ViaSuworow
Overview
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Distance 19 km
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Duration 6 h
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Ascent 1100 m
Intro
With views of the primeval forest reserve of Bödmeren, through which Suvorov marched in flight from the French, the route leads from Muotatal along alp trails and an impressive stone-slab path in Schluecht over the Pragelpass to Richisau in the hinteren Klöntal valley.
Description
On 27 September 1799, the first troops under the Russian Bagration arrived in the Muotatal valley. The French were pursued as far as the Suvorov Bridge and put to flight. Flatbread was baked from flour that had been carried from Altdorf. Whoever found a potato cooked it or ate it raw. More troops, baggage and provisions followed over the next two days. On 28 September, news of a battle and defeat of Hotze and Korsakov made the rounds. Suvorov was shaken. Now he and his 20,000 men were facing some 60,000 of Masséna's soldiers. Moreover, he was trapped in the narrow valley between almost insurmountable mountains. The French were blocking his way into the midlands. His soldiers were hungry, tired, and freezing, and their ammunition was running out. So, a council of war was held on 29 September. Full of grief, Suvorov announced: "Now the only hope I have left is in Almighty God and the bravery and selflessness of my troops! We are Russians! God with us!! Save the honour of Russia and her Tsar! Save the son of our Emperor!" He threw himself at the Grand Prince's feet in tears. The decision was made to set out over the Pragel Pass in order to reach Sargans via Weesen. Auffenberg was ordered to leave immediately; Bagration, Förster and Schweikowsky were to follow him. Rosenberg remained in the Muotatal to hold the position.
Today the hike leads alternately uphill along roads, paths and the Staldenweg. The latter appears in a Muotatal municipality register of trails as the only cattle-driving trail on the northern side of the Starzlenbach valley. It shows the typical features of a traditional alp track once negotiated with cattle. After about an hour and a half, you reach the Schafmatt. Surrounded by scree, you walk along a beautifully laid-out path of enormous stone slabs. Continue over the Bärenloch, and after just under four hours, you reach the top of Pragel Pass at 1,548 metres above sea level.
Masséna's attack in the Muotatal took place on the afternoon of 30 September. After an initial thrust, the French were forced to retreat by Miloradovich's advancing troops. A second attempt was ordered by Masséna the following day, which ended with another French retreat at the Suvorov Bridge. However, many more soldiers died on the second day than the previous day. While fighting was still going on in the Muotatal, Suvorov reached Glarus on 1 October.
Hikers can also reach the back of the Klöntal valley in Glarnerland from the Pragel Pass in about two and a half hours. Alternating between paths and the pass road, the hiking trail leads down to the beautiful Klöntalersee lake, where the 6-hour stage ends.
*Background information and quotations stages 55.1-55.9: Alois Camenzind (1992), Maultiere machen Geschichte oder Suworows Krieg in den Schweizer Alpen im Jahre 1799, Luzern: Verlag Pro Libro Luzern GmbH
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 |
Muotathal
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Hinter Klöntal
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1500 m
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| Ascent |
1100 m
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| Descent |
880 m
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| Distance |
19 km
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| Duration |
6 h
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| Duration back |
5 h 50 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Medium
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
May - October
|
| Theme |
Over a pass
|
Quick Facts
Route number
