Alpine Trails - Appenzell

Profile: Appenzell — Switzerland, Oct 1 - Oct 10, 2010

The Village

Appenzell is more of a town than a village — a town designed by a gingerbread afficionado! The architecture is distinctive and the main street a joy to behold. Thanks to an outstanding bus and rail system, trailheads are just minutes away, but you enjoy all the pleasures of the town — unusual shopping opportunities, numerous art galleries (they have their own school of primitive painting — if you like Grandma Moses, you'll be enchanted!), museums, excellent restaurants. What strikes us about Appenzell is that although tourism is a major industry, the inhabitants have somehow maintained their own culture — influencing their guests rather than vice versa! It is famous for its cheese, its Alpine bitters, its singing groups and its distinctive orchestras. Because all the surrounding areas are farmland, one feels oneself in the country, not in the city. Appenzell is just an hour from St. Gallen by train and 1.5 hours from Zurich.

The Hotel

The Hotel Saentis looks like the setting for "The Student Prince." It is located on the Landsgemeinde Platz, the very center of this charming town. It is within five minutes of everything you will want to do here! Now some hundred years old, it has always been owned and managed by the Heeb family. It has extremely comfortable rooms, some with traditional decor and others — in the "romantic" section — with a modern ambience. Of moderate size — some 60 beds — the hotel, like the rest of the village, caters to travelers who normally spend one or two nights. As a result, our week-long guests receive particularly friendly attention. The Saentis boasts an outstanding kitchen, a cozy tavern and a very welcoming garden cafe.

The Walks

Although Appenzell itself is less than 3,000 feet above sea level — and its highest peak, the Saentis is just over 8,000 (low by Alpine standards), this area features some of the finest and most scenic hikes anywhere. The Hoher Kasten is a ridge between the main Saentis massif and the Rhine Valley — a magnificent walk with continuous views and two mountain lakes en route. There are beautiful hikes to other outliers such as Schaefler and Ebenalp. There's a prehistoric cave with a chapel, a restaurant built into an overhanging cliff — and much more. Outside the central massif are miles and miles of heartbreakingly beautiful farmland. A favorite hike is through these fields to St. Gallen. And wherever you go, there are mountain restaurants and inns perched in the most unlikely spots. Hiking in Appenzell is unique and a great joy.

When You're Not Hiking

The village offers numerous attractions — a beautiful church and cemetery, displays of local handicrafts, numerous outdoor markets, art galleries and museums, distinctive architecture and a charm which is always in evidence. Should you wish to travel, day trips can take you to Zurich, St. Gallen, the Rhine Valley, the Lake of Constance. There are three principal cable cars — to the Hoher Kasten, the Saentis and Ebenalp. You could even take a boat down part of the Rhine. Or visit the Alpine bitters factory or watch cheese being made. It is possible to hire horses for the day — or take a long bike ride. Or ride to the summit of the Kronberg — the highest mountain outside the Saentis. Most of our guests don't go far away, as the town invites a day of exploration.

Come Join Us

If you are intrigued by our "small is beautiful" philosophy and would like to receive additional information or make reservations for Appenzell, or any of our upcoming trips, please email Sheila Duigan or call her direct at 800-291-8126.

Hiking Program 2010

Soglio (S)	Apr 10 – Apr 22	$3,600
Meran (I)	Apr 21 – May 2	$3,500
Sils Maria (S)	Jun 19 – Jul 4	$5,200
Chamonix (I)	Jul 28 – Aug 8	$4,200
Sulden (I) + Tiers (I)	Aug 21 – Sep 5	$3,500
Matschertal (I) + Vent (A)	Sep 11 – Sep 26	$3,600
Appenzell (S)	Oct 1 – Oct 10	$3,100
(A) = Austria (F) = France (I) = Italy (S) = Switzerland

Appenzell · Chamonix · Matschertal · Meran · Sils Maria · Soglio · Sulden · Tiers · Vent
Photo Gallery · 2010 Destination Guide (PDF) · 2010 Newsletter (PDF)
Home · Articles · Contact Us · email Sheila Duigan
Alpine Travel, Inc. · 415 Bedford Road, Suite 201C · Pleasantville, NY 10570 · tel 800-291-8126 · fax 914-747-2266