Oberriet: Cave, Rhine and cultural heritage

Oberriet lies in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley on the Rhine; fertile plains and a well-preserved rural character define the municipality. There are several distinct highlights to consider when planning your trip: the water-filled Kobelwald Crystal Cave, Montlinger Bergli with its archaeological traces and protected area, everyday history at the Rothus Museum, and destinations for walks and hikes. Historically, Oberriet is connected with the Reichshof Kriessern, the church history of Montlingen and Blatten Castle. This offers a perspective ranging from regional history and landscape to activities along the Old Rhine.

Kobelwald Crystal Cave

The Kobelwald Crystal Cave is an accessible, water-filled cave with a large crystal deposit and is considered unique in Switzerland. It can only be visited with a cave guide. From the P3 “Tanzplatz” car park, it is about a ten-minute walk to the cave. Allow time for both this walk and the guided tour, and confirm the arrangements before you travel.

Bus route 332 goes directly to Kobelwald and provides access to the Crystal Cave. If you travel by bus, check the timetable for your visit. The guided tour and the walk from P3 are two separate parts of your planning.

History and landscape at Montlinger Bergli

The extensive hilltop of Montlinger Bergli is listed as “Montlingerberg Landscape Protection Area, Object No. 15” in the municipality of Oberriet’s nature and landscape protection inventory. A constructed circular trail offers views from previously inaccessible spots. This makes the hilltop interesting both as a landscape and for its history.

The hillfort was built in the Late Bronze Age, in the 11th century BC. It was around 120 metres long, 27 metres wide and 3.5 metres high; part of it remains visible to this day. St. Anna’s Chapel on the hill contains architectural elements from the 15th century and a small Baroque altar in the auricular style. At the northern foot of the hill lies the fen, listed in the inventory as “Kolbenstein Nature Reserve, Object No. 16”. Its fen vegetation is unique to the region and includes rare and endangered species.

Regional history at the Rothus Museum

The Rothus Museum illustrates rural life and work in the region during the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include peat cutting, woodworking, Rhine floods and regional customs. Visitors can see a blacksmith’s shop, a wheelwright’s workshop, a shoemaker’s workshop and a still-operational mill. Some exhibition details may change; check which workshops and facilities are currently on display before your visit.

The museum building dates back to 1731 at the earliest. A multi-year exhibition focuses on the “Chäs-Chessi” (cheese vat) of the Oberrieter Kienberg cow alpine pasture, which was expanded in 2020. Rheintaler Ribelmais, a regional cornmeal, is also part of the exhibition: it is presented as protected cultural heritage as well as a food and a delicacy. In this way, the museum brings together crafts, regional ways of life and food culture, rather than limiting its history to a single aspect.

Castle ruins and day-trip destinations

Wichenstein Castle Ruins are the only known cave castle in the canton of St. Gallen. They are situated in a rock face on the eastern slope of Semelenberg. The ruins are freely accessible and can be reached via a footpath in about 15 minutes. As the ruins are open to the public, access conditions may change; check them before visiting.

At Blatten Castle Ruins, the residential tower still stands 23 metres high. It has six storeys and walls up to 2.5 metres thick. These dimensions give a concrete impression of the tower’s construction and complement the distinct cave castle of Wichenstein.

Walks, hikes and nature

The Old Rhine is ideal for walks, cycling tours and enjoying nature. The Kadel viewpoint is a destination for family outings, hikes and picnics. In Oberriet and the surrounding area, hikes range from easy walks to more challenging routes. Montlinger Schwamm is a hiking hut in Oberriet SG. You’ll find a variety of ways to enjoy your stay, from a walking route to a cycling tour along the Old Rhine.

Discover more destinations: St. Margrethen, Diepoldsau, Marbach, Rheineck, Altstätten, Berneck, Rüthi, Widnau.

Back to the main travel overview: Rhine Valley.