Rüthi lies in the Rhine Valley between Altstätten and Buchs in the canton of St. Gallen. To the east, the Rhine forms the municipal boundary and, at the same time, the Swiss border with Austria. Rüthi was first mentioned in a document from the Abbey of St. Gallen dated 5 June 820. Local history, industry and the landscape shaped by waterways offer various points of interest for a stay: the Industrial Trail explores regional industry, culture and leisure; at the Hirschensprung, early archaeological finds are also in focus.
Rhine Valley Industrial Trail: Hike in Stages
The Rhine Valley Industrial Trail runs for 40.3 kilometres between Rheineck and Rüthi and can be hiked in one or several stages. Rüthi is one of the trail’s starting and finishing points. Along the route, information panels, films and audio recordings explore topics related to industry, culture and leisure in the region. Signposts lead from the starting points to the trail. The route thus combines hiking with an exploration of the Rhine Valley. When planning your hike, you can first decide whether to cover the full distance in one go or tackle it in sections.
Hirschensprung: Industrial History and Archaeological Traces
The narrow rocky passage of the Hirschensprung connects Rüthi with Oberriet. The oldest burial sites in the canton of St. Gallen were found here; they date from 3000 to 1800 BC. Industrial history is also present at the Hirschensprung: the manufacturer’s villa built in 1906 is known as Villa Nüesch. Its history includes the founding of Rheintalische Cementfabrik Rüthi AG by Ernst Schmidheiny in 1906. The Säntis battery factory was also founded in Rüthi in 1922. Archaeological traces from the past and different chapters of industrial history thus stand side by side at this site.
Museums: Village Life and Brewing History
The Rüthi Local History Museum comprises two houses in the district of Büchel. At the Schwärzerles-Theres-Hus, furnished living and working spaces document the lives of Rhine Valley villagers more than 100 years ago. The Old Schoolhouse hosts changing exhibitions on local and regional history. The Zum alten Bock Beer Museum focuses on another subject: its extensive documentation covers brewing in different periods. During visits, the origins of beer and the development of monastic and private breweries are explained. Visits are possible throughout the year by prior arrangement. Guided tours can include an apéritif, lunch or dinner; these arrangements must also be made in advance.
Binnenkanal and Routes in the Surrounding Area
The Binnenkanal Rüthi nature experience area is a waterside landscape created through natural water engineering from what was once a perfectly straight canal. A completed project on the Rhine Valley Binnenkanal in Rüthi widened the channel from 20 to 60 metres and included gravel banks, riverbed structures and naturally landscaped banks. The paths along the canal are used by cyclists, inline skaters and pedestrians. The 74-kilometre Lakes Route between Buchs and Rorschach, which passes through Rüthi, offers another option for cyclists. As route conditions can change, it is worth checking them before setting out.
The surrounding area also offers a range of landscapes: riverside areas in the Rhine Valley, vineyards and raised bogs are complemented by paths at lower elevations and routes leading to Alpine views. When choosing a hike, you can weigh up whether you would prefer a route at lower elevations or one with views of the Alps. In the nearby municipality of Oberriet, the ruins of Blatten Castle stand on Blattenberg at the edge of the forest. Parts of the tower and castle wall, as well as a vaulted cellar, remain. These destinations add further cultural and landscape themes from the surrounding area to the picture of Rüthi.
Discover more destinations: Marbach, Altstätten, Widnau, Berneck, Rheineck, St. Margrethen, Au, Diepoldsau
Return to the main travel overview: Rhine Valley.
