Zürichsee-Rundweg
Overview
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Distance 17 km
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Duration 5 h 10 min
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Ascent 780 m
Intro
The majestic leg of the Zürichsee-Rundweg leads to Etzel (1098 m), with amazing views over the entire lake – and includes opportunities to visit a couple of rustic Innerschweiz spots on the way. Your destination is one of the most beautiful in the entire region.
Description
The fourth leg of the tour is its «mountain stage». Although you would stay on completely level ground if you stuck to the lakeside path from Richterswil to Pfäffikon (in the Canton of Schwyz), this stage features a «detour» via Schindellegi and the Etzel, which lies nearly 700 metres higher up. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves: from your starting point in Richterswil, the route first takes you up the slope through the village and soon enters the Canton of Schwyz. In Wollerau, you can see from the houses and cars that life is undoubtedly more tax-efficient here. However, no traces remain of the village’s storied past: it once belonged to the Swabian duchess Regelinda, who bequeathed it to Einsiedeln Abbey in 958. It then changed hands several times, being sold to the Austrians, reconquered by the people of Zurich and ceded to Schwyz.
The ascent is fairly even. The path climbs in a wide loop via Schindellegi, whose name comes from «Holzschindeln», meaning «wooden shingles». It is well worth stopping by St. Anna’s Church with its majestic ceiling frescos. Now the paths begin to turn into local farm tracks that take you through fields and are so narrow in places that you have to walk in single file. After a brief stretch in the forest, you reach the Etzel, the mountain restaurant with magnificent panoramic views of Lake Zurich and Lake Sihl and as far as the Alpine foothills and the Alps themselves.
You now begin your steady descent, skirting the edge of the forest and passing St. Meinrad’s Church. Some of the natural paths along the route have had steps added to help you. Finally, you cross a motorway bridge into the lively town of Pfäffikon SZ. Follow a few local urban streets to the finish line at the railway station. Right at the bottom of the village, the hiking trail takes you almost past the historic St. Meinrad’s Church, which commemorates the hermit and founder of Einsiedeln Abbey.
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 |
Richterswil
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Pfäffikon SZ
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
780 m
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| Descent |
760 m
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| Distance |
17 km
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| Duration |
5 h 10 min
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| Duration back |
5 h 10 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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Quick Facts
Route number
