Centuries-Old Feud Over a Missing Goose Flag Divides Two Swiss Towns

A stolen 15th-century flag still sparks tension today. Why won’t Appenzell return the ‘Sarganser Gänsli’—and will this debate ever end?

, and Administrator

2026 January 3 . 11:26 PM

1 min read

In the foreground of the picture there is a logo and wall. On the left there are people. On the right there are bench, railing, people and road. In the middle there are trees and grass. In the background there is a building. On the right there is a hoarding. At the top it is sky. On the top of the building there is a flag.

Centuries-Old Feud Over a Missing Goose Flag Divides Two Swiss Towns

A long-standing dispute over a historic flag has resurfaced between the Swiss towns of Sargans and Appenzell. The 'Sarganser Gänsli', a goose featured on Sargans’ coat of arms, has been missing since 1445—but recent attempts to reclaim it have once again been rejected. The flag remains part of a protected collection in Appenzell, leaving the matter unresolved for now.

The 'Sarganser Gänsli' disappeared after the Swiss Confederacy seized it during the Old Zurich War in 1445. Though centuries have passed, Sargans has repeatedly tried to bring the symbol back. In 1824, records show an early effort to retrieve the flag, but it stayed in Appenzell.

In 2024, Sargans made another formal request to reclaim the goose emblem. Appenzell, however, refused, citing the flag’s status as part of a historical collection that cannot be removed. The following year, Sargans attempted once more—but met the same response.

Today, the flag is either held in the Sargans Castle museum or the town’s local archives, though its exact location remains unclear. Despite the setbacks, Sargans has stressed it does not want the issue to escalate into a cultural conflict.

For now, the 'Sarganser Gänsli' will stay in Appenzell, where it has been preserved for nearly 600 years. The town of Sargans has accepted the decision, though officials have left open the possibility of future discussions. The flag’s fate remains tied to its historical significance—and the ongoing debate between the two Swiss communities.