Heiden: Biedermeier Townscape, Museums and Hiking Trails

Heiden sits prominently on a hilltop and offers far-reaching views as far as Lake Constance. The town is situated at an altitude of 790 metres, around 400 metres above Lake Constance, between Kaien, Bischofsberg and Freudenberg. Its townscape, museums and themed trails offer different ways to shape a stay: you can explore its architectural history, learn about Henry Dunant and regional history, or plan hikes with a range of themes and distances.

Townscape and Biedermeier in Heiden

The village centre was rebuilt in 1839/40 according to a development plan following the great fire of 1838. Its Biedermeier and neoclassical character is also evident in the rectangular church square: it lies at the intersection of long, straight streets and is surrounded by public buildings with gabled façades. Heiden also offers the opportunity to explore late neoclassical architecture as part of the local architectural heritage.

The Biedermeier Festival celebrates the village’s historical character, transforming it into a 19th-century setting. It takes place every four years. Around 400 people in historical dress take part, and a market featuring traditional crafts is among its recurring attractions. Programme details may vary from one edition to the next. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the date and programme for the relevant edition.

Museums and places of remembrance

The Heiden Museum brings several subject areas together under one roof: local and regional history, natural history, colonial history and culture. Guided tours are offered for school classes, groups and interested visitors. Regional history is presented interactively through tours and exhibitions. The museum therefore focuses not on just one historical subject, but on a broader picture of the region and its culture.

The Henry Dunant Museum is dedicated to the visionary initiator of the International Red Cross. The Genevan spent the last 20 years of his life in Heiden. The museum’s connection to Dunant is therefore different from the Heiden Museum’s wide-ranging subject matter: here, the focus is on one particular person and their connection to the town.

Hiking trails, viewpoints and themes

An easy hike from Heiden leads in the direction of Grub AR and over a 180-metre-long suspension bridge to Grub SG; from there, continue to Fünfländerblick. The viewpoint offers views across Lake Constance and of the five regions of Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden. The church tower also offers far-reaching views: 157 steps lead to the tower room, from which you can see across Lake Constance and far beyond its German and Austrian shores. Check the latest information on access and visiting hours before your visit.

The Witzweg trail from Heiden to Walzenhausen explores the history of Appenzell humour, explained along the way by wooden audio stations. The route is 7.8 kilometres long, with a walking time of around two and a half hours. The Chindlistei Trail from Heiden takes a similar amount of time: it is 7.7 kilometres long and also takes around two and a half hours to walk. This natural, mystically described circular trail has six marked places of power and views stretching from Lake Constance to Säntis. When choosing between these two routes, the theme and scenery may therefore be decisive: Appenzell humour on one, places of power and views on the other.

The Health Trail offers circular hikes starting in Heiden, with 10- and 14-kilometre options. Its features include views of Vorarlberg, Lake Constance and the Allgäu, as well as an herb walk focused on medicinal plants. The Peace Stations take a different approach: the 11.8-kilometre trail connects Heiden, Wolfhalden, Lutzenberg and Walzenhausen and commemorates figures associated with peace, humanity and solidarity.

Getting there and planning your stay

Heiden can be reached hourly by cog railway from Rorschach Harbour. Since 1875, the Rorschach–Heiden Mountain Railway has connected Heiden to the Swiss rail network at Rorschach. Open summer carriages also operate on the line; take this seasonal service into account when planning your trip. Check the latest timetable before travelling. When planning a stay in Heiden, it helps to decide first what you would like to focus on: the townscape and museums, a particular themed hike, or a visit to the Biedermeier Festival will each call for a different day plan. This lets you look for a hotel in Heiden that suits your planned trip, without combining the different sights and trails into a single itinerary.

For the wider travel overview: Niederbüren.