Discover Mittelland: Culture, Herbs and Hotels

Mittelland remains a landscape name; the former district structure was formally abolished in 1995. The former district was an administrative unit of the Swiss canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The places described offer different highlights to help you plan your stay: architecture and history, museums, an herb garden, gastronomy and forest themes.

Architecture and history in Trogen

Trogen’s town center is characterized by closely spaced neoclassical stone houses. They were built by the Zellweger merchant family. Their compact layout and distinctive architectural style make the center a special destination for anyone interested in local history and architecture.

The Pestalozzi Children’s Village offers a different historical perspective. It was established in the 1940s as a home and educational center for orphans from countries affected by the Second World War. The grounds, including the play areas, are open year-round, free of charge and around the clock. From Trogen railway station, the Children’s Village is about a ten-minute walk along a signposted, stroller-friendly path. Access information, signs and path conditions may change; check the details before your visit.

Garden, museum and gastronomy in Teufen

Teufen is home to the A.Vogel medicinal plant display garden and the A.Vogel Museum, both associated with naturopathy pioneer Alfred Vogel. Around 120 different medicinal and culinary herbs grow in the display garden. Spontaneous visitors can visit daily free of charge. As access information and the plants in the garden may change, it is worth checking the latest details before your visit. Group tours, public tours and experience days are also offered at the garden; check the current dates.

Above Teufen, Erlebnis Waldegg brings together themed dining experiences. These include the «Schnuggebock» farmhouse, the «Ziträdli» wood-fired bakery and the «Tintelompe» schoolroom. The food is regional and fresh, and the menus change. The bakery makes loaves, plaited breads, spelt breads and Appenzell baked goods such as Biber. At «Ziträdli», visitors can prepare an original Appenzell Biber specialty together. Confirm before booking whether the workshop is available.

Forest themes and route planning in Gais

The Gais Forest Experience Area is set among diverse forests and flowering wet meadows. Around one-hour guided tours explore topics such as trees, shrubs, forest animals, birds and insects. Sustainable forest management and the functions of the forest may also be covered. The Forest Experience Area includes the «Nature Trail of the Senses», with 50 signs and objects that bring together nature-related topics along a dedicated circular route.

The 2024 tourism map lists the «Appenzell Mittelland Route» as 21.9 kilometers long, with 760 meters of ascent and 760 meters of descent, and rates its difficulty as moderate. This information provides a concrete basis for comparing a route with an approximately one-hour guided forest tour. Path conditions and signs may change; check the latest details before setting out.

First choose the experiences that interest you most during your stay, then look for a hotel in Mittelland.

Discover more destinations: Bühler, Speicher, Trogen, Teufen, Gais, Vorderland, Hinterland, Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Go to the main travel overview: Appenzell.