In front of the Henry Dunant Museum in Heiden stands the Peace Bell of Nagasaki, a gift from Nagasaki that arrived in Heiden in March 2010. Every year on August 9, the bell is rung at a public ceremony to commemorate the Nagasaki catastrophe. The museum is located in the building where Henry Dunant lived as a retired resident until his death on October 30, 1910. Exploring the life of the ICRC’s initiator, it offers an opportunity to engage with human rights, international law, peace and democracy. A personal life story and far-reaching questions come together here in a real place.
Between the sunny terrace and rolling hills
The Appenzell Vorderland is known for its rolling hills; Heiden sits on a sunny terrace overlooking Lake Constance. The Vorderland district covers 46.41 km² and ranges in elevation from around 430 to 1,130 metres above sea level. History also shapes the region’s perspective: the Goldach ravine historically separated Vorderland from the rest of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
Hiking trails with different highlights
The Witzweg leads from Heiden via Wolfhalden to Walzenhausen. The hike is 7.8 kilometres long and takes about two and a half hours. Wooden audio stations explain the history of Appenzell humour along the way. Three fire pits with play features invite you to linger and picnic. Seasonal conditions may affect access; check them before setting off.
Another section follows the Kulturspur from Heiden bus station to Walzenhausen railway station. Both endpoints have public transport connections. Along the way, views open out across the Rhine Valley, into Vorarlberg and far across Lake Constance. Medieval cultural and energy sites shape this section and connect the route with the history of the region.
The Gesundheitsweg connects Heiden, Kaien, St. Anton and Oberegg on a circular route that is 14 or 10 kilometres long. The route passes through gentle hills, lush greenery and scattered settlements; the views stretch into Vorarlberg, over Lake Constance and as far as the Allgäu. Another circular hike leads from Heiden via Ober Salen to the Kaien Nature Friends House, continues to Kaienspitz and returns to Heiden via the Gesundheitsweg. This offers a choice of different route lengths and itineraries.
Trails with a theme
The four-kilometre Honeybee Discovery Trail passes through a landscape created by the Rhine Glacier along the Moosbach stream. Along the way, it introduces biodiversity, the five freedoms of farmed animals and honeybee conservation. The trail is part of the Appenzell hiking trail network and the existing themed trails in Vorderland. It takes a seasonal break in winter.
The Walzenhausen Adventure Trail has 30 signposted stations, as well as several viewpoints and fire pits. It is suitable for children aged 8 and over, accompanied by families or school classes. Individual facilities may be maintained seasonally; check their condition before your visit. The viewpoint in Heiden church tower is reached by climbing 157 steps to the tower room. Access depends on the weather and season.
Cultural trails in Rehetobel and Wolfhalden
In Rehetobel, Textildorf hörbar is a self-guided audio tour about the village’s textile past. In Wolfhalden, the Old Mill offers a different cultural highlight: its dining room is decorated with extensive paintings from the Old and New Testaments on the walls and ceiling. Hans Heinrich Züricher created the new mill building in the 1780s; this date refers to the new building. The textile past and biblical imagery thus offer two different ways to explore Vorderland’s cultural history.
Combine your excursion with the journey
The Appenzeller Witzerlebnis combines the Witzweg with two cogwheel railways, a PostBus ride and a boat trip through the nature reserve on the Old Rhine. Timetables and boat services are seasonal; check connections before travelling. The Rorschach–Heiden cogwheel railway runs hourly. From May to September, open-air observation cars run daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.
Discover more destinations: Walzenhausen, Wolfhalden, Reute, Rehetobel, Grub, Heiden, Wald, Appenzell Innerrhoden.
Go to the main travel overview: Appenzell.
