{"id":12382,"date":"2026-10-27T00:56:25","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/de_de\/waldshut-tiengen\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T00:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:56:25","slug":"waldshut-tiengen-day-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/waldshut-tiengen\/","title":{"rendered":"Waldshut-Tiengen: old town, shopping and tips for a day trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waldshut-Tiengen on the High Rhine is a worthwhile destination for a day trip: two historic old towns, weekly markets, the Rhine \u2013 and Switzerland just across the river. From \u00dchlingen-Birkendorf you reach Waldshut after around 22 km, about 30 minutes by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article introduces Waldshut and Tiengen and their sights, shows when and where you can shop, and explains the most important rules on VAT and customs to guests from Switzerland \u2013 each with sources from the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waldshut-Tiengen: two old towns in one city<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Photo: Gerd Eichmann<\/a> \/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The present-day town came into being in 1975, when Waldshut merged with Tiengen and Gurtweil to form the Gro\u00dfe Kreisstadt (large district town) of Waldshut-Tiengen. Waldshut, the western part, lies on the Rhine; Tiengen in the east lies on the Wutach. Both districts have their own well-preserved old town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to see both, it is best to plan half a day to a full day. The two town centres are around 7 km apart, about 15 minutes by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waldshut: town gates, Kaiserstra\u00dfe and town hall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upper Gate and Lower Gate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Waldshut is considered to have been founded around 1249 under Count Rudolf of Habsburg. The old town is closed off by two medieval gates: the Upper Gate (Schaffhauser Tor) with foundations from the 13th century and the Lower Gate (Basler Tor). Both were damaged during the siege by the Swiss Confederates in 1468; the town itself was not taken at that time. The Upper Gate served as a prison until 1864.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaiserstra\u00dfe and town hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Between the gates runs the Kaiserstra\u00dfe, laid out in the 13th century as a market street. It has been a pedestrian zone since 1989; at that time the Stadtbach (town stream) also returned to the middle of the street. After 1989, three new fountains were built, at the Upper Gate, at the town hall and at the Lower Gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The town hall was built in 1766 in the Baroque style, after the great town fire of 1726 had destroyed the old town hall. In the double coat of arms you can see the Habsburg lion and the \u201cWaldshuter M\u00e4nnle\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liebfrauenkirche and museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Catholic parish church of Liebfrauen was built from 1804 to 1808 in the Neoclassical style and consecrated on 15 August 1808. A museum has been housed in the Alte Metzig since 1938.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiengen: castle, Storchenturm and Baroque church<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tiengen is first mentioned around the year 860. From 1482 it was the capital and residence town of the Landgraviate of Klettgau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiengen Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The castle goes back to a fortress of the Lords of Krenkingen, documented since the 13th century. In 1499, Swiss Confederate troops destroyed the fortress during a siege. It was rebuilt in the mid-16th century; this created the \u201cNeues Schloss\u201d as the residence of the Counts of Sulz. In 1687 it passed to the Princes of Schwarzenberg, and in the 18th century the interior was given a Baroque design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Photo: Buchstapler<\/a> \/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Storchenturm and Hauptstra\u00dfe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Storchenturm was a corner tower of the town fortifications, which were demolished in the mid-19th century. Because it served for a time as a prison, it was also called the \u201cDiebesturm\u201d (Thieves' Tower); the roof cap dates from 1899. The tower is regarded as a landmark of Tiengen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the partly car-free Hauptstra\u00dfe stand, among other things, the town hall of 1582 and several historic fountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parish church of St. Mari\u00e4 Himmelfahrt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The church was built from 1753 to 1755 by the Vorarlberg Baroque master builder Peter Thumb, one of his late works. The Rococo stucco is by Johann Georg Gigl, the ceiling frescoes by Eustachius Gabriel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shopping in Waldshut: town centre and weekly market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The pedestrian areas are the main invitation to a stroll: the Kaiserstra\u00dfe in Waldshut and the Hauptstra\u00dfe in Tiengen. Individual shops and their opening hours are deliberately not listed here \u2013 they change too often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the town, the weekly market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:00 (as of October 2026), in Waldshut on the Kaiserstra\u00dfe, in Tiengen on the Hauptstra\u00dfe. If a market day falls on a public holiday, the market is held on the day before. On event days the market in Tiengen may be cancelled; in Waldshut it then moves to the Viehmarktplatz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further markets \u2013 including general goods markets and a potters' market in Waldshut \u2013 are listed in the town's holiday magazine 2026. The dates are in the events calendar at waldshut-tiengen.de.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waldshut for guests from Switzerland: shopping, border and customs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For guests from Switzerland, Waldshut lies just across the border; the crossing is via Koblenz\u2013Waldshut. The following rules come from the customs authorities. They may change \u2013 please check the linked pages before you travel (retrieved in October 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shopping in Germany: reclaiming VAT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone resident in a non-EU country such as Switzerland can have the German turnover tax (VAT) on goods refunded. According to German customs, the following applies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n