Büsingen

Büsingen am Hochrhein is a German municipality in the district of Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg. It is the only German municipality that forms an exclave entirely surrounded by Swiss territory.

Located on the Hochrhein, the Upper Rhine, it lies opposite Stein am Rhein in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen. The Rhine serves as a natural border, and Büsingen is effectively encircled by Swiss land. The town lies in the Rhine valley near Lake Constance and is connected to the German mainland by road and a border crossing through Switzerland.

Many residents commute to Switzerland for work, and cross-border trade and services play a significant role in the local economy. The municipality cooperates with neighboring Swiss towns through cross-border initiatives and associations, reflecting its unique geographic position.

Administratively, Büsingen is governed by a mayor and municipal council within Baden-Württemberg and the Konstanz district. Its enclave status stems from historical border arrangements, and daily life is influenced by close economic and cultural ties with Switzerland and the nearby Schengen area.