Discover Steinach

Steinach in the canton of St. Gallen connects Lake Constance with harbour facilities, historic buildings and trails covering a variety of themes. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, these places can shape the focus of your trip: cultural history, time by the water or a themed route, for example.

Harbour facilities, castle and church art

The Old Harbour of Steinach consists of very well-preserved late-medieval and early modern harbour facilities known as Stellinen. It is unique in the canton of St. Gallen and an important testament to the history of trade. Steinach Castle also tells the story of the town: the preserved castle ruins date from the late 12th century and were the seat of the Lords of Steinach. The Gredhaus was built around 1473 and historically served as a grain and salt storehouse.

Another destination for those interested in cultural history is St. James's Church. It has been protected by the federal government since 1953. On 15 July 1742, the residents of Steinach decided to replace their modest place of worship with a larger, more beautiful one, and commissioned master builder Jakob Grubenmann to construct the new church. A fresco by Franz Ludwig Herrmann inside the church depicts Saint Nicholas helping people in distress at sea. The harbour, castle, storehouse and church each offer a different perspective: trade history, medieval rule and religious art can all be explored at specific locations.

Swimming and water sports on Lake Constance

The Steinach lido is a family-friendly bathing spot. Its bathhouse has been gently renovated and retains its original character; there is also a spacious sunbathing lawn. Changing rooms with lockers, toilets and showers are available. A deposit of 2 francs is required for a locker. Access to Lake Constance is via a staircase with a handrail; swimming is at your own risk.

You can reach the lido by bus to Steinach Post or by train to Steinach; from there, it is just a few minutes' walk. The facility is right on the Lake Constance cycle path and inline skating route. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the water with a trip along either route, without requiring both activities to have the same focus.

Boat harbour for recreational boaters and families

Steinach Boat Harbour gives recreational boaters the opportunity to enjoy water sports as a hobby close by. Its harbour facilities are also suitable for spontaneous, relaxing family stays. There are around 15 visitor berths; this capacity may change. The boat harbour and the lido therefore offer different ways to experience Lake Constance: the harbour focuses on water sports and spending time at the facility, while the lido is all about swimming and the sunbathing lawn.

Two trails with different themes

The Gallus Trail starts in Arbon and follows the shore of Lake Constance to Steinach. It traces the footsteps of the Irish monk Gallus, who came from Arbon to St. Gallen in 612 and founded his hermitage there. If you are looking for a route with a historical connection, this offers a different perspective from the St. Gallen–Steinach Planet Trail.

This Planet Trail runs along field paths to Mörschwil and Obersteinach; models of Jupiter, Saturn and other planets, all the way to Pluto, line the route. Along the trail, each metre represents a journey of 1 million kilometres through space. The Gallus Trail follows a stretch of the Lake Constance shoreline and tells the story of the monk, while the Planet Trail illustrates the scale of the solar system. To return to St. Gallen, you can take the train or a direct postbus service from Steinach. Check connections before travelling.

The Steinach River is also part of the local geography: at Schöntal in the municipality of Steinach, it is a southern tributary of Lake Constance.

Discover more destinations: Goldach, Rorschach, Thal, Mörschwil, Rorschacherberg

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