1) Interactive learning on Lake Constance
It's impossible to miss. It's the landmark of the historic harbour town of Rorschach: the Kornhaus, or granary, built between 1745 and 1749. Today, it houses a 1,200 square metre museum for children and adults with hands-on displays for an interactive experience. Visitors also learn about life on Lake Constance – right at the water's edge.
2) Modern art in a modern building
The Forum Würth Rorschach is located right on the banks of Lake Constance and is one of the 15 art galleries that belong to the Würth Group in Europe. Opened in 2013, the gallery regularly exhibits rotating contemporary art shows on an area covering more than 600 square meters: sculptures, paintings and drawings from the 19th century to the present.
3) Hundertwasser's colourful indoor market
Golden onion-shaped domes, asymmetrical windows, curved lines. And colour, lots and lots of colour everywhere: the buildings of the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser are known throughout the world. Altenrhein is home to the only building designed by the Viennese architect in Switzerland: the Hundertwasser Markthalle, or Market Hall. It has a gallery and restaurant and is dedicated to showcasing the artist’s life and work.
4) Local lore in the picturesque small town
Altstätten is a place where city meets country and mountain meets valley. Ornately decorated building façades line the charming narrow streets that wind through the old town, inviting you to take your time as you wander through the city. The Rhine Valley town is also home to a museum in the stately merchant's estate «zur Prestegg». It has a local historical collection on display that exhibits items from the daily lives of the upper middle class.
5) Music and art in a castle
Every year since 2012, internationally successful artists have come together in the small castle town of Werdenberg at the Schlossmediale, a festival for old music, new music and audiovisual art, to be inspired by the extraordinary atmosphere. They delve into the history of the 800 year old castle and its surroundings to create music and art which is then featured at the ten-day festival.
6) Visit a charming Biedermeier village
High above Lake Constance, nestled in the rolling hills of Appenzell, is the charming Biedermeier village of Heiden. Almost completely destroyed by fire in 1838, it was rebuilt in the years that followed in the classical architecture of the Biedermeier period. The most famous person to have come from the village is Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross. The Henry Dunant Museum is dedicated to his life and his work.
7) Tradition and modernity in the Appenzell region
Rural traditions, picturesque streets, culinary specialities: the village of Appenzell at the foot of the Alpstein mountains, a subgroup of the Appenzell Alps, invites visitors to stroll around, take in the view and try some of the local fare. The capital of the smallest Swiss canton is popular with tourists from all over the world. Works of international classical modern and contemporary art are exhibited at the Kunstmuseum Appenzell art museum.
8) Experimental works of art
Founded in 1991, the Kunsthalle Wil regards itself as a forum for contemporary art, focusing on experimental work on spatial relationships. The museum mainly gives artists who don’t usually show their work in galleries the opportunity to exhibit their work to a wider audience. The Kunsthalle is worth visiting just to see the architecture: the building that houses the museum used to be a small livestock market which has been completely redesigned.
9) The crown jewel of the Abbots’ City of Wil
The Hof zu Wil, the former summer residence of the abbots of St.Gallen, was built more than 800 years ago. It is considered to be the crown jewel of Wil’s old town and is a monument of national importance. This historic building is home to, among other things, the city library and a museum with a permanent exhibition and various special exhibitions which are dedicated to the exciting and moving story of the town of Wil.
10) The sound trail
A drum-playing woodpecker, singing stones and water that bounces: walkers can experience these and other unusual sound installations along the Toggenburg sound trail – and compose their own music along the way. The trail at the foot of the Churfirsten mountains is accessible from the beginning of June through the end of October and is suitable for all ages.
