Explore Werdenberg from its castle and medieval town, both located by Lake Werdenberg. At the castle, a museum offers an insight into 800 years of social history. The museum tour includes audio guides and stereoscopes; tours, guided visits and workshops explore patriarchal rule at the castle and the austere life of the town’s subjects. This programme is offered from April to October. The castle stands 45 metres above the valley floor; from there, the view stretches across the Rhine Valley to the Alps.
A town with a distinctive character
Werdenberg is considered Switzerland’s oldest timber settlement. The market square with its arcades and the houses of the medieval town define the place; it is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of National Importance. A striking individual building is the Snake House, a historically significant building of particular architectural value, with Baroque decoration. Together, the market square, arcades and painted façade provide concrete architectural landmarks for a walk through the town.
The name Werdenberg also has historical roots: the Werdenberg electoral district is an administrative unit of the canton of St. Gallen and forms the Werdenberg region within the St. Gallen Rhine Valley. It is named after the medieval town and Werdenberg Castle on Lake Werdenberg. The region’s name is thus directly linked to its best-known historic ensemble.
More traces of history and everyday life
Further discoveries in the region lead to different chapters of the past. The ruins of Hohensax Castle were built around 1200 and lie on the Rhine Valley high-altitude trail. The Walser House in Palfris dates from the 14th century. In Grabs, the centuries-old Grabser MĂĽhlbach industrial canal tells the story of how water was used: a signposted walking route with information panels follows the canal, and guided tours can be booked through Werdenberg Tourism.
The Magletsch Artillery Fort offers another historical perspective: it is a military history site built during the Second World War. Visits are possible by appointment. The Sennwald Hammer Mill combines a museum with courses, guided tours and demonstrations. Those who want to explore regional history beyond its buildings will find different ways to experience it here—from a walk along the industrial canal to a visit to a historic craft site.
Trails with different themes
The hiking options each have their own focus. The TrĂĽbli Trail takes about 1.5 hours and passes nine information stations offering insights into grapes, vines and wine. It also includes an SMS quiz on wine. By contrast, the Sevelen Gorge Trail is an approximately 3.5-kilometre loop with information about glacial potholes and wildlife. You can start at the Glat car park or in the town centre near the civil defence facility. A 9.9-kilometre hike leads from Wartau via Buchs to the medieval town of Werdenberg; the route provides access to the Werdenberg museums, including Werdenberg Castle and the Snake House.
For a longer hike, the Margelchopf summit trail covers 11 kilometres, with a stated duration of 4 hours and 35 minutes and 900 metres of ascent. The trail crosses meadows and alpine pastures to a grassy high plateau with views across the St. Gallen Rhine Valley. Gamperfin high moor offers a different landscape: it can be explored on easily accessible paths, but visitors must stay on the designated trails due to conservation regulations.
Lake Voralp lies at an altitude of 1,123 metres in Grabs, surrounded by alpine pastures and forests. A walking path circles the natural lake; swimming is possible in summer. The combination of lake, forest and alpine pastures makes this outing different from the historic townscapes and themed trails.
Culture and events
Held every year at Pentecost, the Werdenberg Castle Mediale lasts ten days and is dedicated to early and contemporary music as well as audiovisual art. The annual slowUp Werdenberg-Liechtenstein event also takes place on car-free main roads through Werdenberg and Liechtenstein. Event dates vary; check the dates for the relevant edition if you want to plan your visit around it.
There are restaurants and cafés in and around the historic town. This makes it easy to combine time spent at the museum, exploring the townscape and walking the trails with a meal or refreshment in town, without having to follow a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Gams, Wartau, Sennwald, Sevelen, Buchs, Grabs, Rhine Valley, Sarganserland.
Return to the main travel overview: St. Gallen.
