In the Gamperfin high moor, the blueberry willow grows in its pure form nowhere else in Switzerland. Together with Lake Voralp, mountain trails and historic sites, this remarkable plant habitat shows the many ways to enjoy a stay in Grabs, focusing on nature, hiking or cultural history.
Gamperfin high moor and mountain landscape
Grabs is a political municipality and locality in the canton of St. Gallen, in the Werdenberg electoral district. The municipality includes extensive alpine areas and large tracts of forest. Its mountain region forms part of the Alvier range and the Churfirsten; elevations range from 443 m above sea level at Ochsensand to 2,385 m at Gamsberg. Lake Voralp lies within the municipality at 1,123 m above sea level.
The Gamperfin high moor is listed as a moor of national importance and protected by a federal ordinance. You can explore it on well-maintained paths; the protection rules require visitors to stay on the designated paths. The blueberry willow also makes the site botanically remarkable: Gamperfin is the only place in Switzerland where this willow occurs in its pure form.
Lake Voralp and the Margelchopf summit trail
Lake Voralp lies in a hollow on Grabserberg and is surrounded by alpine pastures and forests. A walking path goes around the lake. From May to October, a public bus runs from Grabs or Buchs to the Voralp mountain inn. As the service is seasonal, check the current timetable before travelling.
For a longer mountain hike, take the Margelchopf summit trail: it runs from Berghaus Malbun in Buchs via Margelchopf and Lake Voralp to Kurhaus Voralp in Grabs. The 11 km route is listed as taking 4 hours and 35 minutes. A steep rocky path leads to Margelchopf, requiring the use of both hands and feet; some sections are secured with ropes. Mountain and weather conditions may affect the route’s continuity. Check local conditions before setting out.
Industrial heritage and Werdenberg old town
The artificially constructed Grabser MĂĽhlbach is a 1.7 km industrial stream that has served a variety of purposes. At the height of its use, it powered more than 20 different businesses. The number of surviving facilities is described as unique in Switzerland. On guided tours, visitors can see the facilities in operation, including demonstrations of ironworking by the smiths at the glowing forge. Check whether a tour is available before travelling.
The Werdenberg old town is part of the municipality of Grabs and has an 800-year history. It is one of the few surviving medieval urban timber settlements in Europe. Two museums in the old town offer insights into the history of the castle’s development. Werdenberg Castle serves as a museum and represents every period of 800 years of social history. It is equipped with audio guides and stereoscopes and is part of a tour of the Werdenberg museums. Visitor arrangements may change; check the current options before your visit.
Embroidery and church architecture
The embroidery workshop in Grabs presents the town’s hand-embroidery tradition. It houses one of the village’s last hand-embroidery machines, bequeathed to the political municipality of Grabs by Kaspar and Margarethe Vetsch-Stricker. A guided tour can be booked: one of the last hand embroiderers operates the historic machine and shows how the threads are prepared on the thread machines. Confirm the arrangements before your visit.
The Evangelical Church of Grabs also tells the story of changes to the townscape. Its replacement was approved in 1900. The polygonal choir with its six-part fan vault and the church tower were retained; the new nave was built with three aisles, three-sided galleries and spires in the corners. The name Grabs is of Romansh origin, and numerous place and field names recall settlement by the Romansh-speaking population.
Discover more destinations: Wartau, Sevelen, Buchs, Gams, Sennwald.
For the overview of the wider travel region: Werdenberg.
