Cheese & Chocolate — Eastern Switzerland

Switzerland is world-famous for two gastronomic treasures: its cheese and its chocolate. Yet few visitors have the opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship of these centuries-old traditions. This gourmet small group excursion takes you to the heart of Eastern Switzerland, an unspoilt and authentic region, for a day combining artisan discovery, tastings and bucolic landscapes.

The journey begins with a drive through the rolling hills of Appenzell, a canton that embodies rural Switzerland at its most genuine. Here, the green hills are dotted with traditional farms whose facades are painted with pastoral scenes, herds of cows graze freely in lush Alpine meadows, and the inhabitants carry on traditions that are centuries old. In spring, the annual cattle drive up to the Alpine pastures (the Alpaufzug) is the occasion for colourful festivities that draw crowds. This enchanting setting is the perfect backdrop for understanding the origins of the products that have made Swiss cuisine famous worldwide.

The Appenzell Cheese Dairy — 700 Years of Tradition

The cheese dairy visit is a highlight of the day. In a traditional workshop, a master cheesemaker reveals every step of the production of Appenzeller, a cheese with a unique character aged using a secret herbal brine whose recipe has been kept confidential for over 700 years. You witness the curdling of fresh milk, the pressing of the wheels and discover the ageing cellars where hundreds of cheeses patiently mature. The tasting that follows allows you to compare different stages of ageing — from mild to extra mature — accompanied by country bread and local white wine.

In the afternoon, the focus turns to an artisan chocolate workshop. The master chocolatier traces the journey of the cocoa bean from tropical plantations to the refined pralines you will taste. Roasting, conching, tempering: every step is explained with passion and illustrated through live demonstrations. The tasting that follows — truffles, ganaches, tablets with Piedmont hazelnuts — is a moment of pure indulgence that delights every palate.

The Art of Swiss Chocolate and the Village of Appenzell

The day concludes with a stroll through the medieval village of Appenzell, where time seems to have stood still. Its colourful houses, artisan shops and peaceful atmosphere make it one of the most photographed villages in Switzerland. Your guide tells the story of the Landsgemeinde, the open-air popular assembly that has been held here every year since the Middle Ages — a living testament to Swiss direct democracy.

Eastern Switzerland, with its rolling hills, traditional farms and preserved villages, offers a face of Switzerland radically different from the Alpine peaks. Appenzell, in particular, is one of the most authentic and endearing regions in the country — a territory where centuries-old traditions remain alive.

Appenzell — Village of Painted Facades

Appenzell, the capital of the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, is a village whose pedestrianised centre seems frozen in time. The Hauptgasse (main street) lines up houses with brightly painted facades — some adorned with naive paintings depicting scenes of rural life, others decorated with allegorical frescoes. The butcher shops display the famous Appenzell sausages (Appenzeller Pantli and Siedwurst), traditionally dried at the windows. The Appenzell Museum, housed in the historic Town Hall, traces the local culture and traditions, particularly the Landsgemeinde — the open-air popular assembly where citizens still vote by show of hands, the last direct democracy of its kind in Switzerland.

The Appenzeller Schaukäserei demonstration dairy in Stein is an unmissable experience. Here you discover the secrets behind the famous Appenzeller cheese, whose herbal brine recipe (Kräutersulz) has been a closely guarded secret for over 700 years — only two people in the world know the exact formula. A tasting of three different stages of ageing (Classic, Surchoix, Extra) lets you appreciate the full palette of flavours of this unique cheese.

The Appenzeller Cheese Dairy and Its Secrets

The Säntis (2,502 m), the highest peak in the Alpstein massif, is accessible by cable car from Schwägalp. From the summit, the panorama extends across six countries on clear days — Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France and Italy. The Säntis weather station, operational since 1882, has recorded some of the most extreme conditions in Europe. The ridge trail to Rotsteinpass crosses a lunar karst landscape with spectacular rock formations.

The Seealpsee, an Alpine lake nestled in a mountain cirque in the Alpstein at 1,143 m, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. Reachable in a 1-hour-15-minute hike from Wasserauen, its emerald-green waters reflect the steep limestone walls surrounding it. The two Alpine guesthouses by the lake serve fresh Alpine cheese, cow's milk and rösti prepared over a wood fire — an authentic mountain gastronomic experience.

Säntis and Seealpsee

St. Gallen, the capital of Eastern Switzerland, houses a major cultural treasure: the Abbey of St. Gall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its baroque library, one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world, holds 170,000 volumes including illuminated manuscripts from the 8th century. The reading room, with its frescoed ceiling and gilded woodwork, is a masterpiece of Rococo architecture. The old town of St. Gallen is also renowned for its 111 colourful oriel windows, even more than Schaffhausen.

Lake Constance (Bodensee), the third largest lake in Europe shared between Switzerland, Germany and Austria, is reachable in 30 minutes from St. Gallen. Lake cruises connect Rorschach (Swiss side) to Constance, Lindau and Bregenz. Mainau Island, the 'Flower Island', is a 45-hectare subtropical garden with butterfly greenhouses, a Baroque palace and giant sequoias.

St. Gallen and the UNESCO Library

The Toggenburg, a pre-Alpine valley between Säntis and the Churfirsten range, is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. The Klangweg (Sound Trail), between Wildhaus and Alp Sellamatt, is a fun 2.5-hour route lined with outdoor sound installations — giant xylophones, Aeolian harps and water instruments that turn the hike into a musical experience.

Gastronomically, Eastern Switzerland is the kingdom of cheese — Appenzeller, Tilsiter, Toggenburger — and craft beer (the Schützengarten brewery in St. Gallen, founded in 1779, is the oldest brewery in Switzerland). The Biberli of Appenzell, honey and almond biscuits filled with marzipan, are the iconic sweet treat of the region.

Lake Constance and Mainau Island

Lake Constance (Bodensee), less than an hour from Appenzell, is the third largest lake in Central Europe. Its Swiss shores, between Rorschach and Romanshorn, offer peaceful promenades and terraced vineyards. Mainau Island, on the German side, is a 45-hectare subtropical botanical garden known as the 'Flower Island'. Accessible by boat, it makes a perfect side trip to extend your discovery of Eastern Switzerland.