Pilger-Route

The Benedictine monastery of Fischingen makes for an interesting visit. It is the only monastery with a community of monks living in it in Thurgau and is surrounded by an expanse of woodland with the river Aubach running through it. In Au, the Catholic Church of St. Anna boasts a delightful onion dome, while Sternenberg has magnificent views over a hilly landscape. What more could you want? Perhaps a walk through the heart of Hinterthurgau, or rather a bike ride – as the Swiss cycling legend Beat Breu once did when he was training. But good luck keeping up: he earned the nickname the “mountain flea” (Bergfloh) on account of his swift ascents into the mountains. Then comes a descent through the Choltobel ravine to Saland, where you can spend the night at the campsite beside the river Töss.

You can make quick headway on the cycling lanes by the main road. Welcome to Hittnau. The views of the Pfäffikersee lake are beautiful. You could try sitting atop the ruins of the once mighty walls at the Roman fort in the nature and landscape conservation area around Pfäffikersee and admire the flat terrain with its flower-filled marshlands and expansive fields of reeds. The old swimming pool at Robenhausen is a historic gem. Unlike other swimming areas, it was built in 1904 on the banks of the Chämtnerbach stream rather than directly in the lake.

Turn left out of Wetzikon. Residential neighbourhoods, industrial estates and nearby getaways for locals all vie for attention. The stretch from Bertschikon to Mönchaltdorf makes for pleasantly bucolic riding, replete with low-flying swallows. In the early mornings, the farmer’s fields are blanketed with mist, creating a mystical atmosphere, accompanied by the sound of quacking, chirping and warbling emanating from practically all of the hollows. The storks seem right at home on the roofs of Mönchaltdorf. It’s worth pausing a while to admire these majestic animals.

The way to Egg is along the motorway. At the station kiosk there, you can watch the nostalgically designed trains of the Forch railway pass by – better yet over a cup of coffee. The route winds its lush way around the 853-metre-high ridge of the Pfannenstiel hill. It’s not long now until you reach Lake Zurich. The measured descent to the Gold Coast, lined with magnificent villas, passes by vineyards that are equally as splendid. In Meilen, your destination for this stage, you can decide whether you would like to cycle a little further until you reach Zurich. One option would be to take Route 66. No, not from Chicago to Los Angeles. This Route 66 leads from Rapperswil to Baden via Zurich.