Brunnadern: Historic Buildings and Cultural Trail

Brunnadern is a part of the municipality of Neckertal in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. There are different things to focus on when choosing a destination: protected architectural heritage, hiking trails and scenic impressions along the Necker. Historic houses and an easy cultural trail hike each offer a different perspective on the village and its surroundings.

Historic Buildings and Cultural Landscape

Brunnadern has a protected village landscape. The Vorstadel house dates from the 16th century and was extended in the 17th century. It is one of the Protestant pilgrims’ hostels along the Way of St. James. Brunnadern’s Protestant church was built by H. U. Grubenmann in 1763 and is protected as a monument of national importance. The Grosshaus, the municipality’s largest old residential building, stands by the south portal.

The Taa multi-purpose building dates from 1798. As a farmstead, it comprises a dwelling, a barn, a weaving cellar and an embroidery workshop. Residential life, farming and textile work all come together in this one building. The covered Tös wooden bridge was built in 1784 and is the oldest surviving covered wooden bridge over the Necker. Together with the church and houses, it adds historic infrastructure and architectural styles to the picture of Brunnadern.

The cultural landscape also shapes the character of the area. Furth–Spreitenbach is a dispersed settlement with imposing farmhouses and traditionally farmed land; Furth is a protected cultural landscape. In the hamlet of Furt between Brunnadern and St. Peterzell, the Necker forms a calm, relatively deep pool below a rock ledge. There is a small sunbathing lawn on the bank.

Hiking Trails and Destinations Along the Necker

The Brunnadern cultural trail is an easy hiking route that takes 3.5 to 4 hours and can be shortened. The route runs from Brunnadern via Spreitenbach, Unterreitenberg, Schwendi and Furt, then back to Brunnadern. It is an option if you are planning a hike that returns to its starting point; the route length can be adjusted by taking a shortcut.

The hike “Säntisblick über dem Neckertal” has a different endpoint: it finishes with a descent to Brunnadern railway station. This is a practical distinction for planning—the cultural trail returns to Brunnadern, while this hike ends at the station. The “Neckiweg Abschnitt Brunnadern-Oberhelfenschwil” is a themed trail. The Neckiweg includes play stations with activities such as damming water and building bridges.

The small park by the Necker is close to the village and can be reached on foot from the railway station in just a few minutes. If you arrive by train, you can include the short walk there in your orientation around the village. The park and the pool at Furt offer different impressions of the Necker: a park close to the village on the one hand, and a pool below a rock ledge with a small sunbathing lawn on the other.

Events and Getting There

The Bruggekino takes place on the Tös bridge every August. A new theatrical production is also staged in Brunnadern every two years. The two events follow different schedules: the Bruggekino takes place in August, while the theatrical production is staged every other year. If either event is important to your trip, check the specific dates in advance.

Brunnadern can be reached by train from Uznach, St. Gallen or Schaffhausen. Check the current timetable for your journey. This will help you coordinate your travel plans with the train connections and—with your interests in mind—the historic buildings, a hike or the area around the Necker.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Peterzell, Krinau, Kirchberg, Wattwil, Stein, Bütschwil, Nesslau-Krummenau, Mosnang

Back to the main travel overview: Toggenburg.