Pfyn is located on the Thur between Frauenfeld and Steckborn and is a municipality in the Frauenfeld district of the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland. To the south, the Thurvorland borders the town, a protected area of national importance. The river landscape, trails through floodplains and traces from several eras give Pfyn many facets: nature trails sit alongside archaeological, ecclesiastical and industrial-history themes.
Floodplains, Ponds and Hiking Trails
Hiking trails run through the Thurvorland, which borders the town to the south. The WWF Beaver Trail is a four-kilometre circular route through the Thurgau floodplains. Ten information boards with interactive and playful features accompany the route. The trail begins at the PostBus stop next to the Thur bridge in Pfyn.
The difference matters when choosing a route: the Beaver Trail is described as a circular route with a specified length, whereas the hike over Hirschensprung leads from Pfyn to Dettighofen and offers views of the Thur Valley. Frankrichli, an idyllic bathing pond, lies below the Städtli. A walk around Pfyn reveals background information about the town’s history at ten locations.
Roman and Early Settlement History
The old Roman military road from Vitudurum (Oberwinterthur) to Arbor Felix (Arbon) passed through Pfyn. Ruins of a mighty fortress, built shortly before 300 AD, are visible in the Städtli area. The north wall and parts of the west wall are quite well preserved. A small, newly designed exhibition beside the late Roman fort displays finds from Roman times and from the Neolithic settlement of Pfyn-Breitenloo.
The oldest known traces of settlement lie around 1.5 kilometres west of Pfyn in the former Breitenloo peat bog, in a shallow depression in a lateral moraine of the Thurgau glacier. They date from the Late Neolithic (4300 BC). Finds from around 4000 to 3500 BC gave the Pfyn culture its name. Roman sites can also be discovered on a cycling tour from Oberwinterthur to Pfyn. Pfyn’s archaeological history spans from the Neolithic settlement traces at Breitenloo to the Roman fortress in the Städtli area.
Church and Industrial History
The Church of St Bartholomew was first mentioned in a document in 1155. It is legally protected and classified as being of particular value. The Church of St Bartholomew inside the fort is one of the oldest churches in Thurgau. The museum’s collection offers an overview of Pfyn’s history.
Another focal point is the VSP site, which represents a chapter in the industrial history of Thurgau and eastern Switzerland. The former director’s house on the site is considered valuable from a heritage-preservation perspective. Beyond the town, a wine route passes Pfyn through the vineyards of Thurgau and continues to the foot of the southern slope of the Ottenberg near Weinfelden.
Discover more destinations: HĂĽttwilen, Steckborn, Eschenz, Wagenhausen, Berlingen, MĂĽllheim Dorf, Homburg, Mammern.
Back to the main travel overview: Steckborn.
