Discover Heiden: Biedermeier Village and Lake Constance Views

Heiden is situated on a terrace in a scenic location high above Lake Constance. The Biedermeier-classical village centre, museums and distinctive buildings give the town a strong cultural and historical character. The walking routes also differ in focus: the Witzweg is an easy one-way trail with joke panels and panoramic views; the Kulturspur is longer and involves more elevation gain. When planning your trip, consider whether you would prefer to focus on local history, architecture, museum visits or a hike.

Village Centre and Reconstruction History

The great fire of 1838 destroyed most of Heiden. The Biedermeier-classical village centre was rebuilt in 1839/40. The church square forms a crossroads for long, straight streets, creating a unified ensemble. The Protestant church tells the story of a later reconstruction: after a fire on 14 August 1936, it was rebuilt by 23 January 1938; its classical exterior was largely preserved.

Museums and Guided Tours

The Henry Dunant Museum is housed in the building where Henry Dunant lived as a recluse in retirement until his death on 30 October 1910. The Peace Bell of Nagasaki, an installation by St. Gallen artist Lucie Schenker, is suspended in front of the museum. The museum is on the ground floor and is accessible without stairs. The exhibition texts are in German; audio versions are available in German, French and English. You can borrow an easy-to-use audio guide. Guided tours and workshops are offered for associations, companies and families; tours are available in German, French and English.

The Heiden Museum presents local history, a natural history cabinet, and exhibits on colonial and museum history. Its guided tours are intended for school classes, groups and interested visitors. The museum also serves as a meeting point for an architecture-focused tour of the village. The guided tour of Heiden covers the origins of the Biedermeier village, the village fire, its history as a health resort and notable people associated with the region; it ends with a small tasting. Check dates and availability in advance.

Church Tower and Swimming Pool

The publicly accessible tower of the Protestant church offers panoramic views across the Lake Constance region and part of the Appenzell Vorderland. Check access arrangements before your visit. During the summer season, visitors can play on the large Chügelibahn marble run in the church tower during the usual tower opening hours. It was built in collaboration with school classes from Heiden.

Heiden swimming pool is a listed monument and is included in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance as Category A, Type E. It opened in July 1932; its functional design represents New Building architecture. Facilities include a certified 50-metre sports pool, a diving pool with 1-, 3- and 5-metre diving boards, an 18 × 15-metre non-swimmers’ pool, and a children’s paddling pool with a slide and a play stream. The water in the 50-metre pool is heated by solar energy. If you are planning a day at the pool, check the latest seasonal information, as opening arrangements may change.

Hiking Trails from Heiden

The Witzweg is an easy, signposted one-way trail from Heiden to Walzenhausen. It is 8 km long, with 260 metres of elevation gain, and takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Around 40 joke panels invite you to stop and smile; along the way, the trail offers panoramic views across Lake Constance towards southern Germany, the Rhine Delta and Bregenz Bay.

The final stage of the Kulturspur Appenzellerland also starts in Heiden. The route to Walzenhausen is 11 km long, takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes, and involves 340 metres of elevation gain. Compared with the Witzweg, it is 3 km longer; the stated walking time is about 45 minutes longer, and the ascent involves an additional 80 metres of elevation gain. The Gesundheitsweg starts in Heiden’s village square and is a 21.1 km themed trail. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Heiden has a railway station served by the Appenzeller Bahn. From Rorschach, the Henry Dunant Museum can be reached by the S25 rack railway, changing trains in Heiden. The Appenzeller Heilbad is on the Heiden–Kaien route and can be reached on foot, by post bus or by private car.

Discover more destinations: Rehetobel, Wald, Grub, Reute, Walzenhausen, Wolfhalden.

Back to the main travel overview: Vorderland.