The top five things to do at Hoher Kasten

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is especially true if you eat it accompanied by the jaw-dropping 360-degree view from Hoher Kasten’s Revolving Restaurant – the only one of its kind in eastern Switzerland. As the restaurant smoothly makes its one full rotation per hour, diners area treated to a vista that encompasses a mighty six countries: Germany, Austria, Lichenstein, Italy, France and Switzerland, of course. Thankfully, the restaurant’s gastronomic offering is just as impressive as its views, including a hearty breakfast (packed with tasty regional produce) served from the morning’s first cableway ride up until 10.30am.

With a view as magnificent as the one from the top of Hoher Kasten, you’ll want to really make the most of it, which is why the Europa Rundweg Circular Trail is a must. Tracing the mountain’s distinctive silhouette, this 259-metre route is blessed with amazing views in every direction. Stop and take it all in at some of the numerous viewpoints, telescopes and benches peppered along the route. Make sure to grab a selfie or two along the way, particularly at the Instagram-ready photo board marking one of the stops on the Grand Tour of Switzerland, a famous 1,643km circuit of the country’s finest scenery.

While you’re on the Europa Rundweg Circular Trail, don’t forget to visit the Hoher Kasten Alpine Garden to enjoy an array of brilliant flora – over 300 species, in fact, spread over 5,000 square metres. Summer is the best month to visit, as this is when all those radiant colours really pop. Learn more about the plants and creatures that call this wonderful place home through 15 interactive displays, and find out how they survive the tough Alpine conditions. The Alpine Garden is also great for kids, so this is where to head if you’re bringing the whole family to Hoher Kasten.

Let’s face it: mountains are pretty incredible, right? So, the least you can do to repay them for all that wonder and all those views is learn a little about how they’re formed. Luckily, you don’t need to spend hours poring over the textbooks, as you can learn on-route as you traverse the Geological Panorama Trail. Beginning on Hoher Kasten’s summit, Switzerland’s first geological hiking route is an easy but beautiful walk marked by information boards explaining how the Alpstein mountains were formed, with some handy visual aids along the way in the form of 300-plus peaks to gaze at. Who knew hiking could be so educational?

Occasionallly, it pays to stop what you’re doing and simply appreciate what’s around you – and if what’s around you is a dreamy, glistening mountain lake, so much the better. Hoher Kasten boasts not one, but three marvellous mountain lakes nearby, so you won’t have to look too hard to find one of these aquatic treasures. Visible from the summit, Sämtisersee is a picture-perfect example of a Swiss mountain lake, surrounded by soaring hills and thick, green forests. The remaining two lakes are tucked-away within the wider Alpstein region, but are easily discovered by following some of the many hiking trails on offer. Why not see all three in one adventure, by taking on the ‘three lake hike’, a beautiful trail that begins at Hoher Kasten’s summit and ends at Wasserauen.