Steinach on Lake Constance can be explored through several distinct themes: historic harbor facilities, architectural and church history, the lakeside bathing area, and trails connected with culture or astronomy.

The River Steinach is also part of the local geography: at Schöntal in the municipality of Steinach, it flows into Lake Constance from the south.

Harbor and Architectural History

The Old Harbor of Steinach consists of very well-preserved late medieval and early modern harbor facilities known as Stellinen. This site is unique in the canton of St. Gallen and an important testament to the history of trade. Steinach Castle offers a different historical perspective: its preserved castle ruins date from the late 12th century and were the seat of the Lords of Steinach.

The Gredhaus was built around 1473 and historically served as a grain and salt storehouse. While the castle is associated with the Lords of Steinach, the Gredhaus tells the story of how important goods were stored. The Church of St. James also offers several points of connection to the history of the town. It has been under federal protection since 1953; a fresco by Franz Ludwig Herrmann depicts Saint Nicholas helping people in distress at sea. On July 15, 1742, the residents decided to replace their modest place of worship with a larger and more beautiful one, and commissioned master builder Jakob Grubenmann to construct the new church.

Bathing Area and Lakeside Trails

The Steinach lido is a family-friendly bathing area. It has a gently renovated, original bathhouse and a spacious sunbathing lawn. A staircase with a railing leads down to Lake Constance; swimming is at your own risk. Changing rooms with lockers requiring a 2-franc deposit, toilets and showers are also available.

You can reach the lido by bus to Steinach Post or by train to Steinach; from there, it is a few minutes’ walk. The bathing area lies directly on the Lake Constance cycle route and the inline skating route. This makes it easy to combine a swimming stop with a choice between cycling and inline skating, without needing to plan a separate excursion destination.

Two Trails, Two Themes

The Gallus Trail starts in Arbon and follows the shore of Lake Constance to Steinach. It traces the journey of the Irish monk Gallus, who traveled from Arbon to St. Gallen in 612 and founded his hermit’s cell there. In this way, the trail connects the lakeshore with a specific historical story. To return from Steinach to St. Gallen, you can take the train or a direct PostBus service; check connections before traveling.

Another themed option is the St. Gallen–Steinach Planet Trail. It follows field paths to Mörschwil and Obersteinach; along the way, models of Jupiter, Saturn and other planets up to Pluto are on display. The scale brings the dimensions of space to life: every meter on the trail represents a journey of one million kilometers through space. The trails differ primarily in their themes: the Gallus Trail focuses on Gallus and Lake Constance, while the Planet Trail highlights the models and the scale of the solar system.

Discover more destinations: Mörschwil, Thal, Rorschach, Rorschacherberg, Goldach.

Back to the main travel overview: Rorschach.