Sommeri: Village History, Half-Timbered Houses and Trails

Sommeri is a political municipality and village in the Arbon district of the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland. It lies on the foothills of the Seerücken, north of Amriswil. Green meadows and standard fruit trees shape the landscape. Historically, the village was shaped by arable farming with raised-field landscapes, forestry, fruit growing, grassland farming, and livestock and dairy farming; a cheese dairy opened in 1852. Distinctive half-timbered houses define the townscape in Nieder- and Obersommeri.

St. Mauritius and Sommeri’s History

Sommeri was first mentioned in 905. The church, dedicated to Saint Mauritius, dates from around 700; it acquired its present appearance in the first half of the 15th century. The present complex comprises several structures from different periods: the nave is dated to 1414 (?), the altar was consecrated in 1439, the sacristy dates from 1442, and the choir from the late 15th century.

These dates show how the present-day church developed over the centuries. St. Mauritius is legally protected, classified as particularly valuable, and listed in the ISOS as a protected individual feature. The church thus connects its early history with an appearance shaped by several building phases.

Literature and social history are also part of the village’s history. The author Maria Dutli-Rutishauser repeatedly used Sommeri as a setting in more than thirty published books. In the former “Strickstube,” Anna Schmid and Isa Stähelin created work and employment opportunities for young women with disabilities in 1924. These two stories draw attention both to Sommeri’s role in literature and to a specific social institution.

Landscape, Mariahüsli and Hiking Trails

Green meadows and standard fruit trees shape the landscape, while the half-timbered houses in Nieder- and Obersommeri give the two parts of the village a distinctive architectural character. Mariahüsli has a fire pit and shelter owned by the Niedersommeri Forest Corporation. There are play facilities in the forest, which you should check before visiting. The Sommeri municipal administration handles reservations for Mariahüsli; confirm the arrangements before your arrival.

Stage E01 of the Via Francisca crosses Güttingerwald. As you leave the forest, you can see the village of Sommeri with its strikingly colorful church tower. The suggested hike follows marked trails towards Sommeri and includes a short break at Mariahüsli; it then continues towards Kesswil and Lake Constance. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Local Cuisine

The Löwen cooperative in Sommeri offers creative, regional and seasonal organic products. Restaurant Linde Sommeri serves Portuguese and Swiss cuisine. Check whether the establishments are currently open before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Hefenhofen, Dozwil, Horn, Egnach, Uttwil, Romanshorn, Amriswil, Kesswil.

Back to the main travel overview: Arbon.