Inseli

Inseli is a public park on a tree-covered shell limestone rock in the Rhine at Rheinfelden. From the river island, you see the Rhine and Rheinfelden’s old town beyond the water. Limestone steps lead towards the river, while natural shoreline zones provide refuge for fish and other aquatic animals.

Castle Stein stood here from the tenth century, when the counts of Rheinfelden chose this strategic rock. The castle later housed Rudolf of Rheinfelden, the Zähringer family, and Rudolf of Habsburg. Basel and Austria destroyed the castle in 1446, and an artillery fortress occupied the rock from 1685 to 1745. A 147-metre bridge reaches the site from both banks, with two sections meeting at about 120 degrees.

Public artworks trace the area’s rulers through a crown, Rudolf’s oath-taking hand, and a memorial stone. Near the stairs, Agnes von Rheinfelden stands in a statue beside the former castle chapel’s location. St. Anna’s Hole lies north of that site, marking one of the Rhine’s deepest points. Swimming attracts visitors in summer, while posted warnings draw attention to the river’s dangers.