Fruit Orchard Route

The route starts on Lake Constance in Arbon. The Möhl distillation and juice museum shows how sweet cidre is made. Near Roggwil we wind along a green ridge past the mighty fortified tower of the Mammertshofen Castle. 

We follow a main road from Wittenbach to the Abbey District of St.Gallen, passing a densely populated area to reach Herisau, the main hamlet of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, which has managed to retain its village character.

The next challenge is to conquer the foothills of the Säntis mountain, a green rolling landscape with scattered farmhouses, mostly dairy and fruit farms. The route passes through apple and pear orchards, continuing up to Schwellbrunn at 1000 m, then down again into the deep, rugged canyon of the Necker (750 m). The next ascent to over 1000 m is rewarded at the top of the hill with the pretty houses of Hemberg and a panoramic view of the Säntis and Toggenburg mountains.