Lichtensteig brings nature and cultural history together in a small municipality. The Ă„ulischlucht Gorge is in the SteigrĂĽti district; theatre, printing and museums offer other topics to explore. Lichtensteig is a small town and political municipality in the canton of St. Gallen, in the Toggenburg constituency, at an altitude of 625 metres above sea level. When planning your trip, you can start by asking yourself whether you would rather focus on the landscape, performing arts, crafts or regional history.
Nature in the Ă„ulischlucht Gorge
The Ă„ulischlucht Gorge is an adventure world for the whole family. It features a waterfall, fire pits, gravel banks, swimming spots, viewpoints, hidden gorges and forests. These different elements offer a varied experience of nature, with water and riverside areas alongside viewpoints and woodland. If you are looking for a nature-focused activity during your stay, the gorge offers a clear contrast to the cultural attractions in the district and in Lichtensteig.
Performing arts and traditional printing
The Chössi Theatre in the Bahnhalle Lichtensteig offers music, dance and theatre from the Swiss and international small-scale performing arts scene. Its programme focuses on the performing arts and complements the historical themes covered in the museums. The accessibility arrangements are also worth noting before your visit: the Chössi Theatre premises are wheelchair accessible; assistance is required at two thresholds, and an accessible toilet is available.
Traditional printing is the focus at the Gall’sche Offizin. Visitors can view historical furnishings and learn about the art of printing. Antique equipment and type are still used there today: using hand typesetting and hand-press printing, the workshop produces certificates, cards, private announcements and bibliophile printed works. The print shop therefore combines a look at historical furnishings with a craft that is still practised today.
Museums: regional history and mechanical music
The Toggenburg Museum is a regional museum dedicated to the culture and history of the Toggenburg region. Its account of regional history ranges from prehistoric settlement and the Counts of Toggenburg to textile production and railway construction. It also explores how the upper and middle Toggenburg were discovered for summer and winter tourism. Household objects made by pewterers and stove builders from Lichtensteig provide a particular connection to the town. The museum thus brings together broad regional history and tangible examples of local craftsmanship.
Fredy’s Mechanical Music Museum has a different focus. It is the first museum in German-speaking Switzerland dedicated to mechanical musical instruments and displays instruments dating from 1780 to 1946. The guided tour ends with a performance on a dance organ. If you are interested in music history, this visit offers a combination of historical instruments and a musical finale to the tour.
Architecture and local history
St. Gallus Church is a notable landmark for architecture enthusiasts. It was consecrated in 1970 and designed according to plans by Swiss architect and sculptor Walter Förderer. Today, the brutalist concrete building is considered one of Förderer’s most important works. Its clear architectural identity sets it apart from Lichtensteig’s craft and museum attractions.
The year 1228 is important to the town’s early history: Lichtensteig was first mentioned in a document as a fortified settlement of the Counts of Toggenburg, under the name Liehtvnsteige. The town’s history is closely linked to Neu-Toggenburg Castle. Together with the museums, this historical perspective offers a view of Lichtensteig that goes beyond individual buildings and connects the town’s development with the history of the Toggenburg region.
Discover more destinations: Wattwil, Brunnadern, Oberhelfenschwil, Stein, BĂĽtschwil, Sankt Peterzell, Kirchberg, Krinau.
View the overview of the wider region: Toggenburg.
