Cycling in Switzerland
Alpine Panorama Route
Stage 2, Appenzell–Glarus
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Alpine Panorama Route
Stage 2, Appenzell–Glarus
Rough and full of forests - that’s the Toggenburg Valley, a bumpy, rolling landscape away from the larger, often expensive holiday destinations. After passing the alluvial land of the Linth Plain and impressive limestone cliffs, it ends in a world that used to be famous for textile production.
On every last Sunday in April the voting population of Appenzell Innerrhoden gets together on the village square (Landsgemeindeplatz) in Appenzell, where a variety of issues are decided and candidates are elected by a show of hands. Interestingly enough, in 1990 the Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden was the last Swiss canton to grant women the right to vote at the regional level. The town of Appenzell offers craftsmanship, colourful painted houses and artfully created shop signs to delight the tourists. But let’s not forget delicacies such as dried meat (Mostbröckli), Biberli (a gingerbread specialty), aromatic cheese, Alpenbitter herbal liqueur or the mouth-watering goat meat cakes with vegetables fried in beer batter, known as “Gitzichüechli”.
From the spruced-up little town it is not far to Gontenmoos, a remnant of the ice age. The topography was formed approximately 15,000 years ago by a shift in the Sitter Glacier. In Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden (the other part of the canton), you often see men and boys wearing an earring on the right ear. Old customs are treasured around here. The landscape in the Toggenburg Valley has more trees and it is harsher than the Appenzell region. A fast downhill ride takes you to Wattwil, the heart of the Toggenburg. Later, around Ricken Pass, you will notice that school buses are picking up the children because the farms where they live are too far away to walk.
Before getting to the Linth Plain, the Mount Zion Abbey of Gommiswald (SG) looming in front of the Alpine range is a spectacular sight. A strong wind often blows across the plain and together with the rushing water of the Linth canal it almost drowns out the noise from the highway. You will see the power lines transporting electricity from countless Alpine power plants to the Zurich area. Near Glarus, known the world over as the hub of the former textile region, you will come across a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Tektonikarena Sardona, an area of 32,580 hectares including the Glarus thrust (a major thrust fault of the Alps), was entered in the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2008.
From the spruced-up little town it is not far to Gontenmoos, a remnant of the ice age. The topography was formed approximately 15,000 years ago by a shift in the Sitter Glacier. In Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden (the other part of the canton), you often see men and boys wearing an earring on the right ear. Old customs are treasured around here. The landscape in the Toggenburg Valley has more trees and it is harsher than the Appenzell region. A fast downhill ride takes you to Wattwil, the heart of the Toggenburg. Later, around Ricken Pass, you will notice that school buses are picking up the children because the farms where they live are too far away to walk.
Before getting to the Linth Plain, the Mount Zion Abbey of Gommiswald (SG) looming in front of the Alpine range is a spectacular sight. A strong wind often blows across the plain and together with the rushing water of the Linth canal it almost drowns out the noise from the highway. You will see the power lines transporting electricity from countless Alpine power plants to the Zurich area. Near Glarus, known the world over as the hub of the former textile region, you will come across a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Tektonikarena Sardona, an area of 32,580 hectares including the Glarus thrust (a major thrust fault of the Alps), was entered in the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2008.
Rough and full of forests - that’s the Toggenburg Valley, a bumpy, rolling landscape away from the larger, often expensive holiday destinations. After passing the alluvial land of the Linth Plain and impressive limestone cliffs, it ends in a world that used to be famous for textile production.
On every last Sunday in April the voting population of Appenzell Innerrhoden gets together on the village square (Landsgemeindeplatz) in Appenzell, where a variety of issues are decided and candidates are elected by a show of hands. Interestingly enough, in 1990 the Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden was the last Swiss canton to grant women the right to vote at the regional level. The town of Appenzell offers craftsmanship, colourful painted houses and artfully created shop signs to delight the tourists. But let’s not forget delicacies such as dried meat (Mostbröckli), Biberli (a gingerbread specialty), aromatic cheese, Alpenbitter herbal liqueur or the mouth-watering goat meat cakes with vegetables fried in beer batter, known as “Gitzichüechli”.
From the spruced-up little town it is not far to Gontenmoos, a remnant of the ice age. The topography was formed approximately 15,000 years ago by a shift in the Sitter Glacier. In Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden (the other part of the canton), you often see men and boys wearing an earring on the right ear. Old customs are treasured around here. The landscape in the Toggenburg Valley has more trees and it is harsher than the Appenzell region. A fast downhill ride takes you to Wattwil, the heart of the Toggenburg. Later, around Ricken Pass, you will notice that school buses are picking up the children because the farms where they live are too far away to walk.
Before getting to the Linth Plain, the Mount Zion Abbey of Gommiswald (SG) looming in front of the Alpine range is a spectacular sight. A strong wind often blows across the plain and together with the rushing water of the Linth canal it almost drowns out the noise from the highway. You will see the power lines transporting electricity from countless Alpine power plants to the Zurich area. Near Glarus, known the world over as the hub of the former textile region, you will come across a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Tektonikarena Sardona, an area of 32,580 hectares including the Glarus thrust (a major thrust fault of the Alps), was entered in the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2008.
From the spruced-up little town it is not far to Gontenmoos, a remnant of the ice age. The topography was formed approximately 15,000 years ago by a shift in the Sitter Glacier. In Urnäsch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden (the other part of the canton), you often see men and boys wearing an earring on the right ear. Old customs are treasured around here. The landscape in the Toggenburg Valley has more trees and it is harsher than the Appenzell region. A fast downhill ride takes you to Wattwil, the heart of the Toggenburg. Later, around Ricken Pass, you will notice that school buses are picking up the children because the farms where they live are too far away to walk.
Before getting to the Linth Plain, the Mount Zion Abbey of Gommiswald (SG) looming in front of the Alpine range is a spectacular sight. A strong wind often blows across the plain and together with the rushing water of the Linth canal it almost drowns out the noise from the highway. You will see the power lines transporting electricity from countless Alpine power plants to the Zurich area. Near Glarus, known the world over as the hub of the former textile region, you will come across a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Tektonikarena Sardona, an area of 32,580 hectares including the Glarus thrust (a major thrust fault of the Alps), was entered in the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2008.
Length
73 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 70 km
Natural surface: 3 km
Natural surface: 3 km
Ascent | Descent
1000 m | 1350 m
Fitness level
difficult
