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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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