Heidiland
Heidiland is a tourism region in eastern Switzerland, spanning the cantons of St. Gallen and Graubünden around the Walensee, the Flumserberg and Pizol mountains, the spa town of Bad Ragaz, the Taminatal valley and the Bündner Herrschaft wine region. The landscape is dominated by the fjord-like Walensee, steep Alpine peaks such as the Churfirsten, and the UNESCO World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona, where the formation of the Alps is visible. It is a largely rural, nature-rich area with small towns and villages, the historic spa resort of Bad Ragaz at its centre, and the wine-growing villages of the Bündner Herrschaft. The region is world-famous as the setting of Johanna Spyri's Heidi story, with Maienfeld as its heart. It offers a strong cultural life tied to the Heidi myth, thermal bathing traditions and Alpine heritage, alongside extensive hiking, biking and winter sports.
Summer activities
In summer, Heidiland is a paradise for hikers and cyclists. The Flumserberg offers 150 kilometres of hiking trails and 13 kilometres of bike pistes, while the Pizol is known for its famous 5-Lakes Hike and family theme trails such as the Heidipfad and the MounTeens detective trail. The fjord-like Walensee invites swimming at free pebble beaches and water sports such as stand-up paddling, kayaking and wakeboarding, with boat trips to the car-free wine village of Quinten. The Murgtal valley offers the largest sweet chestnut forest north of the Alps and a renowned bouldering area, while the Weisstannental and the UNESCO Sardona region offer wild waterfalls and guided wildlife tours. Bad Ragaz rounds off the summer with its 36.5°C thermal water and golf courses.
Winter activities
Heidiland is a versatile winter destination. The Flumserberg, the largest ski area between Zurich and Chur, offers 65 kilometres of pistes, while the Pizol adds 50 kilometres of varied slopes, both with night skiing and winter hiking trails. Cross-country skiing is available on gentle beginner loops at the Flumserberg and more demanding trails in the Taminatal, and there are snowshoe tours at Pizol, Flumserberg and Schönhalden. Sledding runs include the family-friendly 3.5-kilometre route at the Pizol and the challenging Prodalp-Tannenheim run at the Flumserberg, with night sledding on offer. Small ski lifts at Mastrils and St. Margrethenberg complete the offer.
Culture and entertainment
Heidiland's cultural life is strongly shaped by the Heidi myth, with the original Heididorf in Maienfeld, the Heidiweg and the Heidialp bringing Johanna Spyri's story to life. The region also offers a rich heritage of thermal bathing, centred on the Taminaschlucht gorge and the Altes Bad Pfäfers, the oldest preserved Baroque bathhouse in Switzerland. Castles and museums such as Schloss Sargans, the Gonzen mine and the Paxmal peace monument add historical depth, while the triennial Bad RagARTz open-air sculpture exhibition and the Kulturhaus Verrucano in Mels anchor contemporary art and performing arts. Festivals, wine events, alp descents and the Wagentheater touring theatre round out a lively cultural calendar.
