5 Best Sights in Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland

Directly above the town stands the 12th-century hilltop castle of Hohenklingen, which offers broad views of the Rhine Valley and the lake beyond. If you need sustenance after your trip up the hill, the castle houses an excellent restaurant. The tranquil vineyard trails up to the castle are a worthwhile diversion.

The Benedictine Kloster St. Georgen, a half-timber structure built in 1007, houses a cloister and a small museum devoted to examples of woodwork and local paintings.

Monika Amrein and Alfred Hartl's private collection of krippen (Nativity scenes) from around the world are tastefully displayed on two floors in their 14th-century home. There are more than 550 pieces in the collection, many made from paper, wood, metal, or even mushrooms. There is also a café and gift shop on the main floor.

Stein-am-Rhein's Rathaus (Town Hall) is flanked by tight rows of shingled, half-timber town houses, each rivaling the next for the ornateness of its oriels, the flamboyance of its frescoes. The elaborate decor usually illustrates the name of the house: Sonne (Sun), Ochsen (Ox), Weisser Adler (White Eagle), and so on. Most of the artwork dates from the 16th century. The Rathaus itself was built between 1539 and 1542, with the half-timber upper floors added in 1745; look for its fantastical dragon waterspouts, typical of the region.

Fourteen kilometers (9 miles) east of Stein-am-Rhein, the town of Steckborn has some fine old houses, including the Baronenhaus and the Gerichtshaus. It's also home to Turmhof Steckborn, a half-timber waterfront castle built in 1320 that currently houses a small local museum containing artifacts from prehistoric times through the Roman and Alemannic settlements.