Munot Fortress

The Munot sits on the hill above Schaffhausen, a squat circular ring of stone raised in the sixteenth century, when round bastions were the new idea in fortification. Inside, a vaulted casemate runs the whole way around the circle, and a spiral ramp climbs to the roof terrace, built wide and shallow so that horses could walk up it. From the terrace you look down on the red roofs of the old town, the Rhine bending past it and the vineyard planted on the fortress slope. A warden still lives in the tower and rings the Munot bell every evening at nine, a habit the town has kept for a long time.

The main sights

• The circular casemate - the vaulted gallery running the full way round inside the walls.
• The horse ramp - the wide, shallow spiral built so riders could reach the top without dismounting.
• The roof terrace - old town roofs, the river and the vineyard slope below.
• The keep and its bell - the tower where the warden lives and rings the hour at nine.

When to go

The terrace is open all year and works in most weather, though the view needs a clear day. Late summer and early autumn are the best of it, when the vines on the slope are heavy and the light comes in low. Evenings are quiet, and the nine o'clock bell gives you a reason to stay up there.

Practical notes

It is a short visit. One ring of walls, one ramp, one terrace, and you are done in half an hour. The interior is bare stone with little explanation, so it rewards looking at the view more than looking for history. The climb from the old town is steep in any of the three directions, and the terrace has no shade at midday.

Nearby

Schaffhausen's painted old town lies directly below, and the Rhine Falls is a short ride away.

Key facts