Wald is located in the hilly landscape of the Appenzeller Vorderland. On many sunny days during the winter months, the view from here stretches across the sea of fog to St. Gallen, Lake Constance and the Rhine Valley. The view is therefore shaped by the season; walks and local culture offer different highlights. When choosing a destination, you can weigh up these differences: distant winter views, a route to special places or traditions tied to a specific occasion.

Hilly landscape and walks

Wald’s elevated location and fresh air invite you to enjoy restorative walks. One specific option is the Wäldler Wonderweg, which leads to 19 special places. These include spots, sights, local features and viewpoints. At each place, a sign in a small wooden shelter describes the location. For planning your trip, this means that the Wonderweg is a route with several described stops, while the far-reaching view across the sea of fog is limited to sunny days during the winter months.

Church and living traditions

The Reformed Church in Wald is listed in Category B of the Federal Inventory of Cultural Property Protection, edition dated 1 January 2025. The Evangelical Reformed parish of Wald also welcomes visitors from outside the area. This adds two distinct cultural references: the classification applies to the church, while the invitation is extended to guests from outside the parish.

Another tradition dates back to the 17th century: a traditional Easter Monday celebration continues to be held in Wald. As part of it, schoolchildren put Bible verses and hymnal verses down on paper as creatively as possible. The custom thus combines a historical background with a specific creative activity. Its connection to Easter Monday distinguishes this tradition in time from the Wäldler market, which is linked to the respective livestock show.

Market, singing and local history

The Wäldler market is held every two years on a Saturday, immediately after the respective livestock show. Market stalls from Wald and the surrounding area offer crafts and products. If you would like to make the market the occasion for a trip, it is worth taking the livestock show into account when planning your dates: the market follows directly after it. Check the specific dates for each edition before making your plans. This helps distinguish the market from the Easter Monday celebration, rather than treating both traditions as the same event.

Choral singing is also part of the local cultural history: Wald has a long choral tradition, and the present-day choir is called “chorwald”. Together with the Easter Monday celebration and the market, it offers a glimpse of different aspects of the town’s culture—from community singing to a custom and market activity.

The year 1805 marks an important milestone in local history: that was when the decision was made to build a new road from Teufen to Thal. Before then, it was almost impossible to reach Wald by carriage or other vehicles. These two details provide a specific historical reference point for the town’s transport history, complementing the landscape and cultural themes with a historical perspective.

Discover more destinations: Reute, Wolfhalden, Rehetobel, Heiden, Walzenhausen, Grub

For the overview of the wider region: Vorderland.