Discover Quinten on Lake Walen

Quinten lies on the northern shore of Lake Walen and on the lower southern slope of the Churfirsten. The secluded settlement extends along the shore and across the lower part of the slope. As a locality and local municipality, Quinten belongs to the political municipality of Quarten in the canton of St. Gallen. The hamlet is accessible only on foot or by boat. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Quinten, you can plan your journey alongside your intended walks and hikes. Check the boat schedules before travelling.

Getting there and hiking trails

Quinten can be reached on foot from Weesen, Betlis or Walenstadt. From Quinten Au, a short walk leads to the hamlet. The walk from Au to Quinten is 1.2 kilometres long, takes about 20 minutes and has an elevation gain of 17 metres. This makes it possible to distinguish a shorter walk from the longer Riviera Walensee Weesen–Quinten hiking route: this route is 10.2 kilometres long, takes approximately three hours and 30 minutes, and has an elevation gain of 454 metres.

On the Weesen–Quinten route, the descent to Quinten follows a steeper, rocky path secured with handrails. The route description therefore provides information not only about the distance and duration, but also about the character of this section. As trail conditions can change with the weather, check them before setting out.

After returning from the forest, the Riviera Walensee Walenstadt–Quinten route follows the lake to the car-free hamlet. For the return journey, you can take a boat from Quinten to Murg and then a train to Walenstadt. When planning hikes and boat connections, it is helpful to take schedules and current trail conditions into account.

Lake Walen and the Seerenbach Falls

The “Impressive Seerenbach Falls” hike begins with a boat trip from Murg across Lake Walen to Quinten. The waterfalls consist of three cascades with a combined height of almost 600 metres. This hike therefore combines a journey across the lake with a natural attraction whose height is made up of several cascades.

Historic buildings in Quinten

The history of the village is reflected in buildings with different architectural styles and dates. St. Bernhard’s Chapel was rebuilt in 1765 and renovated in 1919. The former post office is an impressive half-timbered building by the lake; the date 1694 is inscribed above its arched gateway. The restored goat sheds were renovated in 1991 and 1992 and placed under federal protection.

The Kubli House in Laui is also one of Quinten’s notable historic buildings: it is a five-storey Glarus manor house, probably dating from the 17th century, with twelve rooms and four cellars. The chapel, former post office, sheds and manor house represent different chapters in the history of the village’s architecture.

Winegrowing and local products

The Alte Post wine cellar is right by the harbour in the heart of Quinten, in a historic building dating from 1694. It offers a setting for aperitifs at family celebrations, business events or group outings. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening hours directly. Winegrowing also shapes the village: the grapes are harvested by boat.

The Kellerlädeli shop stocks regional products such as homemade jams, pickled vegetables and salves. The products available locally may change. According to a 2023 brochure, the Quinten lebt foundation operates a plantation of 500 mulberry trees, cultivating them by hand and using entirely natural methods. The best leaves are picked by hand, dried or gently roasted, and made into aromatic teas; other leaves are used to feed silkworms.

Walks and swimming spots

A themed trail accessible to pushchairs adds another option for a walk. Quinten also has natural swimming spots with barbecue areas; some swimming spots may be weather-dependent. These options differ from the longer hikes around Lake Walen and can be considered as separate activities depending on the planned stay.

Discover more destinations: Bad Ragaz, Tannenheim, Flums, Vättis, Oberterzen, Flumserberg, Sargans, Quarten.

Go to the main travel overview: Sarganserland.