Ausserrhoden hinterland Attractions
The hinterland of Ausserrhoden takes in a number of towns including: Herisau, Hundwil, Stein, Teufen, Gais, Trogen and Heiden.
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Gais, Switzerland
Gais (alt. 933 m/3,061ft; pop. 2,400) is a popular health resort with one of the prettiest squares in the region (typical houses with curved gables). This was the first resort to offer the whey cure - medical treatment involving the medicinal properties of milk. There is a school of folk art. From the top of the Gäbris (1,247 m/4,091ft; one hour; inn) there are magnificent views in all directions (road closed on Saturdays and Sundays).
Heiden
A winding road (14km/9mi) runs via Wald and Scheidegg (side roads to Rehetobel and Oberegg) to Heiden (alt. 806 m/2,644ft; pop. 4,000), a popular health resort in a park-like setting high above Lake Constance (rack-railroad (cog-railroad) from Rorschach, 7km/4mi in 25minutes).
Heiden - Henri Dunant Monument (founder of Red Cross)
In Heiden a monument stands to Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, who lived in the village from 1887 until his death in 1910. This village has recently been declared a protected area and is a prime example of Biedermeier style.
Heiden - Henry-Dunant-Museum
The museum is dedicated to Henry Dunant (1828 - 1910), founder of the Red Cross.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Hundwil, Switzerland
Hundwil (alt. 793 m/2,602ft; pop. 1,000; inn) has handsome old houses in the characteristic local style and a 13th C. church. The Hundwiler Höhi (1,305 m/4,282ft), with a mountain inn, is a favorite local excursion.
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Rheineck, Switzerland
From Rheineck there is a rack-railroad (1,898 m/6,227ft long; six minutes to Walzenhausen (alt. 673 m/2,208ft; pop. 2,000) above Lake Constance, and Oberegg (alt. 880 m/2,887ft; pop. 2,500), an enclave of Innerrhoden, 3km/ 2mi southwest of which is the St Anton viewpoint (1,121 m/3,678ft).
Schwellbrunn
On a ridge of hills is the highest holiday village in Ausserrhoden, Schwellbrunn (alt. 966 m/3,169ft; pop. 1,200).
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Schönengrund
Between Herisau and Wattwil, on the Wasserfluh road, is Schönengrund (alt. 836 m/2,743ft), which has a chairlift up Hochhamm (length 1,345 m/4,413ft, height difference 328 m/1,076ft, time 15minutes).
Stein, Switzerland
1km/0.6mile beyond Hundwil a turn-off from the road to Appenzell (8km/ 5mi) leads to Stein (alt. 823 m/2,700ft; pop. 1,050) where daffodils, a protected species, bloom in March.
Appenzeller - Cheese factory
(Ausserrhoden hinterland)
The Appenzeller model cheese factory opened in 1978. It is open to visitors.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Open | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
Stein Appenzeller - Ethnology Museum
Folk art and handicrafts are exhibited in this museum that also offers demonstrations of rural trades such as cheese making and weaving.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Stoss
4km/2mi above Gais, on the Stoss pass (938 m/3,078ft; inn) are a chapel and a monument commemorating the victory of 400 Appenzellers over 3,000 Austrians in 1405.
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Walzenhausen, Switzerland
(Near Rheineck)
From Rheineck a narrow-gauge rack railroad runs up (1.9km/1mi, taking six minutes) to Walzenhausen (682 m/2,238ft), a hillside village in a commanding situation high above Lake Constance which is also a health and winter sports resort.
