St. Margrethen: Nature, mineral spa and fortress history

St. Margrethen is a town and political municipality in the Rheintal electoral district of the canton of St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland. For your stay, you can choose from a range of interests: flat walking paths in the Eselschwanz area, a mineral spa that has been in operation for over 300 years, water activities at Bruggerhorn, and the history of the fortress and castle. If you are looking for a hotel, first decide which theme you want to shape your stay.

Walks and ponds at Eselschwanz

Eselschwanz is a nationally important amphibian spawning area, and the flat paths in the area are suitable for leisurely walks. This lets you enjoy the natural surroundings while following clearly defined walking routes. The round Eselschwanz pond and the rectangular Kibag pond were created by gravel extraction in the last century. Their shapes distinguish the two bodies of water, while their shared origins reflect the area’s former gravel extraction.

Fortress history and castle ruins

The Heldsberg artillery casemate complex was planned in 1938; local construction companies completed Heldsberg Fortress within two years. The Heldsberg Fortress Museum offers guided visits for groups throughout the year by prior arrangement. If you are planning a guided visit for a group, making a reservation is part of the preparation.

Another historical option is the ruins of Grimmenstein Castle. Konrad von Falkenstein built the castle around 1250. The ruins lie in the forest on a prominent rocky ridge between two stream ravines and offer views of the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance. They are freely accessible year-round, but can only be reached on foot; take this into account when planning your visit. The visiting conditions are therefore quite different: group tours at Heldsberg require a reservation, while Grimmenstein can only be reached on foot.

Mineral spa and water activities

St. Margrethen has had a mineral spa for over 300 years. The water is 36°C. The sauna areas include steam baths, bio saunas and Finnish saunas, as well as experience showers, foot baths, plunge pools and an ice room. Check the mineral spa’s current operating information when planning your visit.

The pools at Bruggerhorn differ in their features. The teaching pool is about 18 metres long and has three swimming lanes. The paddling pool is about 30 centimetres deep and has a small bubbling fountain. The fun pool has a water slide and is separated off by a climbing net. Each pool therefore has different features: swimming lanes in the teaching pool, shallow water in the paddling pool, and a slide and separation in the fun pool.

Bruggerhorn lido and Bruggerhorn campsite are located by a small lake. Facilities include a 3-metre diving tower, a beach volleyball court, a family water slide and a large sunbathing lawn.

Plan your journey

Trains stop in St. Margrethen four times an hour; the town also has a direct connection to the A1 and A13 motorways. This gives you information about getting there by train and by road, which you can compare with your specific route. As timetables may change, check the current train connections before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Altstätten, Widnau, Rheineck, Au, Berneck, Diepoldsau, Rüthi, Balgach.

Go to the main travel overview: Rheintal.