Thurweg
Overview
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Distance 25 km
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Duration 6 h 50 min
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Ascent 660 m
Intro
The channelled Thur winds its way through the valley and past the small town of Lichtensteig with its covered arcades. The castle ruins at Rüdberg reveal breathtaking views of the river. A suspension bridge leads on to Bütschwil. Rejoin the Thur at the old wooden bridge in Lütisburg.
Description
This third leg sets off from the main and most populous settlement in the municipality of Toggenburg. In the early 20th century, Wattwil was an important centre for the textiles industry. Hugging the banks of the Thur, head towards Lichtensteig. The embankments around Wattwil are severely damaged in parts and in need of restoration, so the canton of St. Gallen is planning to renovate this section of the river. Information boards along the hiking trail shed light on the multi-million franc project (current as of 2024).
It’s worth stopping to see the pretty old town of Lichtensteig, which is listed as a protected monument. For centuries, it was a hub for regional trade and manufacturing for Swiss and international markets. However, in the 1970s, there were hundreds of job losses. As a result, the small town suffered from derelict residential properties and a dwindling population. But for some years now, innovative projects in unused properties and the re-purposing of historical buildings have been breathing new life into Lichtensteig. On account of this, the town even won the Wakker Prize in 2023.
Keep heading through a residential neighbourhood and through a meadow until you reach Dietfurt. Now a path ascends to the ruined castle at Rüdberg. Interestingly, this was once the location of the only passable road from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich. As such, the castle served as a roadblock on what was known as the Reichsstrasse from the 13th to the 15th century.
Before you reach Bütschwil, you will cross the Thur on a suspension bridge. The route’s next impressive bridge follows in quick succession: Guggenloch Bridge is considered a landmark of the Toggenburg Railway. In 1945, it was replaced with the concrete bridge with natural stone cladding that we have today. Some distance further upstream, the Necker flows into the river Thur. The wetlands and protected landscape areas between Lütisburg and Bazenheid are a habitat for rare flora and fauna. Then comes a beautiful wooded area with a waterfall at Jonschwil and one final path along the Thur, before you arrive at Schwarzenbach, your destination for this leg, after almost seven hours of walking.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Wattwil
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Schwarzenbach SG
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
650 m
|
| Ascent |
660 m
|
| Descent |
720 m
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| Distance |
25 km
|
| Duration |
6 h 50 min
|
| Duration back |
7 h
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Season |
All year
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| Theme |
Along Water
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| More information | https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/wanderland/etappe24... |
Quick Facts
Route number
