APPENZELL-AUSSERRHODEN
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Appenzell-Ausserrhoden is a canton of traditions and alpine festivals: ancient customs, mountain villages, and the region's distinctive culture. The name Appenzell comes from the Latin Abbatis Cella, meaning "Abbot's estate."
APPENZELL-AUSSERRHODEN: ICONIC LANDMARKS
Alpine pastures and villages create the atmosphere of traditional rural Switzerland.
The canton of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, or "Outer Appenzell," is nestled among the rolling hills of northeastern Switzerland, where pastures rise in terraces toward the Säntis massif. The settlements here appear scattered and airy, as if each village stood on its own.
The region's main peak, Säntis, rises above the surrounding ridges and serves as a natural landmark. From here, a sweeping panorama opens up: lakes, plains, and mountain ranges merge into a single map of eastern Switzerland.
The canton feels like a vast expanse without a distinct center. Small towns like Herisau lead the quiet lives of artisan settlements, and the region's character is best felt on the roads between villages, where hills alternate with gentle undulations.
The landscape is its greatest treasure. The rolling green hills create a feeling of gentleness rare for an Alpine country. It's a Switzerland without dramatic cliffs, but with a unique coziness. Ausserrhoden doesn't strive to impress with heights. It embraces harmony.
APPENZELL-AUSSERRHODEN: COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
The bear on the canton's symbol recalls the region's origins in old Appenzell.
The name Appenzell comes from the Latin Abbatis Cella , meaning "abbot's estate." This refers to the Abbey of St. Gall , which controlled these lands in the early Middle Ages. By the 11th century, the monastery's influence had become so strong that the entire region essentially developed around it. Later, an Alemannic population and its own political community emerged here, which would become the future canton.
Appenzell's symbol emerged during the struggle for independence from the Abbey of St. Gall. After the uprising of 1401, the region's inhabitants began using a banner featuring a black bear on a silver field . The bear stood on its hind legs and had a determined appearance — much like the Appenzell people themselves, who were gradually asserting their autonomy. In 1513, Appenzell became the last of the thirteen old cantons to join the Swiss Confederation. The bear coat of arms became the official symbol of the region.
However, at the end of the 16th century, the canton's internal religious map became divided. After the Reformation, some communities adopted Protestantism, while others remained Catholic. The conflict proved so serious that in 1597 the canton was divided into two parts: Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden .
Innerrhoden was allowed to keep its old coat of arms with the bear. Ausserrhoden, however, had to slightly modify its symbolism. The bear remained, but the letters V and R were added — an abbreviation of the Old German name Ussere Rhoden, meaning "outer districts." The spelling with a "V" is explained by a curious linguistic detail. In old orthography, the U sound was often represented by the letter V, since the Latin tradition had long confused these letters. Thus, the bear appeared on the coat of arms, accompanied by the mysterious letters VR.
The end of the 18th century brought a period of revolution to Switzerland. In 1798, Napoleon's French troops occupied the country, establishing the Helvetic Republic —a centralized state modeled on France. Under the new rules, the old cantonal and city symbols were considered relics of feudalism and were to be abolished. The territory of Appenzell was incorporated into the new administrative canton of Säntis , which also included the neighboring regions of St. Gallen, Rheintal, and Innerrhoden.
Legend tells a curious story. When a French officer noticed the Ausserrhoden coat of arms, featuring a bear and the letters VR, he ordered it removed as a symbol of the old order. Then one resourceful resident explained that the letters didn't represent the canton's name at all, but the slogan "Vive la République!" — "Long live the Republic." The Frenchman liked this suggestion, and the coat of arms was supposedly allowed to remain.
Historians, however, treat this story with caution. In fact, between 1798 and 1803, the canton used the symbols of the Helvetic Republic. But the legend fits so well with the character of the locals that it lives on in Appenzell stories.
Today, the bear remains a central figure in local heraldry. A veritable "bear zoo" can be found on the coats of arms of the canton's municipalities. In some cases, the bear stands, in others, walks, sometimes holds objects, or performs seemingly peaceful activities. In some cases, it almost looks like a villager who has briefly taken a break from his work to glance at the city's coat of arms.
Thus, the bear became not just a symbol of strength, but a distinctive sign of local identity. After all, if there's one canton in Switzerland where the bear feels at home, it's certainly Appenzell.
APPENZELL-AUSSERRHODEN: FUN FACTS
Of the New Year's traditions that can be scary.
In Appenzell, New Year's is celebrated twice — on December 31st and January 13th, according to the old Julian calendar. At dawn, when the Alps are bathed in a cold blue light, dozens of cowbells begin to ring across the Urnäsch Valley. These are the "Silvesterchlaus" — New Year's mummers. Groups of six people, called "schuppel," circle the farms. They wear belts with enormous bells on their shoulders and chests — sometimes up to thirteen per person. Rhythmically swaying and bouncing, they create an almost hypnotic sound.
The costumes are a work of art in themselves. The "beautiful" wear velvet and porcelain masks, the "ugly" wear horns, bones, and straw, and the "forest" decorate their outfits with moss, pine cones, and bark. After performing an ancient festive yodel, they wish the hosts a happy year — and receive money and treats for it. A tradition in which bells simultaneously ward off evil spirits and wake up neighbors.
Comments