St. Gallen | Family stays, Silence & space
A creative hideaway in a 200-year-old schoolhouse: workspace, views & tiled stove
“Old enough to have stories. Warm enough to stay a while.”
The locals still call it the Altes Schulhaus. It has stood in the centre of Ebnat-Kappel for two hundred years – with its old walls, timber floors, and the quiet weight of a place that has seen generations pass through. Today, it is a generous first-floor apartment made for slower days: long meals at the big table, mountain views from the windows, and enough space to properly exhale.
There are six rooms, a working Kachelofen, a projector room, a separate study, and a wild garden with fruit trees. It sleeps up to six people – though it works just as beautifully for two, with room to spread out, think, rest, and stay a little longer.
Where you'll sleep
There are three bedrooms, each with a comfortable double bed dressed in soft Lavie cotton bed linen and a down duvet suitable for both July and January.
The apartment sleeps up to six guests.
A baby crib and high chair are available together on request for CHF 25 per stay, payable by TWINT or cash.
An additional sleeping spot, including bedding and towels, can also be arranged during your stay for CHF 25 per night, payable by TWINT or cash.
Details that matter
Family-friendly
- The spacious living room is warm and relaxed, with a soft wool rug that makes it easy for children to play, crawl, read, or wind down nearby.
- Families are warmly welcome. For younger guests, we can prepare the apartment in advance on request. During your stay, you will find a thoughtful selection of quality children’s toys, a soft play blanket, books, and board games.
Silence & space
- A place with room to think, work, read, and properly slow down.
- There is a separate study when you need quiet, generous rooms when you need space, mountain and valley views when you need distance, and a garden when you need to step outside for a while.
- It is calm without being remote, spacious without feeling empty, and made for days that do not need to be filled.
The space
- The living room centres around a large dining table and a working Kachelofen in the corner – the kind of stove that warms a room slowly and keeps it warm for hours. There is an armchair facing the mountains. You may find yourself sitting there longer than you planned.
- The room next door has a projector and screen. Pull the cushions from the sofa, close the curtains, and it becomes a private cinema for however many of you are staying.
- If you need to work – or simply need quiet – there is a separate study with a desk and a daybed, physically apart from the rest of the apartment. A 32" monitor is available on request.
- There are two bathrooms. The main bathroom has a bathtub, double sink, and modern shower. A washer and dryer are available in the apartment.
Outdoors & surroundings
From the living room, the view opens onto the Toggenburg mountains and valley. In winter, the larger ski areas of Wildhaus, Wolzenalp, and Chäserrugg / Alt St. Johann are all within about 25 minutes by car.
Closer to home, the Tanzboden lift in the village offers night skiing, sledging, beginner-friendly slopes, and a small fun park – easy to reach without turning the day into an expedition.
What do we offer?
- Views: mountain view, valley view, garden view
- Workspace: dedicated workspace, 32" monitor on request
- WiFi: fast WiFi – 506 Mbps
- Parking: free parking, 1 space on-site
- Kitchen: cooking basics, dishes and cutlery, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee, BBQ utensils
- Entertainment: cinema room with projector, 100-inch screen, Apple TV, Netflix, Marantz Bluetooth sound system, books, magazines, and board games
- Laundry: free washer and dryer in the apartment, iron
Bedrooms
The first bedroom offers a queen bed, clothing storage, bed linens, an iron, extra pillows and blankets, heating, hangers, a Pack ’n Play/travel crib, room-darkening shades, and a crib.
The second bedroom offers 2 single beds, a floor mattress, a crib, room-darkening shades, clothing storage, bed linens, an iron, extra pillows and blankets, heating, hangers, a Pack ’n Play/travel crib, and essential amenities.
The third bedroom with a comfortable daybed for one person. The lying area measures 1.15 x 2 m (3.7 x 6.6 ft) in the sleeping position. Curtains and roller blinds for blackout are not yet visible in this picture, but they are provided.
Bathroom
Both bathrooms come with towels, a hair dryer, and Jean & Len bath products. The main bathroom has a bathtub, double sink, and modern shower. You will also find the practical essentials you would expect, including toilet paper and cleaning products.
How do I get there?
Public transport
There are two ways to get here – choose the one that best fits your connection.
Whether you are coming from the airport or from somewhere else, you have two options:
Option 1: Direct train to Ebnat-Kappel
Take the S2 to Ebnat-Kappel station. From the station, the house is a 5-minute walk along Steinfelsstrasse.
Option 2: Train + bus
Take the train to Wattwil, then change to bus 770 towards Ebnat-Kappel. Important: the stop Ebnat-Kappel, Acker is a request stop – please press the button before you need to get off. From the stop, it is a 2-minute walk to the house.
You can plan your journey at sbb.ch.
Car
Ebnat-Kappel is located in the Toggenburg valley, about 50 minutes by car from Zurich and 40 minutes from St. Gallen.
From Zurich, take the A1 motorway towards St. Gallen, exit at Wil, and follow the signs towards Toggenburg. The road leads you directly into the valley. From St. Gallen, follow the Thur valley road through Wattwil.
Once you arrive in Ebnat-Kappel, simply navigate to our address. A parking space is available on-site, right by the front door.
Meet the host
Franziska Marxer
A story that begins with a well-loved couch, and grows into three places that feel like coming home.
Guest access
Self check-in is available via a secure key safe. The access code and arrival details will be sent to you before check-in, allowing you to arrive at your own pace and enjoy 24/7 access throughout your stay.
One parking space is available near the entrance. Luggage, bikes, and ski equipment can be stored on request.
A note from the host
Please note that this is a 200-year-old wooden house. The floors may creak, and you may occasionally hear footsteps from upstairs — part of the natural character of an old Alpine home.
A baby crib and a 32-inch monitor are available on request. An extra bed can be arranged for CHF 25 per night, including linens and towels.
Everyone is welcome.
House rules
Check-in is available from 3:00 PM, and check-out is by 11:00 AM. The apartment accommodates up to 6 guests.
We kindly ask guests to treat the home with care and respect the quiet residential setting. As this is a historic wooden house, please keep noise to a considerate level, especially in the evening and at night.
Parties and events are not suitable for this property. Smoking is not permitted indoors.
Please leave the apartment in a tidy condition and let us know during your stay if anything is damaged or not working as expected.
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