Neckerweg

St. Peter’s monastery church, the handsome gabled houses of Toggenburg and the red facade of Landgasthof Schäfle inn form the beautiful centre of St. Peterzell village. This little spot is also a popular place to rest for pilgrims walking the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. This hike does not follow the same route as the pilgrims towards Einsiedeln, but instead heads north. The 32-kilometre river Necker rises near the Ofenloch gorge at 1,300 metres above sea level. The first of two legs took you near the river’s headwaters. Now you will follow the course of the river to Furt and onwards to Brunnadern.

The Necker pools somewhat at Winzlisau bridge. If you like, you go for a swim here. A few metres further on, the route passes through an animal sanctuary, where ducks, hens and alpacas roam free.

A couple of kilometres further on, you will reach Lütisburg, where the Necker flows into the river Thur and forms a protected floodplain area of national importance. The 1.5-hectare reserve is made up of gravel banks, a forest of yew and beech trees and exposed rock faces. It is home to various flora and fauna, including crayfish, rare fire salamanders, graylings, barbels and brook trout. This leg comes to an end a few minutes later in Bazenheid.