Discover the Rhine Valley: wine, trails and history

Berneck combines viticulture with circular hiking routes, Rheineck and Altstätten offer insights into historic townscapes, and the Old Rhine is all about riverside landscapes and nature. These differences give you concrete pointers for choosing where to plan your trip.

Winegrowing and a range of activities in Berneck

Berneck has just under 40 hectares of vineyards and is the largest winegrowing municipality in the canton of St. Gallen. Around 100 wines from 19 winegrowing businesses are showcased at the House of St. Gallen Wine; the number of participating businesses may change. There, you can taste, compare and buy wines with expert guidance. The venue also offers rooms for cultural and regional culinary events.

Berneck also has plenty to offer in the way of exercise: the municipality has a well-developed, signposted network of hiking trails with various circular routes. Weier swimming pool has three beach volleyball courts and a beach soccer pitch. At the Mittelrheintal pump track, people of different ages ride over the bumps on a range of sports equipment; the facility is open to the public and free to use. There are plenty of ways to spend your time here, from a wine tasting or circular hike to activities at the pump track.

Local history in Rheineck and Altstätten

The Rhine Valley Industrial Trail runs from Rheineck to Rüthi along the Rhine Valley High Trail. Along the route, 23 permanently installed information panels tell you about companies, notable people and towns. This lets you explore the history of the Rhine Valley through a range of topics rather than focusing on a single building.

In Rheineck, you can explore the Städtli circular walk with a guide or on your own. The route may change, so check the latest information before setting out. The last surviving town gate forms the entrance to the old town and was repainted in 1955. One lane in Rheineck escaped the fire of 1876. These places offer different insights into the town’s history, without requiring the lane to be part of a specific walking route.

In Altstätten, the Prestegg has stood on medieval walls since the 15th century. In the second half of the 18th century, it was expanded into a stately manor house; today, it is protected as a monument of national importance. The Prestegg Museum offers guided tours about historic buildings and the history of the town and its residents. Here, architectural history and local history can be explored together.

Along the Old Rhine and at scenic viewpoints

Eselschwanz in St. Margrethen is a nature and landscape conservation area as well as a local recreation area on the Old Rhine. The Old Rhine nature trail follows the water and leads to a small barbecue area in about 25 minutes. Near Diepoldsau, the Rhine Route passes a loop in the Old Rhine. This loop was created by the Diepoldsau Rhine diversion of 1923, providing a tangible link between today’s riverside landscape and its history.

Apfelberg lies above the Protestant church in St. Margrethen, at an elevation of about 470 metres above sea level. It offers panoramic views of the Rhine Delta and Lake Constance; visibility and vegetation vary by season. Grimmenstein Castle ruins also offer views of the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance. The ruins stand on a prominent rocky ridge between two stream gullies, are accessible only on foot and are open year-round. Access conditions may change, so check the latest information before your visit.

Archaeological and religious heritage

Montlinger Bergli is listed as an archaeological protection area. Valuable finds from a prehistoric hilltop settlement of the early Raetians were discovered there. St. Anna Chapel houses a small Baroque altarpiece in the auricular style, with figures of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Excavations confirm that parts of the chapel date from the 15th century. Here, archaeological traces and sacred art come together.

Montlinger Bergli is also home to the former Kolbenstein quarry, a valuable habitat for endangered and rare animal and plant species. It adds a natural dimension to the Bergli’s archaeological and religious significance. If you want to take different interests into account when planning your trip, the places in the Rhine Valley offer distinct highlights, from wine and local history to riverside landscapes, views and archaeological heritage.

Places in the Rhine Valley

Discover more destinations: Altstätten, Widnau, Balgach, Marbach, Oberriet, Rüthi, Au, Diepoldsau, Berneck, Rheineck, St. Margrethen.

Back to the main travel overview: St. Gallen.