From cheerful, sleepy little Kaiserstuhl am Rhein through the turbulent Wehntal and Furttal industrial landscapes. After a stop at the Chatzensee lake, on to Switzerland’s throbbing business heart, «we are living Zurich» to plagiarize Zurich’s Euro 2008 slogan.
Description
Compact construction and landmark protection – the medieval little town of Kaiserstuhl is showing its romantic side. It is shaped in the form of an acute triangle. Even more noticeable is the steep descent leading down to the Rhine. Passing a polygonal fountain on the way to the river, the handbrake is probably applied. In the neighbouring country on the other side of the water you see Rötteln Castle, whose 800-year old front is mirrored in the river. The water makes it look like it’s swaying a little. Back up in town the mighty Obere Turm, or upper tower, points the way out of the Middle Ages and into modern times.
Airplanes are droning high above. The approach to the landing runway at Zurich-Kloten airport passes directly over a residential area. This part of the tour follows the Fisibach river. The views of strikingly beautiful half-timbered houses sweeten the path through the lovely Bachsertäli valley. The Steinmaur mill is one of the oldest in the Canton Zurich. However, the times of baking bread are long gone. The sturdy building sits abandoned in the centre of Niedersteinmaur. Life in the community of Dielsdorf is considerably more hectic. You pass through neighbourhoods where yet another construction site, plus a crane, of course, always seems to be squeezed in somehow. A pleasant bike route then follows the main road, but traffic coming from the other side is heavy. Where do they all come from? Certainly not from above, where a raptor is silently circling and an airplane is leaving a white trail.
The area of the Katzenseelein lakes, including the upper and lower Chatzensee and Büsisee, is peaceful and relaxing. The protected zone is considered to be one of the most beautiful nature and recreational landscapes in Switzerland located near a town. This gem was created late in the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when the melting Linth Glacier left a lake behind. For thousands of years it continuously silted up and slowly closed over with peat-forming bog meadows and woodlands. With the call of a cuckoo still echoing in your ears, you now approach the city of Zurich, Switzerland’s most important business centre. Many swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the Limmat River in the summer, while the activities at the Dynamo youth cultural centre are of a different nature entirely. Finally, the Sihl accompanies us to Zurich’s main station, where trains depart to destinations all over Europe.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Kaiserstuhl
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Zürich
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| Ascent |
380 m
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| Descent |
340 m
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| Distance |
29 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
29 km
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| Physical requirements |
Easy
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Quick Facts
Route number
