Lakes Route
Overview
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Distance 74 km
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Ascent 280 m
Intro
St. Galler Rheintal, a countryside often cosseted by the warm wind. Much land has been won by the correction of the Alpenrhein im Rheintal. The shallow delta and silver expanse of the Bodensee beckon in the distance.
Description
So close to Buchs and yet so different. At the beginning of the route you pass Werdenberg, the «smallest town in Switzerland» with its historical town charter. It is worth taking a detour to the old town. With a population of about 60, two lanes with old houses, a small lake and a castle from the 12th or 13th century it is a breath-taking view. The ride through Grabserriet and Saxerriet has a rural feeling with cows, donkeys, horses, farms, poppy fields, and pear and apple orchards. Nut trees are abounding in the nut village of Frümsen. A group with the same name was formed here and they proudly preside over their walnut trees. Storks are stalking around, looking pleased with the freshly mowed meadows that furnish plenty of food. The beautiful landscape of the St. Gallen Rhine Valley is not just for the bike riders. A cable car takes you up to Staubernkanzel and into the Alpstein region with its showpiece, Mount Säntis.
In Rüthi you are also welcomed by a beer museum with an alehouse and snack bars and the Rüthi inland channel nature area. The Rhine Valley Inland Channel was built between 1894 and 1904 to drain the swampland. In addition to flood protection, it was also intended to provide hydraulic engineering in harmony with nature. The channel used to be straight as an arrow, but it has been turned into a lively water landscape. Altstätten has a long history. A stone axe and a mortise axe from 5500-2200 B.C. were found within its municipal district. Also, the houses of the old town are a very pretty sight to see. Through the Isenriet area you return to the shores of the Rhine between Au and St. Margrethen. And for just a minute you’re reminded of industry and business. Then you follow the Alpenrhein to Rohrspitz, where life is calm and pleasant again. Visitors are plentiful here, especially on sunny weekends. Their enthusiasm is contagious as they enjoy the ride through the Rhine delta nature protection area.
A variety of 600 plant species and over 300 different kinds of birds live in Europe’s largest freshwater delta where the Rhine flows into Lake Constance. With a bit of luck you might catch a glimpse of a gorgeous bluish kingfisher, a bitterling (small fish), a beaver (active at dusk and at night), or even a grass snake, a tree frog, a wild bee or a fantail snipe (a bird with a long, funny beak). Then on the “Adventure Trail on the Old Rhine” you follow – obviously – the Old Rhine and via Altenrhein and Staad you finally arrive in the charming city of Rorschach to end the day. Swiss singer-songwriter Mani Matter wrote a famous song about this town.
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 |
Buchs
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Rorschach
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| Ascent |
280 m
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| Descent |
340 m
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| Distance |
74 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
66 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
8 km
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
