The history of Gams parish church can be traced through two dates: its location was first mentioned in the older imperial land register in 835; the present Neo-Gothic church is dedicated to Saint Michael and was inaugurated in its present form on 18 November 1868.
Church and Old Mill: two historical timelines
A second point of reference is the Old Mill. In its original building fabric, it is the oldest building in the municipality of Gams; it was first mentioned in writing in 1461. At the same time, it is more than a subject of architectural history: artists perform at the Old Mill. The history of the parish church and that of the mill are thus complemented by a cultural use that continues to the present day.
Golf and trails on Gamserberg
Gams-Werdenberg Golf Club offers guests green fee deals on weekdays and weekends; conditions may change seasonally. For practice, there is a facility with chipping and pitching areas, a putting green, and several covered and uncovered mat and grass tees. If you would like to include golf in your trip, both the green fee deals and the available practice facilities are possible highlights. Check the current green fee conditions before making plans.
Gamserberg offers a variety of routes for hikers, bikers and walkers on well-maintained, well-signposted roads and trails. The options include different ways to spend time outdoors: you can choose a hike, a bike tour or a walk, then select a specific route accordingly.
Two hikes with different key details
Older tour descriptions list two hikes. An older tourism brochure listed a hiking route from the Gams, Post stop to Hohensax Castle ruins. The ruins stand on a rocky ridge above the Rhine Valley and are the named destination of this tour. The hike “From Gams around Mittelwald,” also described, starts and ends at Gams, Post (478 m). It is 13.6 kilometres long; the stated duration is 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Thus, a hike with a castle ruin as its destination is contrasted with a circular hike for which both distance and duration are specified. This distinction helps with time planning without assuming that the same details are available for both tours. As the descriptions are older and trail conditions may change, check the current situation before setting out.
Gams in the Werdenberg region
Gams is part of the Werdenberg region in the Rhine Valley of St. Gallen, on Switzerland’s eastern border. Along much of the Rhine, the region borders the Principality of Liechtenstein between Trübbach and Sennwald. The regional perspective offers an additional context for cyclists: the Werdenberg region has 140 kilometres of well-signposted cycle routes as well as marked mountain bike trails. These details refer to the region; the routes on Gamserberg are the local focus.
When looking for a hotel in Gams, you can start by deciding what you want your days to focus on: the architectural history of the parish church and Old Mill, golf with green fees and practice facilities, or time exploring the routes on Gamserberg. For cyclists, the Werdenberg region provides a wider context.
Discover more destinations: Sevelen, Wartau, Buchs, Grabs, Sennwald
Return to the main travel overview: Werdenberg.
