SCHWEIZ / SUISSE / SVIZZERA / SVIZRA	SWITZERLAND
Schaffhausen / Schaffhouse / Sciaffusa / Schaffusa

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Stein am Rhein is situated on the river Rhine short after the mouth of the lake Bodensee (Lake Constance) into the Rhine. Archeological finds of remains of lake dwellings show that the area was inhabitedalready in prehistoric times. A bridge across the river was built by the Romans. The Roman civil settlement Tasgetium (today Eschenz) was founded in the 1st century AD. The first mentioning of the name 'Stein' is found in a document of the 9th century, the vita of St. Otmar, bishop of Sankt Gallen. The monastery Sankt Georgen was founded in 1002 on the Hohentwiel and was moved to Stein in the years until 1007. The status of a town was obtained in 1267. The citizens of the town obtained the freedom from the Holy Empire by paying the debts (24,000 guilders) of the Lords of Klingenberg. The Habsburgs, however, insisted on having the rights of investiture. Because of this, the town entered an alliance with the towns Zürich and Schaffhausen in 1459. In 1469 Stein became part of the Swiss Confederation. Since 1803, Stein am Rhein is part of the Kanton Schaffhausen.

The Stadtkirche (town church) [right] was built in the 12th century as a Romanesque basilica with a tripartite nave. It was remodelled several times during the following centuries. Originally, it was the church of the monastery St. Georgen. During the Reformation, the monastery was closed; since then, the church serves as the protestant town church.

The castle Hohenklingen [background left] about 3 m from the town once was the seat of the Lords of Klingenberg and later became a stronghold for the town and the monastery. The castle was built between 1218 and 1267. Around 1350 it was the home of the minstrel Walter von Klingen. The castle is preserved almost in its entirety and was renovated in 1895/97.

In 1972 the city of Stein am Rhein was awarded the Wakker Prize of the Swiss Heritage Society for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage. Other cities that have been awarded this prize and which are depicted on glasses of this collection are: Altdorf (2007), Basel (1996), Bern (1997), Genève (2000), La Chaux-de-Fonds (2011), Lausanne West (Bussigny-près-Lausanne, Chavannes-près-Renens, Crissier, Ecublens, Lausanne, Prilly, Renens, Saint-Sulpice, Villars-Sainte-Croix) (2011), Montreux (1990), Sankt Gallen (1992), Solothurn (1980), Wil (1984), Winterthur (1989).