Hemberg lies in the foothills’ rolling countryside along the upper Necker and, as a village, is part of the political municipality of Neckertal in the Toggenburg region, Canton of St. Gallen. The village is situated on a hilltop 945 metres above sea level, west of the Necker. Its two districts extend along a hillcrest, surrounded by meadows and pastures. From Hemberg, views stretch across the Neckertobel towards Appenzell and into the rolling landscape of the Toggenburg. This makes for two distinct focal points for a break: the village’s architectural styles and the hilly landscape.
Oberdorf, Unterdorf and Toggenburg Houses
Oberdorf grew up around the Catholic church and consists mainly of simple wooden buildings with gabled roofs. In Unterdorf, a compact settlement and a long street space lie on a saddle; the Reformed church stands there. The main street connects the two districts. Impressive late-Baroque buildings known as Toggenburg houses line the street. The simple wooden buildings in Oberdorf and the more elaborate houses along the main street show different facets of local architectural culture.
The Reformed parish church, with its front tower, was built in 1779–80 and is regarded as the village’s landmark. Hemberg’s name also has a long history: the village is recorded as “Hemmenberch” from 878 and as “Hembere” from 1225. Records from 878 point to early ownership by the Abbey of St. Gallen. The architecture and local history offer their own points of interest during a stay, while the landscape remains more than a mere backdrop to a visit to the village.
Hilly Countryside and Moorland
The Salomonstempel is located in Chellen, a moorland of national importance on the rounded plateau between Hemberg and Ebnat-Kappel. Together with the hillcrest, meadows and pastures, and views across the Neckertobel, this landscape is one of the destination’s defining features. The village’s position on the hilltop and the moorland on the plateau offer different perspectives on the landscape: here, the village is the focus; there, the moorland between two villages.
At Seeli, a covered wooden bridge crosses the stream. There are also water-powered installations with a weir, water intake and screen cleaner, as well as a small picnic area with a fire pit. Some installations may require maintenance, so it is advisable to check their condition before visiting. The bridge, technical installations and picnic area are specific features of Seeli, while the views of the hills and valley form part of Hemberg’s wider landscape.
Seasonal Activities and Culture
The Hemberg ski lift has a magic carpet and a platter lift, with terrain for families, beginners and young skiers. The facilities are dependent on the season and snow conditions. Before planning a visit, check whether the season and snow conditions are suitable for your travel dates. This puts the ski lift in context as a winter option rather than a year-round activity.
The “Concerts in Hemberg” feature various classical music and folk music ensembles, with musicians from the region. The programme may vary from season to season. The Neckertal Cultural Trails offer a different way to explore culture: the network comprises seven circular routes with more than 100 information panels in total; one section passes through Hemberg. The concert series and cultural trails are different ways to engage with music and culture in the village and the wider region.
Culinary Circular Walk
The “Beizen-Tour” is a culinary circular walk that visits every restaurant in Hemberg and Bächli. It combines walking with a focus on local cuisine and includes both of these named places. Along with the cultural trails, it shows that Hemberg cannot be described only through individual buildings: when planning your stay, you can consider culture, the landscape and the culinary circular walk as different interests and choose what suits you.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Wattwil, Alt Sankt Johann, Sankt Peterzell, Lichtensteig, Brunnadern, Kirchberg, Mosnang, Ebnat-Kappel.
Back to the main travel overview: Toggenburg.
