Ebnat-Kappel lies in the Toggenburg between the Thur, wooded hills and gentle Alpine foothills. The municipality in the canton of St. Gallen stretches along the Thur. There are various ways to explore the area during your stay: trails follow the waterways, museums focus on Toggenburg’s cultural history, and the natural surroundings invite you to enjoy activities in different seasons. You can tailor your discoveries to the landscape, outdoor pursuits or history.
The Thur landscape and trails through green surroundings
The area around Ebnat-Kappel is ideal for hiking, cycling and winter activities. There are also marked bike routes in the vicinity, offering a way to explore the Toggenburg. One of the municipality’s most prominent elevations is the Speer. At 1,950 m above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Ebnat-Kappel and also the highest Nagelfluh mountain in Europe.
The Sinnepark puts the senses at the heart of the experience. The park has nine stations and additional facilities. Its trail follows the rushing Eichbach stream through the Eichtobel gorge. The Hydropower Trail offers a different focus: it runs between the Ebnat and Trempel hydropower plants and uses ten information panels to explain how hydropower generation interacts with the Thur ecosystem. The trail is about a ten-minute walk from Ebnat-Kappel railway station. This lets you explore nature and learn about hydropower as distinct themes of your stay.
Discover Toggenburg’s cultural history
The Ackerhus in Ebnat-Kappel is dedicated to Toggenburg’s cultural history. Its exhibition presents four centuries of domestic life and offers insights into everyday life, religion and regional crafts. The exhibits include house organs, neck zithers and historic furniture. The exhibition is housed in a historic example of 18th-century Toggenburg architecture. The museum therefore offers a glimpse both into everyday objects and into the region’s architectural heritage.
The Turngeräte Museum preserves another collection. You can see historic gymnastic equipment, including a pommel horse with a head and tail that is believed to be the oldest of its kind still in existence. The museum also traces the history of gymnastics over more than 300 years. From 1 April to 1 November, it is open on Sundays from 14:00 to 17:00. Groups can visit year-round, Monday to Friday, by arrangement and only with a guided tour. Check the opening hours before your visit.
Local history and village character
The names of the two former municipalities also tell the story of the area. Until 1762, Ebnat was called Ober-Wattwil, after which it became Ebnet; Kappel was mentioned as Capelle in 1218. Ebnat and Kappel merged to form the municipality of Ebnat-Kappel in 1965. Historically, the area was shaped by agriculture and livestock farming. The textile industry later also developed, while Ebnat-Kappel retained its village character. This history places today’s cultural offerings in the context of the area’s long past.
More things to do during your stay
The Ebnat-Kappel outdoor pool has a 50-metre swimming pool and a diving pool with 1-metre and 3-metre platforms. There is also a leisure pool with a water slide and a non-swimmer area, as well as a paddling pool for young children with a sun canopy. These facilities add a swimming option to the area’s hiking and cultural attractions.
When planning your stay, you can also take train and bus connections into account. Ebnat-Kappel railway station is on the line between Wattwil and Nesslau. Regular services run from there into the Toggenburg and towards St. Gallen; regional bus routes connect the neighbouring municipalities.
Discover more destinations: LĂĽtisburg, Ganterschwil, Stein, Krinau, Hemberg, Lichtensteig, Sankt Peterzell, Oberhelfenschwil.
Return to the main travel overview: Toggenburg.
