We start the round trip through the Swiss Canton of Appenzell in Rheineck at Lake Constance. The village lies between the end of the RHINE valley and the Rhine delta, just before the Old Rhine flows into Lake Constance.

Romanshorn is our next stop. The now popular boat harbour used to be an important junction for stagecoaches and waterway traffic. It has since become a modern industrial town that does not find itself at odds with the Lake Constance leisure paradise.

Constance belongs to Germany, but is located directly on the border to Switzerland. It always lay on the route from medieval Germany over the Swiss Alpine passes to Italy. And the long-distance trade brought great wealth to the city.

Passing through Schaffhausen and about 4 kilometres downstream follows a world-famous natural wonder - the Rhinefall. It is the largest waterfall in Central Europe - only 23 meters high, but 150 meters wide. A natural spectacle that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Saint Gallen is alluring with its crooked alleys with late-Gothic half-timbered houses, which with the magnificent splendour of their oriels affirm the wealth of the rich builders. From there the private Appenzell Railway leads past several small villages to the eponym of the region.

The Catholic Appenzell - a place of hospitality, where tradition and customs have been largely preserved despite international tourism. Gabled houses shine with their magnificent facade paintings and forged guild signs, which also recall the times of golden and honourable craftsmanship.

In Saint Gallen and the Canton Appenzell history and culture have been heart-warmingly preserved.