Ruggell between marshland, trails and regional culture

Ruggell Marsh: The approximately 90-hectare peatland and nature reserve is located in the very north of Liechtenstein.

Border landscape: Together with the adjacent Bangs Marsh in Vorarlberg, the Ruggell Marsh forms a peatland landscape.

Hiking: The route around the Ruggell Marsh can be walked at any time of year.

Liechtenstein Trail: The fifth stage starts in Ruggell, leads through the Ruggell Marsh to Schellenberg and continues via Mauren to the border at Schaanwald.

Cycling loop: The Three-Country Trail “Movement – Encounters” is 29.7 kilometres long and classified as easy.

Culture: Since 2002, the Küefer-Martis-Huus has been the museum and cultural centre of the Municipality of Ruggell.

Architecture: St. Fridolin Parish Church is a neo-Gothic, single-nave vaulted church with an octagonal choir facing east.

The Ruggell Marsh and the landscape on the northern edge of Liechtenstein

The Ruggell Marsh particularly strongly shapes the character of the municipality. The approximately 90-hectare area is both a peatland and a nature reserve. Its significance extends beyond the local area: the Ruggell Marsh is of international importance. Together with the Bangs Marsh in Vorarlberg, it forms a contiguous peatland landscape whose cross-border character is also reflected in several trail options.

For those interested in nature, the marsh is a destination in its own right. This means that a stay in Ruggell can be planned not only around cultural sites or sporting routes, but also around experiencing a distinctive landscape. The route around the Ruggell Marsh can be walked at any time of year, providing a year-round opportunity to experience this landscape on foot.

The undeveloped slopes of the Eschnerberg within the Municipality of Ruggell are also suitable for walks and short hikes. When planning, the difference between a loop through the marsh and a walk or short hike on the Eschnerberg is relevant, as the two landscapes offer different route ideas.

Hiking trails returning to Ruggell

The “Around the Ruggell Marsh” hiking route leads from Ruggell via Halameder, the customs office, Under Riet and Bangserfeld. It then follows the Rhine or canal embankment back to Ruggell. For a stay based in one fixed location, this return is a clear point of reference when planning the day.

Another option is the fifth stage of the Liechtenstein Trail. It starts in Ruggell, initially leads through the “Ruggell Marsh” nature reserve up to Schellenberg and then through Mauren to the border at Schaanwald. This stage is therefore laid out differently from the loop around the marsh: starting in Ruggell, the trail leads through a longer sequence of neighbouring communities and ends at the border in Schaanwald.

The Three-Country Trail was established by Altstätten, Feldkirch, Meiningen, Ruggell, Rüthi and Sennwald. The participating towns and municipalities are thus part of a trail concept that connects several municipalities and towns in the border region. There are 16 designated stopping points along the trail; each of these locations has an information board about the respective place.

The documented differences help when choosing between the trails: the marsh loop returns to Ruggell, the fifth stage of the Liechtenstein Trail leads to Schaanwald, and the Three-Country Trail is described as an easy 29.7-kilometre cycling loop. If you are travelling on foot, the marsh loop, the Liechtenstein Trail and the walking and short-hiking options on the Eschnerberg are the main possibilities. For a bicycle tour, the Three-Country Trail is the explicitly described option.

Cycling through Ruggell by e-bike

The e-bike stage of the Liechtenstein Trail from Bendern to Schaanwald passes through Ruggell. It is therefore not a circular route returning to Ruggell, but a section between Bendern and Schaanwald. Together with the Three-Country Trail “Movement – Encounters”, it presents a varied picture of ways to get around: one route is documented as an e-bike stage between Bendern and Schaanwald, while the other is an easy 29.7-kilometre cycling loop.

This distinction is important when planning the day. Those who prefer a loop can follow the Three-Country Trail. Those looking for a connection between places will find a differently structured route in the e-bike stage of the Liechtenstein Trail. Both options pass through or over Ruggell, but their routes should not be treated as identical.

Museum, architectural history and parish church

Since 2002, the Küefer-Martis-Huus has been the museum and cultural centre of the Municipality of Ruggell. The building hosts exhibitions on various regional topics, with water as one of the main themes. The building itself was constructed around 1730 and is one of the region’s rare examples of a representative Baroque farmhouse. A visit to the Küefer-Martis-Huus therefore combines a cultural use with a specific architectural-historical testimony.

Another defining cultural site is St. Fridolin Parish Church. It was built between 1897 and 1899 and consecrated to Saint Fridolin on 19 May 1911 by Georgius Schmid von Grüneck, the then Bishop of Chur. Architecturally, it is a neo-Gothic, single-nave vaulted church with an octagonal choir facing east.

For planning your stay, nature, activity and culture can be combined without the individual destinations serving the same function: the Ruggell Marsh represents peatland and nature conservation, the routes described provide opportunities for walks, hikes and cycling, the Küefer-Martis-Huus represents a museum and regional exhibitions, and St. Fridolin Parish Church represents architectural history and sacred architecture. In addition, Widau Leisure Park has football pitches and a beach volleyball court.

Orientation for your stay

Parking is available by the church or at the community hall in Ruggell for the “Around the Ruggell Marsh” route. This information refers to the marsh loop and provides a specific starting point for planning. For the other trails, you should follow their respective described routes: the Liechtenstein Trail continues from Ruggell to Schaanwald, the Three-Country Trail is a circular route, and the e-bike stage runs from Bendern to Schaanwald.

Ruggell is therefore suitable as a starting point for a range of interests: observing a significant peatland landscape, following a marsh route that can be walked year-round, completing a stage of the Liechtenstein Trail, taking an easy cross-border cycling loop or visiting regional cultural sites. Accommodation in Ruggell can thus be chosen to suit the excursions you prefer for your stay.

For the overarching travel overview: Liechtenstein.

Other destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Municipality of Eschen, Municipality of Triesen, Municipality of Triesenberg, Gamprin, Municipality of Vaduz.