The small «Berggasthaus» beneath the cliffs in canton Appenzell is one of the most famous destinations in Switzerland. Situated amongst the Alpstein mountains, visitors ride the cable-car from Wasserauen to Ebenalp, then take a fifteen-minute walk down a relatively easy path to the guest house by way of two caves.

The first cave through which visitors pass contains an interesting array of features and references to archeological finds at the beginning of the twentieth century, including the remains of bears, mountain lion and stone age tools dating back to the palaeolithic era. The second cave contains an open-air chapel, at which services are still held on several occasions during the year.

The famous “guest house” – or a version of it – has been nestled against the cliff a short distance from the caves since hermits lived there: the first dwellings dated back to the middle of the seventeenth century, whilst the current building dates back to the early nineteenth century.

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