Rathaus Laufenburg

Laufenburg Town Hall (Rathaus Laufenburg AG) stands on Laufenplatz in the old town of the Swiss half of Laufenburg, in the canton of Aargau. Before it housed the municipal administration, the building served as a hospital with a chapel.

What is the Laufenburg town hall?

It is the seat of local government on the Swiss bank of the Rhine. The town faces its German twin, Laufenburg (Baden), with which it once formed a single city. Do not confuse the two: this building is in Switzerland.

How did the building come about?

The complex grew out of the medieval town hospital. A hospital in Laufenburg is first mentioned in 1411, and accounts from 1579 record building work on a "new hospital house". The Aargau heritage inventory dates the building roughly to 1600. The hospital and its chapel cared for people in need of many kinds.

In 1913–14 the building was converted into a town hall. Three earlier building footprints were merged into one complex with a new staircase. The Basel architect Julius Kelterborn drew up the plans, and the Laufenburg firm Heim & Lienhard carried them out.

Why is the town divided?

In the Napoleonic era Laufenburg was split in two along the Rhine. Most civic institutions, the town hall among them, ended up on the Swiss side, so dividing the communal property dragged on until 1829. Today a bridge links the two towns, and you can cross the border on foot in a few minutes.

What else is nearby?

The town hall sits within a historic urban core. The old town was rated a site of national significance in 1972, and in 1985 Laufenburg received the Wakker Prize for caring for its historic fabric. Combine your visit with a walk through the narrow lanes, along the river and over the bridge to the German side. On nearby Gerichtsgasse you will also find the former court building, dating from the early 16th century.

When to visit and how to see it

The town hall is a working office, so it is best admired from the outside and from the square. One or two hours is enough for the old town. Late spring to early autumn is the most pleasant time, when lingering by the Rhine is a pleasure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Laufenburg town hall? It is an administrative building, so the interior is for staff and residents. Visitors mainly look at the facade and the square.

Was it always a town hall? No. It began as a hospital with a chapel and was converted into a town hall in 1913–14.

Is this the same Laufenburg as the one in Baden? No. This is Laufenburg in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. German Laufenburg (Baden) lies across the Rhine, and the two were once one town.

How long should I plan? The town hall itself is a short stop. With the old town and a riverside walk, allow one to two hours.