Ausserrhoden hinterland Attractions

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).

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).

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.

The museum is dedicated to Henry Dunant (1828 - 1910), founder of the Red Cross.

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.

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).

On a ridge of hills is the highest holiday village in Ausserrhoden, Schwellbrunn (alt. 966 m/3,169ft; pop. 1,200).

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).

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.

Folk art and handicrafts are exhibited in this museum that also offers demonstrations of rural trades such as cheese making and weaving.

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.

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.

To the north of Heiden, via Grub, lies the village of Wienacht (alt. 734 m/2,408ft).