Following the Rhine to a Vienna house in Switzerland

Not many know but Switzerland is regarded as the source of the River Rhine. This mega waterway is approximately 1,233 kilometers long and is associated more with Germany. But I wanted to discover the less familiar Rhine of Switzerland.

Lake Constance is the point where my trip starts. This is where the course of the river is being formed. Travelers and locals are seen there enjoying swimming, sports activities like kayaking and canoeing, together with cycling around the lake. An inspiring place for trips and adventures with the whole family.

In the small picturesque medieval town of Stein am Rhein the lake becomes again the Rhine River. This town strikes visitors with its astonishing painted facades and half-timbered houses. Walking through a time tunnel the visitor rewinds the clock to the middle ages. Originally a small fishing village, its strategic location was a winner. It became a prosperous medieval commercial center and today a tourist gem by the river.

Lake Constance, where the course of the river is being formed (photo: Motti Verses)

Stein am Rhein, where the lake becomes again the Rhine River(photo: Motti Verses)

Stein am Rhein’s astonishing painted facades and half-timbered houses (photo: Motti Verses)

The Rhine flows firmly west, creating breathtaking scenery. Not far away we stop with a bottle of wine next to a shaded paradise on the edge of the river, feeding swans and ducks, listening to the emerging water flow. An hour later and we are approaching  medieval Schaffhausen. The Rhine here is simply amazing. With a length of 375 kilometers, this energetic waterway is the longest river in Switzerland. Schaffhausen is positioned on the “knee” of the Rhine and houses of the Old Town are richly decorated with oriel windows and lavishly painted facades. Absolute beauty.

A shaded paradise on the edge of the river, to feed swans and ducks (photo: Motti Verses)

The Rhine in Schaffhausen lives us breathless (photo: Motti Verses)

Wooden boats are seen on the Rhine in Schaffhausen (photo: Motti Verses)

Picturesque medieval Schaffhausen colorful fountain (photo: Motti Verses)

Schaffhausen Old Town is richly decorated with lavishly painted facades (photo: Motti Verses)

Minutes away, one of the most visited nature sights awaits.The mighty river plunges at the  Rhine Falls into the depth. In summer about 700 cubic meters of water gush downwards per second. 1.5 million tourists per year visit Europe’s largest waterfall, measuring 150-meter-wide and 23-meter-high. This cascading noisy water source leaves visitors amazed, experiencing the best of mother earth. It is impossible to miss this mighty scenery and at the same time impossible to leave it. Wandering around and observing the water from both sides and over a bridge are a few hours of joy.

The mighty river plunges at the Rhine Falls into the depth (photo: Motti Verses)

In summer about 700 cubic meters of water gush downwards per second in the Rhine Falls
(photo: Motti Verses)

Schaffhausen was chosen to be our home away from home and the only branded hotel there is credited to American Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. This mogul brand describes itself as the largest hotel franchisor in the world, with 9,200 locations. In Israel the name might ring a bell to a few due to one of its most recognized brands – Ramada, with hotels in Jerusalem and Natania. Some might raise an eyebrow: who was Wyndham? As in numerous cases the answer is related to the French fraze Cherchez la femme ‘look for the woman’. The late Texas American real estate mogul Trammell Crow created the Wyndham hotel brand  42 years ago. In the early 1970s business journalist Wyndham Robertson wrote a profile of Crow for Fortune magazine. The journalist claims that the billionaire developer admired her unique name and the rest is history. Today’s Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is proud of 25 brands and  the hotel in Schaffhausen is part of one of them – the Vienna House. Wyndham acquired this brand, originated by Austrian Vienna International hotels in 1989,  less than 2 years ago for 44 million Euros, from Berlin-based HR Group. With approximately 40 hotels and more than 6,000 rooms. Over 103 million enrolled members of Wyndham Rewards loyalty program enjoy the Vienna House hospitality. Although a lesser-known brand among travel rewards enthusiasts, by being a budget-conscious hotel brand, Wyndham portfolio of brands is gigantic.

“Our Vienna House Schaffhausen offers 130 rooms, we have 16 suites. With large banquet facilities, right in the middle of Schaffhausen, next to the old town we invite travelers to enjoy our really cute lifestyle hotel”, says charming experienced Cluster General Manager,  Heinz Krähenbühl. We enjoyed this homey hotel and experienced some truly lifestyle boutique feeling. Our guest room was modern designed and extremely comfortable. Under composer Stravisky’s quote “I have no time to hurry” appearing on the wall, we had the  best sleeping quality.

The Vienna House Schaffhausen , the only internationally branded hotel in town (photo: Motti Verses)

Under composer Stravinsky’s quote “I have no time to hurry”, we had the best sleeping quality (photo: Motti Verses)

The Bar – a contemporary design of a lifestyle hotel (photo: Motti Verses)

‘Bull & Bonito’ – Chic and elegant interior design (photo: Motti Verses)

Breakfast at the comfy ‘Bull & Bonito’ dining room was pleasant with extremely friendly team members, however dinner there was a marvelous surprise. Executive Chef Stefan Schönemann gastronomy was a marvel, an evening to cherish. Cluster General Manager Heinz Krähenbühl is well aware of the potential of this restaurant and he believes the objective is to get more diners that are not hotel guests. For my money, it is the best quality restaurant in Schaffhausen.

The Vienna House brand has built a guest-centric culture reputation, focusing on sustainability. The Green Bags service in Schaffhausen and all Vienna House hotels is a refreshing initiative. Guests have a choice to decide whether they prefer to skip their room cleaning and keep the same towels during their stay. They are motivated to do so by a small reward, which they receive in a linen bag hung on the handle of the room. We hung the bag on our door knob and we got daily surprises, like a toblerone chocolate or a tasty waffle.

With charming experienced Cluster General Manager, Heinz Krähenbühl: “Next to Schaffhausen’s old town we invite travelers to enjoy our really cute lifestyle hotel” (photo: Motti Verses)

The contemporary designed ‘Bull & Bonito’ dining room (photo: Motti Verses)

‘Bull & Bonito’ – Executive Chef Stefan Schönemann gastronomy was during dinner was marvel (photo: Motti Verses)

Schaffhausen is one of the most underrated towns I have visited. Spending 3 nights there, enjoying the beauty of the Swiss Rhine was magnificent. Its main challenge is to overcome a ‘Cruise Syndrome’ – heavy trafficking tourism arriving for a day trip to experience the Rhine Falls’ and disappearing by sunset to the next destination. Krähenbühl reveals that every second hotel guest is Swiss and the average stay is less than two nights. For my money the big change is around the corner. With Wyndham Rewards loyalty program, a full scale marketing campaign that should  be initiated by local authorities and by encouraging visits of travel influencers, the future for Schaffhausen and Krähenbühl’s hotel is promising.