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culture
                                                            international




                   Wildkirchli, in the next cave. It is believed to be
                   holy, so make sure to stop there.

                   Aescher:  One  last  turn  around  the  cliff  –  and
                   you will see the iconic “cover page” image, which
                   truly is worth more than a thousand words. It is
                   the famous Aescher restaurant; one of the oldest
                   mountain  guesthouses  in  Switzerland.  The
                   sight  is  overwhelming:  a  mysterious  blue  lake
                   surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks. Make
                   a  stop  there  for  a  meal;  the  fresh  ingredients
                   are all delivered by helicopter, and the caves are
                   used as a big fridge. If you sit on the terrace you
                   can  admire  the  view,  but  if  you  go  inside  the
                   restaurant  you  can  still  see  the  panorama  and
                   you will also realize that you are sitting in a cave;
                   the restaurant is built inside a cavity in the steep
                   cliff.


                   We had delicious local specialities and drinks
                   recommended  by  the  restaurant,  and  the
                   experience  was  really  out  of  this  world.  The
                   long journey was well worth it for the images,
                   impressions, and the mystical energy of the cliffs
                   and rocks. It would be an amazing experience
                   to stay here overnight: next time I will have to
                   do it.

                   It was difficult to leave this place, but we wanted
                   to experience more of the traditions of Appenzell
                   and had planned an extensive visit to the capital
                   of the Canton, Appeznell Innerhoden, was next
                   on our agenda to see those traditions firsthand.

                   Appenzell:  The  unusual  architecture  of  the
                   village-city  Appenzell  was  impressive;  each
                   building  had  storytelling  frescoes,  and  every
                   window-shutter told about the traditions. There
                   are many paintings showing the cattle procession
                   – a tradition in many parts of Switzerland, but
                   here it is a special one, going back centuries. The   find it everywhere  - all nine sorts. The secret is
                   Appenzell Alpabzug is  the most important event   that a herbal brine is used to wash the cheese
                   of the year; the cattle drive at the end of summer.   as it matures, and this gives its distinct flavour.
                   There  is  a  strict  order  to  the  procession,  and   Only two people, within one family, know the
                   specific  dress,  indicating  the  role  of  everyone   brine  recipe,  and  they  keep  it  a  strict  secret,
                   who takes part. All citizens usually join in and it   supplying it only to a few registered producers.
                   is the most important celebration of the year.   Only the cheese from those producers, after a
                                                          quality  check  and  certification  by  the  family,
                   Appenzeller  spicy  secret:  You  will  also  see   can be sold as Appenzeller. Of course, the milk
                   the  men  in  national  dress  carrying  banners   production  of  Appezelland  is  huge  and  other
                   about  Switzerland’s  ‘secret’  cheese.  This  is  the   local  cheese-makers  produce  a  broad  variety
                   famously tasty Appenzeller cheese, and you will   of  cheeses  using  their  own  secret  brines  or


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