From Tuggen we follow the St James’ Way (No. 4 on the signposts, without the dark blue edges showing the return route from Santiago).
Worth seeing and knowing
| Km 1.5 | Linthbord Chapel. Pretty wedding chapel built in1666
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| Km 3 | Grynau Castle. The Tower was constructed in the early 13th Century to ensure a safe crossing over the River Linth. Only four bridges over the River Linth existed up to the 20th Century, one of which is that in Grynau. In 1337 a battle took place here between Zurich and a Habsburg-led group.
We cross over the Linth Canal and now find ourselves in the Canton of St. Gallen. Our route now leads us along the canal as signposted for the St James’ Way to Schmerikon.
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| Km 6
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This area has been occupied since 8 BC. In Roman times there was very likely a station here on the land and lake way routes from Zurich to Maienfeld. In 744 the St Gallen Monastery took control of Schmerikon.
We follow the railway lines until the railway crossing, pass over the railways and turn left. After 50m we turn right and walk the Kirchgasse up to the church, turn right again, climb some 100 difference in altitude over the Goldberg to Neuhaus .
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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 honor of the patron saint of the former chapel, 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 now reach the top of the Ricken Pass. In the 11th Century this was a mule trail between St Gallen and Uznach and up to 1918 a postal stagecoach line over the Pass. |
| Km 27 | Shortly before we reach our goal for today, Wattwil, we pass the 13th Century Iberg Castle and, just beyond this on our left, the former Capuchin Convent of St Mary of the Angels, built in 1621. Since 2012 the organization „Fazenda da Esperança“ has been running a home for young people in difficult situations who want to re-integrate into society. Favourable accommodation for pilgrims is offered here.
Wattwil was first mentioned in the year 897. In the 19th and early 20th Century Wattwil was an important centre for the textile industry. The Textile Technical College here is still an internationally recognised centre of competence of the Swiss textile industry today. For accomodation see stage 7b |
