Aescher: Historic Swiss Hermitage Turned Alpine Inn Adventure
In the 1600s, a Swiss priest converted an alpine cave into a chapel and hermitage. For centuries, pilgrims traveled to attend church in one of Europe‘s most rustic chapels. After the last hermit died in the mid-1800s, the hermitage was converted into an inn known as Berggasthaus Aescher Wildkirchli that offered food and lodging to farmers and hikers.
These days, Berggasthaus Aescher Wildkirchli is known simply as Aescher. The rustic 19th century exterior of Aescher remains unchanged, but the interior features newly renovated guest rooms that offer hikers simple yet cozy accommodations. There is even a small, austere Hermit Lodge that is adjacent to Aescher that is furnished with nothing but a folding table, chair, and double bed.
Aescher is also home to a restaurant that features a patio with a sweeping view of the Swiss Alps. You may feel as though your chair is perched on the side of a vertical cliff while you’re sipping on a glass of elderberry wine, munching on Appenzeller cheese, and listening to a cellist play Bach, but the alpine view is magnificent beyond compare.
Visitors can reach Aescher via an arduous hike or a short cable car ride. In addition to dining and spending the night at Aescher, you can also explore a nearby trio of caves known as Wildkirchli—or, Wild Chapel—which features remnants of the former chapel and hermitage. There is also a display devoted to fossils which have been recovered from the Wildkirchli, such as the bones of ancient cave bears.
If you’re exceptionally brave, you can spend the night on The Portaledge, which is a piece of equipment that allows Aescher guests to sleep suspended from the mountainside. For most travelers, daring to sip a cup of coffee in the open air nearly 5,000 feet above sea level on Aescher’s patio is enough adventure for one trip.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Berggasthaus Äscher–Wildkirchli, Ebenalp, Schwende-Rüte, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland
- Coordinates
- 47.2834, 9.41445
- Access
- From Wasserauen, take the Ebenalp cable car to the summit station and walk about 15 minutes through the Wildkirchli caves to the inn. The longer hiking approach via Seealpsee takes about 2 hours 30 minutes one way. Check the mountain weather, trail conditions, and cable-car timetable before setting out.
- Admission
- The inn lists no separate admission charge. The 2026 Wasserauen–Ebenalp cable car is separately paid: CHF 24 one way or CHF 36 return for an adult; reduced fares apply. Check the operator’s live fare page.
- Time needed
- No standard on-site visit duration is published. The operator’s 15-minute cave walk is from the summit station to the inn; the route via Seealpsee is about 2 hours 30 minutes one way. These are approach times, not time at the inn.
- Best season
- The inn’s 2026 season continues through November 1. Its usual operating period is May–October; this is the opening season, not a guarantee of ideal weather. Check current mountain conditions and both operators before travel.
- Opening hours
- The inn says it is open daily from 07:30 during its season, with warm kitchen service 11:00–20:00. It closes for the 2026 season after November 1. Through November 1, the cable car’s last uphill departure is 17:15 and last descent is 17:30. Check the live inn and cable-car schedules; mountain service can change.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-13
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-23
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