Eglisau
A painted riverside town on the High Rhine whose lower streets were drowned when a power station raised the water in 1920.
Updated 12 October 2026
Eglisau sits where the Rhine is crossed on the old road north, and its main street of tall painted houses with stepped gables is one of the better-preserved small-town frontages in the canton. The town's shape was changed by engineering: the Eglisau-Glattfelden power station, completed in 1920, raised the river by several metres and put the lowest row of houses and the old riverside quarter under water permanently - the loss is visible in photographs displayed locally and in the way the surviving houses now stand with their feet at the waterline. Vines grow on the slope above; Eglisau is one of the northernmost wine communes of the canton. Boats run downstream toward Rheinau in season.
What's there
- A painted main street - tall stepped-gable houses above the river.
- A drowned lower quarter - houses lost when the 1920 dam raised the Rhine.
- Northern Zurich vineyards - vines on the slope behind the town.
- River boats in season - services downstream toward Rheinau.
When to go
April to October. Half a day.
Practical notes
The town is small - an hour or two covers it. Boats are seasonal. The railway viaduct dominates one end of the view. Parking near the waterfront is limited.
Nearby
Rheinau abbey is upstream; Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls are north-east.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q69175, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Eglisau
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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