From Rapperswil we follow the Jakobsweg (St James’ Way) (No 4 on the signposts. Follow the pages without the dark blue edges as we are going in the return direction from Santiago). As today’s route is quite challenging, we will take the direct way. A variation goes along the lake to Schmerikon and from there over the Goldberg to Neuhaus. We can also pick up the St James’ Way from there.
Worth seeing and knowing
| Km 11 | In Neuhaus we check out the St. Jakobuskapelle (St James Chapel). A chapel has stood here since the Middle Ages but it was replaced by a new church at the end of the 17th Century. Our route and the St Jame’s Way coming from the area of the Lake of Constance link up here but one route then branches off to Schmerikon – Grynau – Tuggen – Siebnen – Etzelpass – Einsiedeln, while the other is the route we have just taken from Rapperswil.
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| Km 13 | In St. Gallenkappel, where the parish church stands, a chapel was dedicated in the 11th century to Laurentius. The place belonged to the parish of St. Gallus in Uznach. In 1456 a church in the late gothic style was consecrated in honour of the patron saint of the former chapel, and Laurentius, and Gallus, the patron saint of the former mother church. The two saints are found as statues on either side of the high altar.
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| Km 21 | We reach the top of the Ricken Pass. In the 11th Century it was originally created as a mule path connection between St Gallen and Uznach, but until 1918 it was used as a stagecoach postal line over the Pass.
Shortly before we reach Wattwil, our goal for today, we pass by the 13th Century Iberg Castle, and shortly thereafter on our left, the Capuchin Monastery of St Mary of the Angels, built in 1621. Since 2012 the addiction treatment centre „Fazenda da esperanza“ has run a home here for young people who want to re-integrate into the community. Favourable accommodation for the night is on offer here for pilgrims. |
| Km 27 | Wattwil was first mentioned in the year 897. In the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century, Wattwil was an important centre for the textile industry. The Textile Technical College here is still an internationally recognized centre of competence for the Swiss textile industry.
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