Fairy-tale Northern Swiss Alps: St. Gallen, Appenzell and Wasserauen
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Switzerland’s quieter northern Alps offer peaceful nature and distinct local culture away from crowded Jungfrau and Matterhorn routes. St. Gallen, a northeastern cultural and economic hub, is famed for its ornate Baroque abbey and cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and an ancient monastic library holding over 160,000 books and some 2,100 medieval manuscripts. The old town shows merchants’ wealth in hundreds of projecting bay windows and rococo interiors. Nearby Appenzell, known for colorful wooden houses and decorative building signs called 'Tafeln' (traditional shop signs), preserves strong local customs, craft embroidery and a lively town square where direct-democracy assemblies still meet. Appenzell also offers a 1,000-year-old Romanesque church, a historic brewery ('Brauerai Appenzeller Bier'), and museums of folk culture and modern art. Close-by Wasserauen is a base for gentle to challenging alpine trekking around Säntis mountain (2,502 m) and for activities like paragliding; many trails and cable cars make hikes accessible for all fitness levels. This region combines storybook scenery, living traditions, and outdoor adventure year-round.
