High above the nature reserve, embedded in the Wichenstein, lies a cave castle. The 15-meter-deep cave was probably expanded into a castle by the Wichenstein family in the thirteenth century with a 2-meter-thick front wall. Soon after it was built, rebels from Appenzell destroyed the castle after their victory in the Battle of Stoss.
There are various legends surrounding Wichenstein Castle. There are said to have been underground passages leading down to the plain. Robber barons are also said to have once lived in the castle and their ghosts are said to still haunt the walls today.
The dogs of the robber barons
Once upon a time, the knights Adrian, Udalrich and Beno terrorized the entire Rhine Valley. They sent their dogs after their subjects to reinforce their will. When the three died, the devil banished their souls into the dogs, which still haunt Wichenstein today.
The Treasure of Wichenstein
A long time ago, Rofahans of Oberriet passed by Wichenstein and heard his name being called. Attracted by this, he climbed up to the ruins. He found three men dressed in armor sitting at a table. On the table was a box from which a toad was croaking. The knights promised: "If you can remove the toad, you can keep the box and the treasure hidden inside." But the toad puffed itself up so much that Rofahans fled in panic. The knights complained:
«Woe, woe, woe!
A thousandfold woe, woe, woe!
Now we have to wait another hundred years,
Until a person can come to us,
To redeem us from guilt and evil deeds,
Which each of us has committed in life.
Woe, woe, woe!”
Nature reserve
The large Wichenstein nature reserve with its biotope, set against the backdrop of a mighty limestone wall, is an important nesting site for forest, hedge and water birds. This wetland also provides a habitat for many insects, frogs and amphibians.
Access
There are parking spaces right next to the Swiss family's fireplace. Depending on whether you take the direct or indirect route around the lake, it takes between 15 and 40 minutes to walk to the cave castle.
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