Stein am Rhein

Little town stars on new Swiss stamps

The picturesque little town of Stein am Rhein in Canton Schaffhausen, known for its exceptional architectural heritage, is celebrating its millennium in 2007. Reason enough for Swiss Post to continue its "Sights of Switzerland" series of special stamps with a panoramic view of Stein am Rhein's market square - following the 2006 "Mountain panorama".
Together with Buch, Hemishofen and Ramsen, Stein am Rhein, a commune and the main town of the Stein District of Canton Schaffhausen, forms an enclave, belonging to what is known as the "upper Canton". The small medieval township is easily accessible from all directions on foot, by bike, public transport (railway, boat or bus) or by car and is an ideal starting point for exploring Stein am Rhein's numerous scenic and cultural attractions as well as those in the immediate and wider vicinity. The commune covering 575 hectares is located at 396 meters above sea level and currently has some 3,100 inhabitants (with foreign nationals accounting for 25%), most of whom work in industry and commerce and the service sector.

Homogeneous townscape

Stein am Rhein is idyllically situated, with vistas opening up on all sides - either down the River Rhine to Wagenhausen Provostry, along lower Lake Constance to the island of Werd, or up the surrounding hills of the Thurgau rise and Klingen Ridge with its mighty Hohenklingen Castle. Despite two major fires and wartime bombing, the appearance of the little town, encircled by modern industrial and residential estates, is extremely well preserved and homogeneous. The city is characterized by a number of striking buildings, such as the former Benedictine monastery of St. Georgen (St. George), the Town Church, the Town Hall, the arsenal, the surviving town gates and towers and the one-time market square bordered by houses once owned by rich citizens.
Houses with higgledy-piggledy eaves and gables and completely irregular floor plans line the picturesque narrow streets, enchanting visitors with their painted frescoes dating from various periods, imposing stepped gables, a rich diversity of oriels, Gothic windows and signs.

Great historical and cultural value

The many interiors of great historical and cultural value are usually hidden from view, except in winter when lights are turned on early in living rooms, giving the curious a chance to peek inside. Richly decorated furniture, painted beams, skillfully made coffered ceilings, painted or carved paneling and ornate plasterwork testify to a wealth of mainly home-grown craftsmanship, most of it dating from the late Gothic, Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Visitors will also find it worth their while to leave the beaten tourist trails and explore charming little streets and tranquil spots on both sides of the Rhine.

Strip of three stamps

Together with the Monastery, the Town Hall Square (market square) is a key attraction of the old town center of Stein am Rhein, so it seemed only natural to produce three picture postcards with the same motifs as the stamps. The illustrations depict the Town Hall, some of Stein am Rhein's painted house fronts and the municipal (or market) fountain in front of the guildhall "Zur Meise". The three picture postcards with photos taken by Beat Kehrli from Hasliberg, together with the three special stamps, come as an exclusive set which can be used to design your own maximum cards or for sending to friends and acquaintances at home or abroad.

Postage stamps in detail

Issue: Switzerland, 6 March 2007
Design: Beat Kehrli
Printing: offset by the Austrian State Printing Office, Vienna
Stamp size: 104 x 37 mm (strip of three stamps)
Perforation: 13:13.25

More information

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