Werdenbergersee

The Werdenbergersee lies in the Werdenberg region of the canton of St. Gallen, where the foothills of the Alps meet the broad valley floor of the Rhine. It sits at the foot of the Buchserberg, its western shore belonging to Buchs and its north-western shore to the old town of Werdenberg. Above the town rises Schloss Werdenberg, a medieval castle that has overlooked the lake for centuries. The lake has long belonged to the noble family of Werdenberg, who gave their name to both the lake and the surrounding land. In 1803 the area was absorbed into the new canton of St. Gallen, yet Buchs kept the lake while Grabs gained the castle and the town. Today the lake serves mainly as a local recreation spot and for amateur fishing. Visitors walk the tree-lined shore path from Buchs to Werdenberg, passing small jetties and lakeside benches. The timber houses of Werdenberg’s protected old quarter line cobbled lanes beneath the castle walls. Inside the castle museum, displays tell the story of the Werdenberg family and the region’s past.