Pilger-Route
Overview
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Distance 43 km
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Ascent 760 m
Intro
From historic Konstanz on the Bodensee, up the Seerücken, in the peace of the Bommer ponds. Past vineyards to Weinfelden. Gentle valleys change to ravines with mountain streams in fir-cone country. Ending at the Fischingen Benedictine Monastery.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-41/stage-1
Description
Behind the railway station of the biggest city by Lake Constance is the Hafenhalle restaurant, which has a beer garden. What a way to get started in the historic city of Konstanz, right by its big, blue “sea”. Now for the pilgrimage route from Kreuzlingen to Fischingen. You will quickly become familiar with the yellow and blue stickers that mark Route 41. They feature a handsome scallop that will guide us on the way from Germany to the canton of Thurgau. Cycling along the Schwabenweg (Way of St. James from Konstanz to Einsiedeln), you will soon reach the Seerücken, approximately 100 metres higher than you were before. Around the Bommerweier, a tranquillity becomes apparent that you would scarcely have been able to imagine just moments earlier. A wooden footbridge leads to a log cabin, where you can observe ducks, swans and water lilies.
Expansive fields dominate the landscape. Tall apple trees mark the way into the village of Berg (in the canton of St. Gallen). You might not be able to make out anything that lives up to the title of mountain (Berg) from which the village takes its name. You might not necessarily spot the elder trees at first either. But once you reach the yellow and green sign reading “Ricola”, everything will make sense. This area is used to cultivate the elder that gives the Ricola cough sweets their characteristic aromatic flavour. Between Oberhard and Unterhard, the air is bustling with busy bees. The area surrounding Weinfelden has an inviting atmosphere about it. The town hall square was the birthplace of one of Europe’s first liberal constitutions in 1831. A short distance later, you will cross the river Thur. There follows a point where SwitzerlandMobility cycling routes 26, 41 and 95 converge.
If you need the loo, there is an aptly named wine tavern in Oberoppikon: “Stalldrang” means the urge to go to the toilet. The tavern is small but mighty, with an interesting range of seasonal dishes. With a little bit of luck, you might cross paths with a brown hare. The smell of roses is in scarce supply at the little Rosental railway station. Rather, you will be crossing the river Murg, one of the Thur’s major tributaries. You will also bump into the “Herzschlaufe 999 Wil” route.
The geographical region of Hinterthurgau is home to around 50,000 people and is popularly referred to as “pine cone territory” due to its large stretches of coniferous forest. The smell of pine is actually overpowering, especially shortly before reaching Fischingen, where the carpentry workshop processes great big logs for use in the construction industry. Fischingen Monastery is the cherry on the cake of this journey through Thurgau. The Benedictine abbey was founded in 1135 and disbanded in 1848. The majestic church rises proudly besides the brewery. It is the only monastic brewery in Switzerland. Why not sample a house beer at the monastery’s garden restaurant?
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 |
Kreuzlingen
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Fischingen
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| Ascent |
760 m
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| Descent |
540 m
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| Distance |
43 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
39 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
4 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
