In the Rhine Valley, wine growing, local history and waterside excursions offer options for a range of trips. Berneck combines vineyards with a wine-tasting house; in Altstätten, the Prestegg offers insights into historic architecture and the town’s history. Rheineck, Montlinger Bergli and the Old Rhine add further natural and archaeological highlights. If you’re looking for hotels in the Rhine Valley, you can first decide which themes you’d like to shape your stay, then choose the places to visit.
Wine growing and tasting in Berneck
Berneck has just under 40 hectares of vineyards and is the largest wine-growing municipality in the canton of St. Gallen. The House of St. Gallen Wine showcases around 100 wines from 19 wine-growing businesses. There, you can taste, compare and buy wines with expert guidance. This offers more than just a way to gauge the scale of wine growing by vineyard area: the house is also a dedicated place to sample different wines side by side. It also provides rooms for cultural and regional culinary events. This makes Berneck a good focus for a trip centred on wine and regional cuisine.
Industrial trail and architectural history
The Rhine Valley Industrial Trail explores companies, personalities and towns along its route through 23 permanently installed information panels. It runs from Rheineck to RĂĽthi along the Rhine Valley high-altitude trail. The information therefore accompanies a defined route rather than being concentrated at a single building.
In Altstätten, the Prestegg tells a story of architectural change spanning several centuries: it developed on medieval walls from the 15th century onwards, and was expanded into a stately residence in the second half of the 18th century. The Prestegg is protected as a monument under Swiss federal law. The museum offers guided tours covering historic buildings and the history of the town and its residents. A tour thus connects the architecture with the town’s history. The Old Church of St. Margaretha in St. Margrethen is also classified as Swiss cultural heritage of national importance.
Archaeology and a chapel at Montlinger Bergli
Montlinger Bergli is listed as an archaeological protection area. Extremely valuable finds from a prehistoric hilltop settlement of the early Rhaetians have been discovered there. The history of the site is also reflected in St. Anna Chapel: its small Baroque altar is designed in the auricular style and features figures of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child, as well as the two Johns, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Excavations confirm that parts of the chapel date from the 15th century. Montlinger Bergli is also home to the former Kolbenstein quarry, a valuable habitat for endangered and rare animal and plant species.
Rheineck, the Old Rhine and viewpoints
In Rheineck, you can explore the circular Old Town walk with a guide or on your own. The last surviving town gate marks the entrance to the Old Town and was repainted in 1955. One alley escaped the town fire of 1876. In good weather, views from Burgstock extend over Rheineck and Lake Constance as far as Lindau. According to the municipality’s description, the hiking trail to Burgstock is also suitable for children. The Rheineck shoreline trail leads either towards the Eselschwanz recreation area or towards Lake Constance.
Eselschwanz in St. Margrethen is a nature and landscape conservation area as well as a recreation area on the Old Rhine. Apfelberg lies above the Protestant church in St. Margrethen at about 470 metres above sea level; from there, panoramic views extend across the Rhine delta and Lake Constance. Vegetation and visibility vary with the seasons. The Old Rhine nature trail runs right along the water and reaches a small barbecue area after about 25 minutes. The trails therefore offer different ways to plan a visit: on the nature trail, the approximate time to the barbecue area is the key consideration, while at the viewpoints, weather and seasonal visibility are decisive.
Choose the right focus for your accommodation
If you prefer nature by the water, you can consider including the described trails and areas along the Old Rhine in your plans. First decide which of these interests matters most for your trip; this will make finding a suitable place to stay more straightforward.
Discover more destinations: Altstätten, Widnau, Balgach, Oberriet, Rüthi, Au, Diepoldsau, Berneck, Rheineck, St. Margrethen, Marbach
See the broader travel overview: St. Gallen.
