[3] The name and coat of arms come from the Freiherr of Kaiserstuhl, whose castle guarded the right bank of the Rhine.

The sale of remote properties lying on both sides of the Rhine to Wettingen Abbey by Rudolf of Kaiserstuhl and his wife Adelheid von Tengen in 1254/55 enabled the expansion of the settlement on left bank of the Rhine.

The wall and upper tower (raised to today's height after a fire in 1360) are dated archaeologically to 1260.

In 1294 his son sold it with the bridge, castle and other rights in the surrounding villages to Bishop Henry II of Constance.

The Bishop's reeve at Rötelen Castle managed the city and held the low court rights.

After 1287, they choose mayors, an eight-member Council and the Court from their midst, which was equal with the episcopal steward, who was almost always an outsider.

Due to its location on the religious boundary Kaiserstuhl presented an important bridgehead for the Catholic regions.

During the religious conflicts, traffic to Kaiserstuhl was forced to instead cross the Rhine in Zurich controlled areas.

However, the town remained prosperous due to viticulture and animal husbandry, through the credit and banking, and through foreign service.

The buildings that allowed Kaiserstuhl to function as a regional center were on the right bank of the Rhine, and were lost in 1798 with the creation of the Canton of Baden.

The creation of the post offices in 1816 and the pony express line to Baden, led to prosperity and growth.

Between 1870 and 1911 modern technological infrastructure, including telegraph, telephone and electricity from the power plant Beznau, entered the town.

[4] The village municipality is located in the Zurzach district, on the left bank of the Rhine along the border with the Canton of Zürich.

[10] About 41% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage or a rent-to-own agreement).

[14] The historical population is given in the following table:[3] The administration building of the former St. Blasien monastery at Hauptstrasse 35, the Mayenfisch- or Marschallhaus at Rheingasse 5, the Upper Tower (German: Oberer Turm) and the city walls are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

[15] The entire village of Kaiserstuhl is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

[12] Kaiserstuhl railway station is served by Zurich S-Bahn line S36, which links Bülach and Waldshut.