Frauenfeld offers different ways to experience the city: a rectangular Old Town, the city golf course and the Eisenwerk, a former screw factory. You’ll find nature-themed experiences in Murg-Auen-Park and along the Murg; the surrounding area, with the Thur Valley and gentle hills, invites you to hike and cycle. When planning your stay, you can choose how to balance history, activity and culture.
Old Town and history
Frauenfeld is the capital of the canton of Thurgau and the district of Frauenfeld. The city was first mentioned in writing in 1246 and developed on land belonging to Reichenau Abbey, around Frauenfeld Castle. In 1264, Frauenfeld became Habsburg property. In 1374, the Habsburgs granted the Duke of Frauenfeld judicial rights over the entire Thurgau, which at the time also included St. Gallen. In the 18th century, parts of Frauenfeld were destroyed by fire twice: in 1771 and 1788.
The rectangular layout gives the Old Town a distinctive urban character. Its lanes are lined with magnificent 18th-century embassy houses, making them a pleasure to explore on foot. You can discover the Old Town both through its overall layout and through the architecture along its lanes.
City golf and discoveries on foot
The city golf course has 12 stations and takes you to some of the city’s most beautiful spots, including through the Old Town and to other places in Frauenfeld. All 12 stations are within walking distance, making it easy to explore Frauenfeld and its attractions on foot. The stations provide a clear structure for discovering the city, leading beyond the Old Town to other places in Frauenfeld. This gives the course a different focus from a walk that stays solely within the Old Town’s lanes.
The Murg, walking routes and industrial history
Winding paths run along the Murg in Murg-Auen-Park. You may sometimes spot beavers or kingfishers there. The route along the Murg combines an experience of nature with an insight into Frauenfeld’s early industrial history. It crosses numerous bridges and footbridges and shows how the Murg’s water is used to generate electricity. Here, nature and energy production are two sides of the same route.
The Eisenwerk offers another perspective on Frauenfeld’s industrial history. It grew out of a disused screw factory and is now a cooperative that brings together homes, workplaces and cultural spaces. Its transformation from a former factory into its current use is as interesting as the mix of these three areas.
A different focus: Plättli Zoo
Plättli Zoo is one of the few remaining private zoos in Switzerland to have survived without public funding. Animals there include lions, pumas, Barbary macaques, crested macaques, chimpanzees and various parrots. Alongside the Old Town, the Murg and industrial history, the zoo offers a distinct theme to explore during your stay in Frauenfeld.
Getting around and finding accommodation
Frauenfeld railway station is the city bus network’s central interchange, with buses running from there to the neighbourhoods. Ten regional bus routes also fan out from the station into the surrounding area. City buses connect the station with the neighbourhoods, while regional buses run from there to the surrounding area. If you’re planning to travel by bus, check the timetable for your travel dates.
When looking for a hotel in Frauenfeld, you could first consider which side of the city you want to shape your stay: the Old Town and its history, the city golf course, the paths along the Murg or the Eisenwerk. The surrounding area also offers a focus for hiking and cycling, with the wide Thur Valley and the region’s gentle hills.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Book near Frauenfeld, Thundorf, Aadorf, Warth-Weiningen, Gachnang.
Return to the main travel overview: Frauenfeld.
