It's a beautiful cathedral! It's a fine example of Baroque architecture inside and outside. The…read morevaulted and arched ceilings are all encased with beautifully detailed frescoes featuring St. Gallus along with Biblical figures and cherubs. The color scheme of the ceiling and trim (aqua, coral, and gold) really highlights these paintings. The contrast with the white columns makes it look like a colorful tiered topping on a wedding cake. It may not be as ornate as the cathedrals in Italy, but it's most certainly elegant in style. The one common thing that I did notice in the cathedrals of Switzerland is that there is still a separation between the sacred part of the church (or chancel) and the rest of sanctuary. It's nice that they've kept that tradition, but it doesn't allow visitors to truly see everything. I would have loved to see the Bell of St. Gallen, but that whole area is gated by the tall screen. Maybe it's to protect all of these religious symbols. Can you tell that I'm not Catholic? The facade of the cathedral is just as beautiful with the clock towers and statues. It's the main focal point in St. Gallen as it should be. The city around it is very charming as well. Make sure you take a walk around the grounds and city while you're there. There's all kinds of medieval architecture to discover while you're there. Very enjoyable!

This church is a must if you are visting St.Gallen!!!read more

It's the fairytale Swiss village that borders Germany along the High Rhine River near Lake…read moreConstance. I found the Old Town to be very pedestrian friendly since it's a car-free zone. It truly allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of the intricately painted half-timbered buildings in Rathaus Square along with a nice stroll along the river. It's especially a relaxing place to visit on a sunny day. You'll see a mix of tourists and locals enjoying the weather. The square is lined with cafés and shops. It's a great place for lunch or dinner before or after visiting the nearby Rhine Falls and/or Hohenklingen Castle. We enjoyed seeing some of the historical landmarks. The Witch Tower was built for defense, but then it became a prison. It was also used during the witch trials. The last execution of an accused witch here was in 1667. How creepy is that? It's like Switzerland's Salem. We just happened to see it after walking through the Untertor gate on our way to the river. But honestly, the main attraction here is the Rathaus Square. It was so cool just to experience a traditional local meal while looking up at the clock tower in the middle of Old Town. It was a beautiful day!

This is another beautiful Swiss town that deserves a visit. It's located in the canton of the same…read morename. It is here where you can take the railway to Wasserauren for that gondola ride up to the restaurant in the cliff of Ebenalp. It's also a great starting point for anyone wanting to make the journey up to Mount Säntis via the gondola from Schwägalp. It's known mostly for the dairy farming & production of Appenzeller cheese. Although, we thought that the local brewery and their famous Quöllfrisch beer was equally as wonderful. There is a nice car park that is directly across the street from Appenzeller Bier. Just start at the brewery and walk your way up through the city center. You'll discover other things along the way such as unique woodworks, cows decorated in flowers (during the seasonal cow parades), and beautifully painted Swiss architecture. There's folk dancing and yodeling festivities throughout the year celebrating their love of tradition. We simply enjoyed taking in the rural view of the rolling green hills leading up to the mountains. It was a great visit!

The Old Rathaus. Nice style and paintings outside.read more