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Intro

On the climb to the Klausenpass, the Urnerboden, the largest Swiss alp, the other side of the 1948m pass the Schächental, a mountain landscape with the traditional farming method of moving livestock from one grazing ground to the next.

Detour / Closure

There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-4/stage-3

Description

After the widespread fire in the canton’s capital of Glarus in 1861, the town was rebuilt checkerboard-style, quite an unusual sight in Switzerland. In the middle of the 19th century hydroelectric power caused an unparalleled upturn for the textile industry. One factory after the other opened up between Linthal and Ziegelbrücke. The “Glarner Industrieweg” (Glarus Industrial Path) tells the story of the Glarus region. The town where Europe’s last “legal” execution of a witch took place is surrounded by steep mountain cliffs and majestic limestone walls. There was a significant public outcry after the event. For more details, visit the modern Anna Göldi Museum.

Cruising through the corridor of the Glarus Alps, you will enjoy seeing old chimneys and you might have time for a delicious lunch of pasta (Hörnli) with Glarus sabsago cheese (Glarner Schabziger), made of skimmed cow’s milk with a special kind of herbs. Every now and then you will catch sight of an outsized factory building, a reminder of the textile industry’s boom. And the Linth, whose source is in the Mt. Tödi area, is a constant travel companion along the way. The former inexpensive lodging houses for workers in Linthal once belonged to spinning and weaving mills. And this is where the road begins to climb up to Klausen Pass. The first few turns are riddled with cobblestones and look much like the famous Tremola on the Gotthard Pass. During the week, the road is very pleasant to ride. Urnerboden, on the border between Canton Glarus and Canton Uri, is believed to be Switzerland’s largest alp with countless cows and calves grazing – simply magnificent and heart-warming.

The 1948 m Klausen Pass is another highlight, but be careful on the way down. The turns are tight and the cliffs are close. Traveling through the Schächental valley with an abundance of waterfalls is an amazing experience. Still, you’ll be just as glad to get down in one piece, to where the land is flatter. Bürglen, with the William Tell Museum and Tell’s Chapel, claims to be the birthplace of William Tell. It feels almost Mediterranean here, not just because of the palm trees. In Altdorf, the Swiss national hero is celebrated together with son Walter in the form of a statue of nearly 4 meters. Flüelen, where Reuss and Lake Uri meet, is just a hop, skip and a jump away …

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

Technical information

Show Technical information content
Start location
Glarus
Destination
Flüelen
Ascent
1600 m
Descent
1650 m
Distance
68 km
Distance on tarred ways
65 km
Distance on natural surface
3 km
Physical requirements
Difficult
Theme
Over a pass
More information https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/...

Route

Alpine Panorama Route

St. Margrethen - Aigle
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All stages

Map

SwitzerlandMobility Map: This element is not accessible for disabled people.

Quick Facts

Route number

Stage: 3/9

Distance

68 km

Ascent

1600 m

Travel information: Glarus

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