Gonten - an idyll with history

The high valley of Gonten was already settled in the 11th century. The name is derived from the moor ponds ("gunten") that used to characterise the landscape. Gonten is a popular excursion destination and starting point for many leisure activities, especially in nature.

Dairy farming, cattle breeding and hand embroidery continued to characterise the area well into the 20th century. As part of the pilgrimage route to the Black Madonna in Einsiedeln, Gonten is also part of the Way of St. James and was popular with pilgrims early on, and many a traveller is likely to have spent the night in the "Bären". Since the 17th century, Gonten has even been known as a place of pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary. The parish church of St. Verena with a statue of the Madonna from that time and a crucifix from 1320 is still one of the most famous sights. Furthermore, the Leiden Christ monastery in Jakobsbad can be reached from Gonten on the barefoot path. In addition to the Huus Bären, the Rothuus, built in the 18th century as a burgher's house and painted red, is also historically significant and today serves as a centre for Appenzell and Toggenburg folk music.

Gonten also has a golf course, a cable car to the Kronberg, a rope park and an adventure park. With the first snowflakes, the Gonten high plateau and Appenzellerland are transformed into a winter paradise with countless cross-country skiing routes, winter hiking trails, snowshoe tours, ski slopes and toboggan runs. Gonten even has its own ski lift called Alpsteinblick and a toboggan run from Kronberg down to Jakobsbad.