Lake Next To Werdenberg

Werdenberg is one of the smallest towns in Switzerland, a cluster of wooden houses on the edge of a small lake in the Rhine valley, in the canton of St. Gallen, close to the border with Liechtenstein. The town consists of little more than a single street, called the Stättli, lined with timber houses, and a castle on a rocky hill behind. The lake, the Werdenbergersee, lies right next to it, a small, calm body of water with reeds and a few paths, and it gives the town a setting that is quite unlike any other. The lake and the old town form a protected landscape, and the contrast of dark wooden gables, still water and the green slopes beyond is the main attraction.

The history of Werdenberg explains its look. The castle was built in the thirteenth century by the counts of Werdenberg, who founded the town at its foot to support their rule over the Rhine valley. The settlement received its town rights, but it never grew, and it remained a tiny place as the nearby settlements developed. That lack of growth is the reason it survived intact. The houses of the Stättli, built mostly of wood with steep roofs, date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and are among the best-preserved examples of timber building in the region. A row of old wooden houses, set at the edge of the lake, makes up the timber house settlement, which is a notable feature of the town and a rare example of such an ensemble in Switzerland.

Walking around the lake takes a short while, and the path offers views of the town with its reflection in the water, which is especially photogenic in the early morning and on still evenings. The lake is a haven for waterbirds, and reeds and trees along the shore provide cover for ducks, herons and other species. The area is protected, so visitors are asked to stay on the paths and to keep dogs on a lead. Swimming is not the main activity here, and anyone who wants to swim should check the local rules and conditions first.

The castle stands on the hill above the town, and it houses a small museum on the history of the region and the lords of Werdenberg. It can be reached by a short, steep path, and the castle courtyard offers views over the Rhine valley toward the mountains of the Alpstein and Liechtenstein. Another historic building in the Stättli houses a local museum that shows how people lived in the town in earlier centuries, and a small café or restaurant in the town offers refreshments. Opening times of the castle and the museums vary by season, so check the details before you go.

Werdenberg is reached by bus or on foot from the nearby town of Buchs, which has a main railway station with connections to Zürich, Chur and Vienna. The walk from Buchs takes about twenty minutes. The town suits walkers, photographers, history readers and families, and a visit takes one to two hours. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles and the castle path, and bring a camera.