Appenzell Attractions

Appenzell (alt. 780 m/2,560ft; pop. 5,000) has been since 1597 capital of the Roman Catholic half-canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. The town center is well preserved, with fine old traditional houses. Interspersed among the painted wooden houses are stone buildings dating from the 16th C., including the Town Hall (local museum), the Schloss and the parish church of St Mauritius (nave of 1823). Also of interest are the Landesgemeindeplatz, the square on which the annual meeting of the community takes place, the churches of the nunnery and the Capuchin friary, Retonio's museum of mechanical musical instruments, the "Blaues Haus" private museum and the show cellar for Appenzeller cheese, belonging to the Züger firm.