Etappe 9: Wattwil – Magdenau/Flawil

Details

  • Wattwil

  • Flawil (Magdenau)

  • 19 km

  • 05:30 h

  • 720 m

  • 770 m

We are now in Toggenburg and follow the course of the river Thur to Lichtensteig.

Worth seeing and knowing

Km 3.5

Lichtensteig is a medieval town and has been part of the association „The most beautiful Swiss villages“ since 2016. The oldest houses, part of the city wall, date back to the first half of the 15th century.

The modern Catholic Church of St. Gallus is probably the most striking building in Lichtensteig. It stands on a hill above the old town.

Km 6 In the middle of Lichtensteig we leave the Thurtal to the right and follow the hiking trail sign briefly along the road towards the Wasserfluh pass. After a few hundred meters, the hiking trail leads away from the street and rises between houses. After the last houses in the village, a pleasant, unpaved path takes us in and leads us steadily up to the Wasserfluh pass (848m).

 

Km 8 We only hike on the street to the last houses, where we turn off the main street and climb a little further before we go down to Brunnadern in Neckertal.

We follow the meandering Necker to the village of Necker, then a few hundred meters along the road on the pavement before we turn right at the signpost to Mogelsberg, pass under the railway line and reach the village of Mogelsberg. A visit to the parish (now ecumenical) St. Jakobus Church built in 1810 is worthwhile.

Km 12-17 Shortly after the first few houses, we turn left and head towards Böschenbach, leave Mogelsberg downhill and reach a crossroads near Böschenbach.

We continue straight towards Nassen. However, following the yellow hiking trail signs, we leave the road straight away and climb a meadow path. When we reach the street, a signpost shows us the way to Gonzenwil. From this hamlet it goes uphill again (hamlets of Tubbach and Drüegg) before we arrive on the high plateau in Moosruer, from where we can enjoy a beautiful view back to the Alpstein.

From here it is still 2 km along pleasant forest paths to today’s stage town of Magdenau. In 1247 the monastery was accepted into the Cistercian order and entrusted to the Abbot of Wettingen. The community still has 12 sisters today.

The monastery offers accommodation for pilgrims and hikers. However, the few rooms in summer are heavily occupied and it is important to tackle the alternative in Flawil yourself. The stage is then about 2 km longer (which will be compensated for the next day).

Near the monastery is the Verena Church, the foundation of which dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is one of the cultural assets of national importance.

Former Parish Church St Verena
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