In Hinterland, there is plenty to discover, from places connected with Robert Walser’s life to living traditions, themed trails and scenic routes. Herisau focuses on literature and cultural history, while Urnäsch offers traditions and hands-on activities. In Waldstatt, a themed trail winds through the hilly landscape. You can tailor your stay to focus on museums, customs or outdoor trails.
Cultural History and Robert Walser in Herisau
The Herisau Museum presents the cultural history of Appenzell Ausserrhoden through a range of themes: knights and castles, mobility and transport, mills in Appenzellerland, medicine and spa culture, the history of schools, and the domestic and musical culture of Ausserrhoden. A dedicated museum trail is designed for children. The Robert Walser Room provides a permanent insight into the life and work of the writer Robert Walser (1878–1956).
You can also explore Walser’s connection to Herisau outdoors: the Robert Walser Trail leads year-round to several places associated with his life, including the Walser Fountain, the clinic grounds at Krombach, the place where he died at Rosenberg, and his grave. The Herisau Cultural Trail offers a different historical perspective: most of its buildings date from 1735 to 1914.
Customs and Hands-On Activities in Urnäsch
At the Appenzell Customs Museum in Urnäsch, visitors can discover customs and traditions every day. The museum is housed in an Appenzell house more than 400 years old, with sloping wooden floors. Its themes include Silvesterchläuse, the journey to the alpine pastures, string music, herdsmen’s life, Bloch, traditional costumes and folk paintings. Visitors who want to do more than look at exhibits can try Chlausen with role-bearers, coin spinning and ringing cowbells. Expert-led tours and a natural yodelling course round out the program.
An important date for local customs in Hundwil is Silvesterchlausen, which is celebrated on 31 December and on Old New Year’s Eve, 13 January. For the Bloch, boys from the village pull a large tree trunk on a decorated wagon through the surrounding area. These two customs show different aspects of living tradition: one involves Chlausen on two set dates, while the other features a procession with a decorated tree trunk.
Themed Trails, Cycling Tours and Views
The Holzweg Waldstatt starts at Waldstatt railway station and is 6.5 kilometres long. Along its 16 stations, it invites visitors to explore, learn and play in the hilly landscape. Themes include natural healer Emma Kunz, timber pioneer Hermann Blumer and the village’s long-established timber construction businesses. The trail connects its stations with themes from local history and craftsmanship.
The Säntispanorama Route offers another way to explore the area. It runs from Herisau via Schwellbrunn, Bächli, Urnäsch, Hundwil and Stein, and returns to Herisau via Gübsensee. This moderately difficult cycling tour is 47 kilometres long, with 1,089 metres of ascent and 1,089 metres of descent. Compared with the 6.5-kilometre themed trail, it is a much longer cycle route with a specified elevation profile.
For views, consider Hundwiler Höhi and the Spitzli Route near Urnäsch. From the summit of the pyramid-shaped Hundwiler Höhi, the view stretches from the Alpstein to Lake Constance. From the Spitzli Route, you can see Lake Constance, the Säntis massif, the Glarus Alps and the Rigi; visibility depends on the conditions. Wildlife may be visible in the Tobelwald on the family riddle trail in Schwellbrunn.
Winter Trails, Getting There and Cheese Culture
The Urnäsch winter hiking trail starts at the Feld sports complex and runs via Grünau, Ruppen and Steinenmoos back to the starting point. When planning, take the prevailing winter conditions into account. The Osteregg ski lift is 700 metres long and runs from 850 to 1,080 metres above sea level; its seasonal operating schedule may change. If you are planning a visit around the lift, check its current operating status in advance.
Hundwil is served by the Herisau–Stein–St. Gallen postbus line. In Stein, the Appenzeller Schaukäserei offers an interactive exhibition that gives visitors an insight into cheese production on a 1:1 scale. It also invites visitors to discover part of the secret behind Appenzeller cheese. So, alongside literature, customs and routes, Hinterland also offers a distinctive culinary experience.
Discover more destinations: Schönengrund, Waldstatt, Herisau, Urnäsch, Stein, Hundwil, Schwellbrunn, Vorderland.
Return to the main travel overview: Appenzell.
