County of Toggenburg, Medieval countship in canton St. Gallen, Switzerland.
The County of Toggenburg is a historic countship that spreads across the upper Thur River valley, surrounded by the Säntis mountains and the Churfirsten ridge. The territory includes ten municipalities such as Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann, Wattwil, and Kirchberg, located in Canton St. Gallen.
The countship originated in the Middle Ages as a territory ruled by the Toggenburg noble family and lost independence in 1436 when that line ended. The region was sold to the Abbey of St. Gallen in 1468 and remained under its influence for centuries.
Dairy farming and cattle breeding shape everyday life across this region, with cheesemaking and mountain pasture work as central activities. You see green meadows dotted with herds and smell the distinctive aroma of the dairies that define the landscape.
The region is accessible through several valley routes, with roads and hiking trails connecting the network of communities. German is the main language spoken here, and local information centers are found throughout this rural area to help you navigate.
Huldrych Zwingli, one of the founders of the Reformed Church, was born in 1484 in Wildhaus, a village in this region. His birthplace still stands today as a reminder of this area's important role in reshaping European religion.
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