Kulturspur Appenzellerland

This leg sets off from Teufen railway station, which was built in the traditional Swiss “Heimatstil” architectural style in 1910. If you have time, you can explore the world of Alfred Vogel, a pioneer of naturopathy, before setting off. Uphill from the village, there is a show garden with around 120 medical plants and herbs. A little closer to the village is the old armoury from the 1850s. This building is home to an architecture museum that contains models of the numerous buildings and bridges created by the Grubenmann family of builders.

The trail leads out of the village past the Schulhaus Landhaus school, with a traditional facade clad in over 300,000 larch shingles. Just uphill at Althus, you will be able to see the oldest house in Appenzellerland with a roof built using the Swiss “Tätsch” technique, dating back to 1539. The route leads through the Goldibach valley, past several former mills and saw mills. Beyond the Dietenschwendi farm, there is a field containing a monument that marks the geometric centre of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. On the Egg chain of hills, you will have plenty of far-reaching views of Lake Constance and the Alpstein.

Following paths through meadows, you will reach the centre of the village of Speicher, which is connected to St. Gallen by electric tram. Did you know that, in the mid-19th century, Speicher and Trogen were the richest municipalities in Appenzellerland? At that time, the local textile industry was booming. Up to 120 factories and trading companies were based in this area and there were 45 inns and taverns. Town houses with pitched roofs and distinctive rows of windows bear witness to this period.

This leg ends in the centre of Trogen, with its impressive square that used to host People’s Assemblies. It is considered one of the most important rural squares in Switzerland. Huge sandstone houses demonstrate the status of the Zellweger family, who accrued great wealth in the 18th century thanks to the textile trade. Nowadays, these are home to the cantonal library and Cantonal Supreme Court. A bit further to the south and uphill from the village, there is the Kinderdorf Pestalozzi (Pestalozzi Children’s Village), an international children’s aid organisation.