A weekend on the Hohe Kasten
Experience
The Hohe Kasten is one of the highlights in the Alpstein and is an ideal starting point for exploring the Alpstein region on foot. Whether for families with children or experienced hikers, there are hiking trails for every taste and fitness level. One of the most popular routes is the «Geological Panorama Trail», which leads from Hoher Kasten via Staubern and Saxerlücke to the Bollenwees mountain inn. The best place to take a break is the Bollenwees mountain inn with a direct view of Lake Fälensee. Especially in the warmer months, the wild and romantic mountain lake invites you to take a cool dip after such a long hike. The four- to five-hour hike can be extended from there as desired.
www.hoherkasten.ch/geologischer-panoramaweg
If you are travelling with children, the family hike Hoher Kasten amor orstseeeli Brülisau is the best option. The easy route runs past green meadows and offers opportunities to stop for a picnic with breathtaking views of the Hoher Kasten and the Alpstein.
www.hoherkasten.ch/familienwanderung
If you're in the mood for a speedy adventure afterwards, hike to the Ruhesitz mountain inn, hire a scooter there and whizz the last three kilometres back to Brülisau at full speed.
Enjoy
A breathtaking panorama rewards those who have climbed the panoramic mountain in Eastern Switzerland on foot or comfortably by cable car: From the summit of Hoher Kasten at 1794 metres above sea level, the view sweeps across six countries on a clear day. The view from the only revolving restaurant in Eastern Switzerland is particularly spectacular and enjoyable. It revolves once around its own axis within an hour and spoils its guests with regional delicacies. The breakfast buffet or the snack platter in the revolving restaurant are particularly popular. At full moon, exclusive gala dinners (from the age of 16) and public evening rides on the Hoher Kasten are also offered.
Reservations in the revolving restaurant at www.hoherkasten.ch or by telephone on +41 (0)71 799 11 17
Combination offers for breakfast buffet or snack platter available at the cash desk or as a voucher.
With five viewing platforms at dizzying heights, the Europa Circular Trail invites you to linger and explore. The 260 metre-long trail circles the striking silhouette of the Kastenkopf and offers views in all directions. It is wheelchair-accessible and therefore also an experience for families with pushchairs. The free telescopes, which can be used to scout out the surrounding peaks, are an attraction not only for young mountain hikers.
Another highlight at the summit is the Alpine Garden with over 300 plant species, which offers a compact and almost complete plant archive of the Alpstein. With 15 adventure stations, the Alpine Garden is explained in a playful way and the life and survival of flora and fauna under alpine conditions is illustrated interactively.
Overnight stay
It is not possible to stay overnight on the Hoher Kasten itself, but there is plenty of accommodation in the surrounding area and in and around Appenzell. In Brülisau, 200 metres from the valley station of the Hoher Kasten cable car, is the Gasthaus Rössli. The beautiful mountain inns in the Alpstein are particularly suitable for hikers: for example the Ruhesitz mountain inn, which is located between Brülisau and the Hoher Kasten and can be reached from both sides within an hour. The mountain inns Plattenbödeli near Sämtisersee and Bollenwees near Fälensee also allow guests to wake up surrounded by nature before the other hikers are on the mountain. www.alpstein.ch
Hotel guests staying three nights or more benefit from attractive offers with the Appenzell holiday card. Further information at appenzell.ch > Accommodation > Appenzell holiday card
Good to know
The cable car operates daily from April to February. (Please check current opening times due to Corona).
In 2020, children and young people up to and including the age of 15 travel free of charge. The revolving restaurant is open throughout the cable car's operating hours. Timetable and exact opening times at: www.hoherkasten.ch/fahrplan
Further information at www.hoherkasten.ch.
Contact: Hoher Kasten Drehrestaurant und Seilbahn AG, Dorf 22, 9058 Brülisau, tel. cable car: +41 (0)71 799 13 22, tel. revolving restaurant: +41 (0)71 799 11 17.