Flag of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

The flag of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is square, on a white field, with a black bear rampant in the centre and two golden letters: a «V» and a «R», one on each side.

How it came about

Appenzell Ausserrhoden is the Protestant half of the former canton of Appenzell, in Switzerland. All the Swiss cantonal flags are square, with a 1:1 ratio.

The black bear is the emblem of Appenzell, and the letters «V» and «R» stand for «Vorder» and «Rhoden», which is what that half of the canton is called.

How it has changed

It has never changed. No approval date is recorded.

What it means

• White

  the background of the field, plain and as wide as it is high.

• Bear

  black, rampant on its hind legs, taking up almost the whole height.

• Letters

  a golden «V» and a golden «R», one on each side of the bear.

Fun facts

1. The letters V and R are the canton name

   V and R are the initials of «Vorder» and «Rhoden», the two halves into which the canton of Appenzell was split after the religious reform. The bear belongs to all of Appenzell; the letters say which of the two halves it is.

2. Square, like all the Swiss ones

   The 1:1 ratio is not a rarity: all the Swiss cantonal flags are square. It is a national habit that makes any Swiss flag recognisable by its shape before you even look at the colours.

3. The bear, emblem of all of Appenzell

   The black bear is the symbol of the whole canton, not of any particular half. What distinguishes Ausserrhoden from the other half are the two letters, not the animal.

Location