Toggenburg: Sound, Culture and Mountain Landscapes
Accommodation in Toggenburg
Between the Churfirsten and the Alpstein, Toggenburg reveals a mosaic of hills, peaks, plains and valleys. It is also home to hiking trails, moorlands, and a distinctive tradition of sound and culture. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between nature experiences, sound art and regional history.
For geographical context: Since 1 January 2003, the Toggenburg constituency has been an administrative unit of the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. Its area covers 488.59 km² and ranges from 521 to 2,502 metres above sea level.
Hiking between peaks and moorlands
The Toggenburg holiday region has several hundred kilometres of hiking trails. Options range from easy paths to alpine tours; routes lead, among other places, to bodies of water, along the Churfirsten and through raised bogs. This lets you plan days outdoors amid a variety of landscapes, rather than having every trail offer the same kind of experience.
A hike to the moorland on the Wolzenalp starts at the mountain station of the cable car. The raised bog is home to orchids, sundew, gentian, bogbean and hare’s-tail cottongrass, among other plants. Which plants you see varies with the season. The Neckertal treetop walk offers a different experience: stretching for 500 metres through the treetops of the Toggenburg forest, it has a viewing platform 55 metres above the ground. The path is open year-round.
Sound trails and Klangwelt
The Sound Trail leads from Alp Sellamatt via Iltios to Oberdorf. Along the route are 27 stations by renowned Swiss and international sound artists. The trail is accessible by mountain railway from Wildhaus and Alt St. Johann; the railway timetables vary by season. Check the current operating times before your visit. A 2.5-kilometre section of the Sound Trail is wheelchair-accessible and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
Klangwelt Toggenburg also invites visitors to listen and experiment. Its upper floors form an interactive experience centre where experimentation is positively encouraged. Using modern audio technology, the Klangdom offers an introduction to three-dimensional soundscapes drawn from nature and other sources. The Peter Roth Resonance Centre combines an audiovisual presentation with themes including the Klanghaus, Peter Roth’s work and ideas, and resonance, nature and culture. The ground floor also introduces the traditional craft of making cowbells.
Regional culture and architecture
Living traditions, sound, crafts, the alpine farming community and culinary customs are part of everyday life in Toggenburg. Cheese specialities are part of the region’s food culture. The Toggenburg Museum is dedicated to the culture and history of Toggenburg. Visitors interested in technical collections can find Europe’s largest model railway layout in 0 gauge and at a scale of 1:45 at the Erlebniswelt Toggenburg; it also houses a collection of vintage motorcycles.
In the Chäserrugg area, landscape and architecture come together: the summit building and the Stöfeli cable car stations were designed by Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron and offer a cultural experience. The area is included in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments. The local cuisine is also shaped by regional specialities.
Waterscapes and special trails
Schönenbodensee lies in a protected moorland landscape. A bathing facility with a large jetty has been there since 1930, and pedal boats are also available to rent. Seasonal offerings may vary. The Thur Waterfalls are about a ten-minute walk from the village centre of Unterwasser. Three rock galleries can be entered with sturdy, non-slip footwear; conditions may change after weather events.
The Necki Trail offers yet another way to explore the area: it leads across meadows and through forests, over bridges and boardwalks, and past streams and rapids to special places in the Neckertal. The Sound Trail and the Necki Trail offer different hiking themes, while the moorland, treetop walk and waterside destinations provide further nature experiences. If you’re looking for a hotel in Toggenburg, you can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Nesslau, Sankt Peterzell, Mosnang, Alt Sankt Johann, Wildhaus, Krinau, Ebnat-Kappel, LĂĽtisburg, Brunnadern, Libingen, Stein, Wattwil, Hemberg, Kirchberg, BĂĽtschwil, Lichtensteig, Mogelsberg, Oberhelfenschwil, Nesslau-Krummenau, Ganterschwil.
For the overview of the wider region: Sankt Gallen.
