Website der Stadt Rapperswil-Jona

Rapperswil castle most likely dates back to the beginning of the 13th century. From 1870 to 1927 it accommodated the Polish national Museum, established by Polish emigrants under the leadership of Count Ladislaus Plater. In 1975 a permanent exhibition devoted to Poland’s contribution to Western civilization was open to the public on the top floor of the castle. The “Liberty of Poland” column, erected in front of the castle in 1868, is a symbol of the solidarity of the Swiss with all those struggling to gain freedom. The restaurant inside the castle offers delightful dishes. The knight's hall is used for weddings, birthdays, concerts and other events.

From June through October a total of 16'000 rose bushes (600 different sorts) bloom and perfume the air in the three public rose gardens near the Capuchin Monastery (opened in 1965 and 1970) and in the rose garden for the blind and disabled persons (Blindenrosengarten, opened 1985) as well as in other public gardens.

In the very spot where a bridge led across the lake from Rapperswil centuries ago, an 840 m long wooden bridge from Rapperswil to Hurden was rebuilt in 2001. The “Heilighüsli”, historical bridge chapel from 1551 is one of the last traces of the former wooden bridge. The new bridge forms an attractive stretch of the Jakobsweg to Santiago de Compostela. The European trail E1 from Norway to Italy also follows the beach path through Rapperswil-Jona over the wooden bridge towards Einsiedeln.

Founded in 1962 by the Knie brothers Fredy and Rolf of the Swiss national circus (Zirkus Knie), the "Kinderzoo" is still a privately owned business today, its main aim being to provide and promote direct contact between humans and animals.