Discover Gonten

Gonten is in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden in eastern Switzerland. There are various themes to choose from when planning your trip: the moorland and its trails, the history and folk music at the Roothuus, and guided tours focusing on water and regional products. The village’s cultural life also includes its Chilbi fair and processions.

Trails through the moorland and Kronberg area

The 5.30-kilometre barefoot trail runs from Jakobsbad via Gonten to Gontenbad. It is an easy themed trail rated T1 on the SAC scale and passes through the Gontenmoos moorland. Along the way is the Toobeschopf, a small museum with historical photographs and tools from the days of peat extraction. The visit thus adds a cultural and historical perspective on Gontenmoos to the route.

The Kronberg sledging route runs from the summit to the valley station in Jakobsbad, covering around 7 kilometres with a vertical drop of 772 metres. In Jakobsbad, Kronberg AG also offers a 1-kilometre bobsleigh run on secure rails. A cross-country ski trail is another of Gonten’s winter activities. The 18-hole golf course in Gonten is set in rolling hills, with the Alpstein massif in the background.

Folk music, architectural history and village traditions

The Roothuus Gonten offers guided tours for groups of up to 25 people. The tour covers the building’s history since 1762, folk music from around the Alpstein and historical instruments. Visitors also get access to the ballroom with its Baroque paintings. Afterwards, they can sing and try their hand at Talerschwingen—a bookable interactive activity that offers a hands-on musical experience.

On the first weekend in September, Gonten celebrates its patron saint, St Verena, with a two-day Chilbi fair. Various market traders sell their products, and village associations run stalls. Processions are also held in Gonten during church festivals such as the Chilbi, and especially on Corpus Christi. Women wear traditional costumes, and associations display their banners.

Guided tours about water and Appenzell products

Goba AG’s public tour in Gontenbad takes place every Thursday from April to the end of October at 9:30 a.m., except on public holidays; advance booking at least 24 hours beforehand is required. Check the specific date in advance, as the seasonal schedule may vary from year to year. The tour includes a visit to the reservoir, a tasting of mineral water directly at the source, and a look at the bottling process. Goba products are also sampled and tasted.

The visitor gallery at Appenzeller Ziegenprodukte AG gives visitors a look inside the production rooms and introduces them to the traditions and customs of the Appenzell region, the Appenzell goat and its products. These can be sampled on site. Since 2011, the viewing area has been open to visitor groups of any size by prior arrangement; tasting the company’s own goat products is a central part of the tour.

If you are looking for a hotel in Gonten, you can plan your travel dates around the activities you have in mind: the Goba tour is seasonal and must be booked in advance, while the Chilbi takes place on the first weekend in September. This makes it easy to distinguish a fixed-date event from other trail and cultural interests.

Discover more destinations: Schlatt-Haslen, Oberegg, Wasserauen, Rüte, Appenzell

Return to the main travel overview: Appenzell Innerrhoden.