Rheinau, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rheinau
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 Rheinau
Location in Switzerland
Rheinau
Location in Canton of Zurich
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Zurich | |
| District | Andelfingen | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.94 km2 (3.45 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 400 m (1,300 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,287 | |
| • Density | 143.96/km2 (372.9/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
8462
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| Surrounded by | Benken, Dachsen, Jestetten (DE-BW), Lottstetten (DE-BW), Marthalen | |
Rheinau is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Andelfingen district of the Canton of Zürich in Switzerland. It sits right on a curve of the Rhine River. This part of the river forms the border between Switzerland and Germany. A bridge connects Rheinau to Altenburg, which is a part of the German town of Jestetten in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Contents
Exploring Rheinau's Geography
Rheinau covers an area of about 8.9 square kilometers (about 3.4 square miles). A large part of this land, about 54.8%, is covered by forests. Another 26.8% is used for farming, growing crops or raising animals.
About 11.3% of Rheinau's land has buildings or roads on it. The remaining 7.2% includes natural features like rivers and mountains that are not used for building or farming.
The Story of Rheinau Abbey
Rheinau Abbey is a very old and important building in Rheinau. It was first started way back in 778. The abbey grew and became very important until 1529. At that time, it was closed down during a big religious change called the Protestant Reformation.
However, the abbey reopened in 1532. It then became a key place for the Counter-Reformation, which was a movement to bring people back to the Catholic Church. In 1862, the local government decided to close the abbey for good.
What Happened to the Abbey Buildings?
After the abbey closed, its buildings were used for new purposes. In 1867, a hospital and nursing home were set up there. Later, it became a special clinic for mental health. This clinic operated until 2000, when it closed down. Since then, the abbey buildings were empty for a while.
In the 2010s, the Abbey went through a big repair and cleaning project. Today, these historic buildings are open for people to visit and explore.
Rheinau's Population and People
Rheinau has a population of 1,287 people. As of 2007, about 16.7% of the people living in Rheinau were from other countries. Over the past ten years, the number of people living in Rheinau has grown by about 4%.
Languages Spoken in Rheinau
Most people in Rheinau speak German, which is about 91.2% of the population. The second most common language is Serbo-Croatian, spoken by 2.4% of the people. French is the third most common, spoken by 0.8%.
Education and Work in Rheinau
Many adults in Rheinau are well-educated. About 64.1% of people aged 25 to 64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like a university.
Rheinau has a low unemployment rate of 1.3%. This means most people who want to work can find jobs. In 2005, there were 23 people working in farming and related businesses. Another 43 people worked in manufacturing and construction. The largest number of workers, 641 people, were in the service industry, which includes jobs like retail, healthcare, and tourism.
Getting Around Rheinau: Transport
Rheinau has a Postbus service that connects it to the Marthalen railway station. This makes it easier for people to travel to other places.
The Unique Altenburg-Rheinau Train Station
Until 2010, there was a special train station called Altenburg-Rheinau. This station was very unique because it was located in Germany, but it was operated by the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB). It was on a train line that crossed the border between Germany and Switzerland twice!
Altenburg-Rheinau was one of only three Swiss-operated stations completely inside Germany. The train line through it did not connect to the German railway system. Even though it was a border station and served both German and Swiss travelers, the Swiss decided to close it in 2010. This was because not many passengers were using it. The last train stopped there just after midnight on December 12, 2010, after 113 years of service.
