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Kanton Thurgau
Canton of Switzerland
Coat of arms of Kanton Thurgau
Coat of arms
Map of Switzerland, location of Thurgau highlighted
Location in Switzerland
Coordinates: 47°35′N 9°4′E﻿ / ﻿47.583°N 9.067°E﻿ / 47.583; 9.067Coordinates: 47°35′N 9°4′E﻿ / ﻿47.583°N 9.067°E﻿ / 47.583; 9.067
Capital Frauenfeld
Subdivisions 80 municipalities, 5 districts
 • Executive Regierungsrat (5)
 • Legislative Grosser Rat (130)
 • Total 991.02 km2 (382.63 sq mi)
Population (12/2013)[2]
 • Total 260,278
 • Density 260/km2 (680/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code CH-TG
Highest point 991 m (3,251 ft) - Hohgrat
Lowest point 370 m (1,214 ft) - Thur River at the cantonal border in Neunforn
Joined 1803
Languages German

The Canton of Thurgau (German: About this sound Thurgau , anglicized as Thurgovia) is a northeast canton of Switzerland.


The population, as of December 2013, is 260,278.[2] In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 (or 19.9% of the population) who were resident foreigners.[3] The capital is Frauenfeld.


In prehistoric times the lands of the canton were inhabited by people of the Pfyn culture along Lake Constance. During Roman times the canton was part of the province Raetia until in 450 the lands were settled by the Alamanni.

In the 6th century Thurgovia became a Gau of the Frankish Empire as part of Alemannia, passing to the Duchy of Swabia in the early 10th century. At this time, Thurgovia included not just what is now the canton of Thurgau, but also much of the territory of the modern canton of St. Gallen, the Appenzell and the eastern parts of the canton of Zurich. The most important cities of Thurgovia in the early medieval period were Constance as the seat of the bishop, and St. Gallen for its abbey.

The dukes of Zähringen and the counts of Kyburg took over much of the land in the High Middle Ages. The town of Zürich was part of the Thurgau until it became reichsunmittelbar in 1218.[dubious ] When the Kyburg dynasty became extinct in 1264 the Habsburgs took over that land.



In 1798 the land became a canton for the first time as part of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803, as part of the Act of Mediation, the canton of Thurgau became a member of the Swiss confederation. The cantonal coat of arms was designed in 1803, based on the coat of arms of the House of Kyburg which ruled the Thurgau in the 13th century, changing the background to green-and-white, at the time considered "revolutionary" colours (c.f. tricolour); as the placement of a yellow (or) charge on white (argent) is a violation of heraldic principles, there have been suggestions to modify the design, including a 1938 suggestion to use a solid green field divided by a diagonal white line, but they were not successful.

The current cantonal constitution of Thurgau dates from 1987.


St Margaret's Chapel in Münchwilen.

To the north the canton is bound by the Lake Constance across which lies Germany and Austria. The river Rhine creates the border in the northwest. To the south lies the canton of St. Gallen; to the west lie the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen.

The area of the canton is 991 km2 (383 sq mi) and commonly divided into three hill masses. One of these stretches along Lake Constance in the north. Another is further inland between the river Thur and the river Murg. The third one forms the southern border of the canton and merges with the Hörnli mountain in the pre-Alps.


The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2013) is 260,278.[2] The canton is mostly German speaking. The population (as of 2000) is split between Protestants (45%) and Roman Catholics (36%).[4]

Political subdivisions[edit]


The five districts, since 2011
The eight former districts, prior to 2011

Since January 2011, Thurgau is divided into five districts which are named after their capitals. Before this date, there were eight districts (Steckborn, Bischofszell and Diessenhofen formed own districts with their surrounding municipalities).[5]


As of 2009, there are 80 municipalities in the canton.[6]


The canton of Thurgau is known for its fine agricultural produce. Particularly, apples, pears, fruits and vegetables are well-known. The many orchards in the canton are mainly used for the production of cider. Wine is produced in the Thur valley.

There is also industry in the canton of Thurgau. The main industries are printing, textiles and handicrafts. Small and middle-sized businesses are important for the cantonal economy. Many of these are concentrated around the capital.

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Arealstatistik Standard - Kantonsdaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
  2. ^ a b c Swiss Federal Statistics Office – STAT-TAB Ständige und Nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Region, Geschlecht, Nationalität und Alter (German) accessed 18 August 2014
  5. ^

External links[edit]