The Appenzellerland in pictures

Leseprobe Appenzeller Verlag Leseprobe

The Appenzellerland in pictures

Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Die Verwendung der Texte und Bilder, auch auszugsweise, ist ohne schriftliche Zustimmung des Verlags urheberrechtswidrig und strafbar.

Dies gilt insbesondere für die Vervielfältigung, Übersetzung oder die Verwendung in elektronischen Systemen.

Reading sample © Appenzeller Verlag www.appenzellerverlag.ch

Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Die Verwendung der Texte und Bilder, auch auszugsweise, ist ohne schriftliche Zustimmung des Verlags urheberrechtswidrig und strafbar.

Dies gilt insbesondere für die Vervielfältigung, Übersetzung oder die Verwendung in elektronischen Systemen. © Appenzeller Verlag www.appenzellerverlag.ch

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The Appenzellerland in pictures With photos by Carmen Wueest · Marcel Steiner Jolanda Spengler · Katja Nideröst

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The beautiful sides of the Appenzellerland

An Appenzeller picture book: a picture book by four people who love the Appenzellerland and who have been out and about in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden as journalists and photographers for years. A picture book by four professionals who in their work aim to show the beautiful sides of the Appenzellerland in the Appenzeller Magazin, in picture calendars and in specialised books.

The Appenzellerland is situated in the North Eastern part of Switzerland and is completely surrounded by the Canton of St. Gallen.

Smallness is dominant in the Appenzellerland. One per cent of Switzerland’s surface is home to 0.8 per cent of the Swiss population.

The Appenzellerland measures 35 kilometres from east to west and just under 20 kilometres from north to south. This small space encompasses two cantons: Appenzell Ausserrhoden, which is predominantly Protestant, and Appenzell Innerrhoden, which is predominantly Catholic; they separated from each other in 1597 as a consequence of the Reformation – for “as long as both parties please. They shall be free at any time to reunify,” as it is stipulated in Article 17 of the federal arbitrators’ Land Separation Deed. The 400-year-old separation continues to please; a reunification is not on the political agenda on either side.

Towards the south, the Alpstein mountain range constitutes the natural border of the Appenzellerland; on the remaining sides, the borders usually run along hill ranges or follow the course of streams.

To the west, the Appenzellerland merges into the Toggenburg without any topographic border features. On the other sides, “the land everywhere rises like an amphitheatre above the surrounding plain so that from its northern declivity towards Lake Constance, it keeps on rising towards the south and ends in a threefold mountain wall,” as Gabriel Rüsch wrote in his description of the Canton of Appenzell, which was published in 1835.

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The smallness of the Appenzellerland is also reflected in its topography. It is hilly; in the Alpstein, mountainous. There are no large valleys, but countless ravines, hollows and gorges. There are no flat areas of any great size. The Appenzellerland is the country of gullies and hillocks. Together with the traditional scattered settlements, the landscape has a wide variety of charms such as are unlikely to be found elsewhere in a small space like this.

We show the beautiful sides of the Appenzellerland, but we know that there are other sides. As observing photographers, we deliberately leave the unsightly aside. Modern times are taking their toll in the Appenzellerland, too, even if belatedly and more slowly than elsewhere. This is one of the reasons why both visitors and locals experience the Appenzellerland as a corner of a (still) inviolate world. If our book succeeds in showcasing the beautiful sides of the Appenzellerland and its traditions, this will please us. If it also raises an awareness that what is beautiful can only be preserved through every individual person’s conduct, this will please us all the more.

Marcel Steiner, publisher

Wald AR

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Trogen from Neuschwendi, Rehetobel Schwellbrunn Gonten

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Urnäscher Bloch Urnäscher Bloch Schwellbrunner Bloch: boys collecting money

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Cantonal Diet, Appenzell

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Kellersegg, Gais Hochalp, Urnäsch

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Altmann east ridge, with Fählentürm, Fählensee, Wildseeli and Seealpsee

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Altenalpsattel Hoher Kasten Alp Sigel

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Pfannenstiel, Brülisau Alp Soll Brüeltobel