The village owes its tourist attraction mainly to the various hiking possibilities with attractive viewpoints in all directions as well as its typical products and ancient customs.

‘Schwellbrunnen’, first mentioned in 1268 together with Rötschwil, Högg and Beldschwendi as a fief of the monastery of St. Gallen, was only one of several farms in today’s municipality. Until 1648, the area of today’s Schwellbrunn was part of the Herisau parish. The highest municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is located at 972 metres above sea level and offers a fantastic view across the Alpstein to Lake Constance. With a village of national importance, nestled in the beautiful Appenzell countryside, with a traditional culture and lively customs, the community is a popular destination for excursions and recreation. With an area of 1741 hectares, a resident population of about 1560, a good infrastructure and a high quality of life, Schwellbrunn is also a recommended rural residential community under the motto: small but pleasant! The wide range of business and service activities, gastronomy and agriculture provide jobs for about 400 people. Only a few minutes’ drive from the economic areas of Herisau and St. Gallen, the small community also combines the advantages of a rural region with those of an urban centre. Schwellbrunn owes its tourist attraction mainly to the various hiking possibilities with attractive vantage points. In winter, family-friendly ski lifts, cross-country skiing trails and tobogganing possibilities are also available. In addition, cosy inns invite you to stay and enjoy yourself.