Appenzeller Route
Overview
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Distance 21 km
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Ascent 520 m
Intro
Dive into the peaceful, well-ordered world of the Appenzell region, a finely structured landscape with sunny green meadows, forests and quaint isolated farmsteads. Hearts rejoice, legs ache.
Description
The first stage of this tour through the Appenzell region is rather short, but the second day more than makes up for it. In any event, it is all up and down, because flat parts in the Appenzell region are few and far between. Leave the city of St. Gallen via an iron overpass, 100 m above the Sitter River with views of the rough ravine and the swimmers far below. The deep notch of the Sitter ravine also defines the entrance to another world - a green world: from here on, life is slowing down. Across lush green hills you first reach the village of Stein AR. Visit the show dairy situated there to see how Appenzeller cheese is made, but don’t expect the locals to reveal the well-guarded secret of what goes into the herbal brine.
After riding down to the Sitter you will cross an old wooden bridge and enter Innerrhoden, the other part of the canton. The road to Appenzell meanders through the scenic landscape, but every now and then the peace is disturbed by the sound of a revving car engine. On the edge of Appenzell the route turns off and climbs the hillside up to the Lehn. However, a side trip to Appenzell’s quaint village centre is a must. The wooden houses along the main road tell their story through painted façades with strong colours and artful signs.
The small road across the Lehn is brimming with country charm: manure heaps, the sound of cow bells, freestanding chapels, and the Alpstein panorama. From the assembly point where the Appenzell farmers gathered in 1405 to chase off the heavily armed Habsburg soldiers, outnumbering the farmers three to one, in the battle on the Stoss, the route continues to Gais on the main road. After just a few hours in the saddle, you have crossed the entire Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
St. Gallen
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Gais
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| Ascent |
520 m
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| Descent |
280 m
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| Distance |
21 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
21 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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Quick Facts
Route number
