Thurweg
Overview
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Distance 19 km
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Duration 4 h 30 min
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Ascent 130 m
Intro
The Thur now flows eastwards and straightened through the principality. There is hardly any altitude difference to overcome on the embankment and through shady forest. The Huserfelsen cliffs just before the cantonal border are the only notable elevation. After this the trail ascends to Bischofszell.
Description
The fourth stage of the Thur route begins at the Thur bridge. In the 1920s, the SBB quarried for round gravel here for use on its railways. An inclined lift was installed by the bridge to haul the gravel up to the railway line. From this point, the route initially follows the river course in an easterly direction. You take a quick detour over fields and farmland, where red kites hunt for food, and soon enough you’re back by the water. The sound of the motorway is unmistakeable, and yet you still feel the closeness to nature. Something that’s no so natural is the river course here, which you can read about on the information boards. Because the Thur does not have enough room here for its natural meanders, it flows along an artificially constructed riverbed. Nevertheless, animals like the Eurasian teal, the grayling and also the beaver feel at home here.
Continuing along the wide gravel road, you reach Brübach. Here, you cross the river via the Brübach bridge and leave Toggenburg for Fürstenland. Back on the other side of the river, you find yourself in the beaver area – from Oberbüren to Niederbüren the leg proceeds along the beaver trail. Information boards provide insights into the lives of the elusive rodents. Actually seeing one is a matter of luck. They often only come out of their homes at night. Hiking through the beaver area, you also traverse a former floodplain area of national significance. Following the straightening of the river, a large portion of this area was lost and, with it, a place for animals to live. On the other hand, flooding decreased.
After the long stretch of canal, you climb around 25 metres where you can enjoy the wonderful view over the Thur and the riverside woodland. Hiking through the Ghöggerhütte floodplain conservation area, you reach Katzensteig Castle, home of the Grisons freedom fighter Jürg Jenatsch from 1630 to 1632. Following along the side channel, the hike takes you to the eight-bay bridge over the Thur at Bischofszell. The bridge was built in 1487 using tuff and sandstone. It is the largest late medieval bridge still standing in Switzerland.
Passing the historic paper mill, the final short stretch leads to the train station. It’s worth taking a detour to the old town of Bischofszell. The small town, known as the Rose Town, has been awarded the Wakker Prize for its preservation and careful conservation of the castle, church and various baroque buildings.
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 |
Schwarzenbach SG
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Bischofszell
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
500 m
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| Ascent |
130 m
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| Descent |
160 m
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| Distance |
19 km
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| Duration |
4 h 30 min
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| Duration back |
4 h 35 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Season |
All year
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| Theme |
Along Water
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
