Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein

Appenzell - Living Traditions

The little town of Appenzell and the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden are situated in a singularly beautiful landscape of rolling hills. The region is known for rural customs and traditions such as the ceremonial descent of the cattle in autumn and cultural events such as folk music and rustic dances, as well as hiking tours in the Alpstein region. Famous for houses with richly decorated facades, the town is ideal for leisurely walking tours or for browsing in the many shops offering local products. Mighty rock formations tower loftily to over 2500 metres in height.Nowhere else in Switzerland is the transformation from the hilly landscapes of the Swiss mittelland to the rock-dominated Alpine world so full of surprise as in the Alpstein region.
A cableway operates between Wasserauen and the Ebenalp (1644 m) – the gateway to the hiking region of the Alpstein – and the “Wildkirchli” cave chapel. It appears to claw dramatically to the rock and can be reached on foot in only 15 minutes by walking. The position of the Aescher hostelry is even more spectacular as it is having been built precariously into the rock face.
The Ebenalp is also a paragliding paradise and starting point for the hike up onto the Säntis summit

Bad Ragaz

Bad Ragaz in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley at the foot of the Pizol has a long tradition as a health spa. Today it is a wellness resort with top-class hotels, thermal baths and golf courses. The warm (37°C) healing waters bubble up from inside the mountain in the deep, mysterious Tamina Gorge in nearby Pfäfers. The two golf courses in Bad Ragaz ideally complement the spa. The Bad Ragaz home mountain, the Pizol, and the plain of the Rhine Valley provide wonderful biking and hiking country. The 5-lake walk on mount Pizol, which takes about four hours to complete, passes five crystal clear mountain lakes and, with its magnificent views of the eastern Swiss alpine landscape is a classic among mountain hikes. One can From Bad Ragaz there are rewarding excursions into Heidi country, to which Bad Ragaz belongs; to the nearby Principality of Liechtenstein; to Chur; the castle at Sargans; St. Gallen and Lake Constance.

Glarus

Glarus, the smallest canton capital in Switzerland, nestles between mountains at the foot of the Glärnisch ridge. The mountain canton of the same name looks back over a long industrial history. Walkers, mountain climbers, cyclists and amateur geologists will discover a varied holiday region with plenty of interesting excursions. Glarus earned a world-wide reputation in the 19th century for its printed fabrics.There are many sights in the Glarus which bear witness to its extraordinarily rich geological and mining history including, for example, the quarry at Engi; the slate factory in Elm; fossilised sea creatures on the Kerenzerberg; and dinosaur tracks on the Tödi.

Schaffhausen

Over the mediaeval Old Town of Schaffhausen looms the imposing Munot fortress. The houses of the Old Town are richly decorated with oriel windows and lavishly painted facades. The town, located on the Upper Rhine between the Black Forest and Lake Constance, and surrounded by vineyards, is a popular destination for holidays and day-trips. It owes its origins to the Rheinfall waterfall which is Europe’s largest and most powerful waterfall. Here the water crashes down 21 metres, across a width of 150 metres. The natural spectacle is at its best in July when water levels are highest.
The traffic-free Old Town of Schaffhausen is considered one of the prettiest in Switzerland, on account of its many oriel windows and lavishly painted facades. Many of the fine guildhouses and merchant’s houses date from Gothic and Baroque times. The lively Old Town is very good for shopping. The town began with the street market in what is now the Vordergasse. This is also where you will find the High Gothic St. Johann church with its remarkable acoustics.

St. Gallen

The compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland has a charming, traffic-free old town. The famous red carpeted city launge, Colourfully-painted oriel windows are a town feature. The Abbey precinct with the cathedral and Abbey Library has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage listing. It houses some 140,000 documents – in part hand-written and over a thousand years old. The excellent location in the four-country corner Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein make St. Gallen the best starting point for excursions into the Appenzellerland with the Säntis, and to Lake Constance. For walkers, the ‘Bridge Trail’ which passes over 18 brides in the Sittertobel near St. Gallen is an experience: much about the design and construction of bridges is learnt en route. The Voralpen-Express connects Lake Constance with Lucerne via St. Gallen in 2:45 hours. This 149-km-long transversal travelling across the foothills of the Alps is interesting from a technical rail viewpoint, but also impresses with stunning landscapes such as the Toggenburg, Lake Zurich, and hill moor of Rothenturm. St. Gallen also homes ‘Schoggiland’ - Maestrani chocolate factory in Flawil. Here production can be followed from the visitors’ gallery.

Stein am Rhein – Jewel on the Untersee

Stein am Rhein is a lively and very charming small town. Among the sights are the Monastery of St. Georgen, one of the best-preserved Medieval monastery complexes, the Lindwurm Museum depicting 19th century bourgeois and agricultural life as well as the holiday areas and excursion destinations that include the island group of Werd. The Hohenklingen Castle, which was built high above the town in 1225, brings to life the colorful history of Stein am Rhein. At the point where Lake Constance again becomes the Rhine River, you will find the little town of Stein am Rhein. It is famous for its well-preserved Old Town featuring painted facades and half-timbered houses, for which it received the very first Wakker Prize.

Vaduz - Epicenter of the Principality

The Principality of Liechtenstein has an area of 160 square kilometers, which makes it one of the smallest states in Europe. The princely residence presides high above the little town of Vaduz, which is the capital of the principality and has about 5,000 inhabitants. The medieval castle was upgraded in the 16th and 17th centuries. The people of Liechtenstein call their main town "Staedtle" or "LIttle Town" and their country "Laendle" or "Little Country". Castle Vaduz is the emblem of Liechtenstein and the residence of the royal family.

Malbun

Malbun is the main holiday resort in the little Principality of Liechtenstein. This small village is ideal for families in summer or winter. There are many cultural attractions to visit in the nearby capital, Vaduz. The steep slopes at the end of the Malbun valley surround the little resort of Malbun (1600 m) like an arena. The small scale of this little mountain village and the traffic-calming measures in the centre of the village make Malbun a particularly family-friendly resort. The children’s entertainment programme "Malbun Rascals" keeps children happy during high season.