Thurgau Attractions
The canton of Thurgau in northeast Switzerland lies on the south side of Lake Constance, occupying most of the Swiss shoreline of the lake. It is bounded on the west by the canton of Zurich and on the east by St Gallen. It has an area of 1,006 sq. km/388 sq. mi and a population of 185,000. The canton is a region of markedly pre-Alpine character, with its highest points rising to barely 1,000 m/3,281ft. The main source of income is fruit-growing. There were many settlements in the canton in Roman times, as is shown by the results of excavation at Arbon (Arbor Felix) and Pfyn (Ad Fines). Later, the area was occupied by Alemannic tribes. In medieval times, it was held by the Zähringen and Kyburg families and, from 1264, by the Counts of Habsburg. In 1460, Thurgau was taken over by the Confederates from the excommunicated Duke Sigismund and governed as a "common province". From 1798 to 1803 it was part of the Helvetian Republic; thereafter, it became an independent canton.
Frauenfeld - Ittingen Monastery
A few kilometers northwest of Frauenfeld, above the Thur, is the former Carthusian monastery of Ittingen, founded as an Augustinian house in 1152 and taken over by the Carthusians in 1461. Much of the monastery was destroyed by fire in 1524. The cloister dates from about 1540; the church was built in 1549-53 and re-modeled in Baroque style in the 18th C.
Bischofszell
Southwest of Amriswil, above a loop in the Thur, lies the ancient town of Bischofszell (510 m/1,673ft). The Gothic parish church of St Pelagius (14th-15th C.) in the center of the town has a notable treasury. The attractive Town Hall (1743) with its artistic iron balustrade, was designed by the architect Kaspar Bagnato. The former Bishop's Palace (13th-15th C.) is now the headquarters of the local public works department. At Marktgasse 4, the Bodenturm houses a museum of local history.
Bürglien - 16th C. Castle
Road 14 runs through Bürglen (442 m/1,450ft), where a 16th-17th C. castle is a prominent landmark and comes to Amriswil (437 m/1,434ft; pop. 9,200) a lively little industrial town. The private Sallmann Coach Museum has horse-drawn wagons and post coaches, including Napoleon III's battle wagon.
Read More
Frauenfeld - Lucerne House (Nature Museum)
An overview of life on earth featuring the geology, fossils, plants and animals of the region.
Naturmuseum des Kantons Thurgau
Luzernerhaus
Freiestrasse 24
CH-8500 Frauenfeld
Switzerland
Luzernerhaus
Freiestrasse 24
CH-8500 Frauenfeld
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Hagenwil - Moated Castle
In Hagenwil, 3km/2mi southeast of Bürglen, can be seen a well-preserved moated castle, with a chapel and Gothic knights' hall.
Islikon - Greuterhof Museum, Switzerland
The Greuterhof Museum is a factory museum attesting to the early industrial revolution in Islikon as well as throughout Switzerland.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Ittingen - Thurgau Canton Art Museum, Switzerland
The Thurgau Canton Art Museum in Ittingen presents works of art by 20th C artists.
Kartause Ittingen
Kunstmuseum des Kantons Thurgau
CH-8532 Warth
Switzerland
Kunstmuseum des Kantons Thurgau
CH-8532 Warth
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Ittingen Museum
A collection of the culture of the region including models, illustrations and furniture.
Kartause Ittingen
Kunstmuseum des Kantons Thurgau
CH-8532 Warth
Switzerland
Kunstmuseum des Kantons Thurgau
CH-8532 Warth
Switzerland
Hours
January 2 to December 19
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Sirnach, Switzerland
From Bischofszell the tour continues southwest to join road 7 and then westwards to Münchwilen, from which a detour can be made a short distance south to Sirnach (550 m/1,805ft; pop. 4,200), with attractive old half-timbered houses, and Fischingen (620 m/2,034ft) which has a church belonging to the former Benedictine abbey (rebuilt 1795; richly decorated 18th C. interior). From Münchwilen, road 7 returns to Frauenfeld.
Thurgau - Tour from Frauenfeld, Switzerland
This is a circular driving tour from Frauenfeld taking in the following sights: Weinfelden, Bürglen, Schloss Hagenwil, Bischofszell, Sirnach and Fischingen.
Weinfelden - 12th C. Castle
From Weinfelden road 14 crosses the Thur and comes to the busy little town of Weinfelden (432 m/1,417ft; pop. 8,500), seat of the cantonal parliament and court. On the slopes of the Ottenberg is a castle of 1180 (restored ca. 1860).
Wellhausen - Wellenberg Castle
From Frauenfeld, road 14 runs east to Wellhausen, where, on a hill 500 m/547yd south, stands Wellenberg Castle (13th C.).
