Appenzell is located in the stunning canton of Appenzell. This village is the economic, political and cultural centre of the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. With just over 7000 inhabitants, this cute village shouldn’t be overlooked. This blog will inform you about things to do in this village and what to expect. Zooming in on the question, is Appenzell worth visiting? Let’s find out!
Things to do in the village Appenzell
What is Appenzell known for?
Appenzell is of course known for its cheese. Later, we will inform you more about the spot to explore fresh swiss cheese. There are lovely shops in the Hauptgasse, the main street of the village. They are fabulously decorated creating a lovely atmosphere. In Appenzell, you will find lots of beautifully painted and decorated houses. All these vivid colours make you smile. The village is surrounded by countryside, all this greenery makes it an idyllic place.
Visit the Appenzeller Schaukaserei
There are many things to do in this tiny village and its surroundings. We will start with something Switzerland is really famous for, cheese.
On your way to Appenzell, you will find the Schaukaserei located in Stein. Here you can explore how Cheese is made, and of course, you can try some. A unique experience. You can follow the manufacture of Appenzeller cheese from the visitor gallery. From there you look straight into the 6000-litre cheese vat, here is the milk prepared and the cheese harp is drawn through thickened jelly. So interesting!
One of the most impressive things is how modern the factory is, the cheese is being transported by robots, wow. There is a tour as well, showcasing the process of cheesemaking and the history of this region, highly recommended to stop here before visiting the village of Appenzell. Please check out the website of the Schaukaserei Appenzell here.
Visit the Museum of Appenzell
The museum is located on the main street, so the Hauptgasse 4 of Appenzell. The museum has an exhibition showing the local history of the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. The main focus of the museum exhibition is hand embroidery, arts, folklore and tourism. This is an interesting museum, for up to date information about opening times and entry fees, visit the website of the museum here.
The Paris Chruch of St. Mauritius
This roman catholic parish church located in Appenzell is dedicated to the patron saint of the canton St. Mauritius. The church was built in the year 1069, during the last centuries it was rebuilt quite a few times. The altar dates back to 1622. Through the centuries the church has been renovated and changed quite a lot. It definitely is worth visiting if you are in or around the village of Appenzell. The current church is constructed between 1488-1513 and has some more recent construction dating to the 19th century.
Shopping in the village of Appenzell
Of course, the village is pretty small, but it still offers some nice boutiques like the Bazar Hersche, which is a toy store or the Cheese shop Chaslade and in the main street there are several bakeries and other small boutiques.
Another interesting museum to have a look at is the Appenzeller art museum, it was first opened in 1998. For up to date opening times and entry fees please check out the website of the museum here.
What is there to do in Appenzell during the winter season?
Of course, the winter season means skiing, snowboarding and having fun in the snow. In Appenzell, you will find winter walking and cross-country skiing on the hilly Appenzell greenery. There is a network of around 200km available to explore and have adventure time. For ski lovers, Appenzellerland has around 40 kilometres of slopes. These are definitely not numbers like Verbier or Zermatt. But still offering you a nice place to perform winter activities.
What is there to do in Appenzell during the summer season?
Imagine, the snow is melting and the greenery appears again. This is spectacular in the Appenzeller region. The transformation from hilly landscapes to rock dominated alpine is impressive. The Alpstein region really transfers into a rocky world, definitely a surprise when we saw it for the first time.
There is a cableway which operates between Wasserauen and the Ebenalp, with an altitude of 1644 metres. This is your getaway and starting point for numerous hiking trails. The Alpstein mountain range forms the backdrop of the Appenzell region. Here your hiking adventures start. As you’re hiking through the greenery, you will be accompanied by the cows with their bells. The cows and goats create such a lovely atmosphere. Many farmers offer the opportunity to buy cheese directly at their places during your hike. This is so unique and imagine how fresh this cheese must be.
What language is spoken in Appenzell?
The main and official language spoken in Appenzell is a Swiss variety of standard Garman. Interesting is the fact that the main spoken language by locals is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect. For tourists, many Swiss do understand English and speak fluent English as well.
Is Appenzell worth visiting?
Yes, we definitely think Appenzell is worth visiting. Of course, the village is rather small, but it does offer some nice and unique things. Like the colourful houses, lovely boutiques and several cafes and restaurants. I do not think it should be at the top of your bucket list. But if you drive near it, stop in this village, you won’t regret it. If you are on holiday in St. Gallen you should definitely stop and visit the village Appenzell, you can easily get to Appenzell by train from St. Gallen.
If you think of spending your holidays in the Appenzell region, maybe Appenzell is a great base point, to start your adventure. From the village of Appenzell, you can start exploring what the rest of the region has to offer. Some interesting villages and sights: Säntis, Ebenalp, Hoher Kasten, Kronberg, and Herisau.
Conclusion
All in all, we can conclude that this little village with only 7000 inhabitants has a lot to offer. In every season this village shows you something new. We recommend visiting this village when you have time left, or if you are travelling near Appenzell. Especially for the people visiting or staying in St. Gallen we definitely recommend driving to Appenzell. For sure worth a visit. We hope you will have a lovely time exploring everything Switzerland has to offer.
