The Rhine Falls have thundered at the border of Switzerland and Germany for thousands of years, long before any traveler had words to describe them. Formed during the last Ice Age – about 15,000 years ago – the falls emerged when shifting glaciers redirected the course of the Rhine River, forcing it over a hard band of ancient limestone.
The Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall by volume, are located near the historic Swiss city of Schaffhausen, in the canton of Schaffhausen, just a few kilometers south of the German border, with smaller nearby municipalities like Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Laufen-Uhwiesen also bordering the falls. Visitors often base themselves in charming Schaffhausen to explore the falls, which are accessible by boat trips and viewing platforms at Laufen Castle.