Cycling in Switzerland
Familiy tour Linth Plain–Lake Zurich
Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke)–Rapperswil
rotate your device for slideshow
Familiy tour Linth Plain–Lake Zurich
Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke)–Rapperswil
From the Glarner entrance portal through the meliorated farmland and reed landscape of the Linth plane, along the reed-adorned Obersee lake with views of the Glarner Alps to south-facing Rapperswil.
From the once important transhipment Ziegelbrücke location, the route follows the straight line of the Linth canal. Barges navigated the meandering Linth through the large plane in the past; requiring up to two and a half days to get from Zurich to Lake Walen. The river was once the cause of terrific floods and debris prior to its taming by engineer Hans Conrad Escher in 1816. And today? Only Kaltbrunner Riet remains from the former huge marshy landscape.
Between Schmerikon and Rapperswil you enjoy a wonderful lakeside promenade. The Bollingen region then reveals numerous abandoned quarries; from which Bolliger sandstone was once excavated for the construction of the collegiate St. Gallen church, the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches in Zurich and the Einsiedeln monastery. You may even get to see additional historical treasures such as the C.G. Jung tower in Bollingen or the Wurmsbach monastery.
On crossing the Jona you find yourself in Rapperswil’s residential area; also home of the Knie children’s zoo and circus museum - a great attraction for kids big and small and circus fans alike. You can pet animals at the children’s zoo and enjoy elephant rides to top it. And the lovely Rapperswil old town with its castle, attractive lakeside promenade and the famous wooden footbridge round up this holiday-mood route.
Between Schmerikon and Rapperswil you enjoy a wonderful lakeside promenade. The Bollingen region then reveals numerous abandoned quarries; from which Bolliger sandstone was once excavated for the construction of the collegiate St. Gallen church, the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches in Zurich and the Einsiedeln monastery. You may even get to see additional historical treasures such as the C.G. Jung tower in Bollingen or the Wurmsbach monastery.
On crossing the Jona you find yourself in Rapperswil’s residential area; also home of the Knie children’s zoo and circus museum - a great attraction for kids big and small and circus fans alike. You can pet animals at the children’s zoo and enjoy elephant rides to top it. And the lovely Rapperswil old town with its castle, attractive lakeside promenade and the famous wooden footbridge round up this holiday-mood route.
From the Glarner entrance portal through the meliorated farmland and reed landscape of the Linth plane, along the reed-adorned Obersee lake with views of the Glarner Alps to south-facing Rapperswil.
From the once important transhipment Ziegelbrücke location, the route follows the straight line of the Linth canal. Barges navigated the meandering Linth through the large plane in the past; requiring up to two and a half days to get from Zurich to Lake Walen. The river was once the cause of terrific floods and debris prior to its taming by engineer Hans Conrad Escher in 1816. And today? Only Kaltbrunner Riet remains from the former huge marshy landscape.
Between Schmerikon and Rapperswil you enjoy a wonderful lakeside promenade. The Bollingen region then reveals numerous abandoned quarries; from which Bolliger sandstone was once excavated for the construction of the collegiate St. Gallen church, the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches in Zurich and the Einsiedeln monastery. You may even get to see additional historical treasures such as the C.G. Jung tower in Bollingen or the Wurmsbach monastery.
On crossing the Jona you find yourself in Rapperswil’s residential area; also home of the Knie children’s zoo and circus museum - a great attraction for kids big and small and circus fans alike. You can pet animals at the children’s zoo and enjoy elephant rides to top it. And the lovely Rapperswil old town with its castle, attractive lakeside promenade and the famous wooden footbridge round up this holiday-mood route.
Between Schmerikon and Rapperswil you enjoy a wonderful lakeside promenade. The Bollingen region then reveals numerous abandoned quarries; from which Bolliger sandstone was once excavated for the construction of the collegiate St. Gallen church, the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches in Zurich and the Einsiedeln monastery. You may even get to see additional historical treasures such as the C.G. Jung tower in Bollingen or the Wurmsbach monastery.
On crossing the Jona you find yourself in Rapperswil’s residential area; also home of the Knie children’s zoo and circus museum - a great attraction for kids big and small and circus fans alike. You can pet animals at the children’s zoo and enjoy elephant rides to top it. And the lovely Rapperswil old town with its castle, attractive lakeside promenade and the famous wooden footbridge round up this holiday-mood route.
Length | Number of stages
27 km
| 1 Stage
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 18 km
Natural surface: 9 km
Natural surface: 9 km
Ascent | Descent
130 m | 150 m
Fitness level
easy
Arrival | return travel
More …
Ziegelbrücke railway station en route
Use the underground passage direction south/railway. The route lies within viewing distance from the station.
Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke) location description
km0 - km0.3
The route runs along a cycling path, protected from the road by a guardrail.
km0.3 - km2.8
The route runs through the countryside on a natural path alongside the Linth canal.
km3.6 - km3.9
The route runs along a district road.
Schänis rest area and playground
Besides plenty of places to sit and a large playground, here you can play table tennis and take to sheltered seats in bad weather.
km3.9 - km5.2
The route runs through the countryside on an asphalted road and through the railway underground passage.
Flugplatz Schänis (airfield) rest area and playground
The Flugplatz Schänis (airfield) rest area and playground lies at 600 meters from the route. There is also a restaurant there.
km5.2 - km6.2
The route runs through the countryside on an asphalted path over the Linth plane.
Rufibach rest area and playground
The Rufibach rest area has a quarry pond with gravel bank, places to sit and a barbecue.
km6.2 - km9.5
The route runs through the countryside on an asphalted path over the Linth plane.
km9.5 - km10.8
The route runs through the countryside on an asphalted path over the Linth plane, followed by a side road with little traffic.
Dangerous Benken spot
Left and then straight after right turn into the Benken main road.
km10.8 - km11.3
The route runs along a district road.
km11.3 - km14.9
The route runs on a separate cycling lane along the main road.
Uznach location description
Dangerous Grynau spot
The crossing of the main road is well marked.
km14.9 - km15.4
The route leads over a separate cycling lane.
km15.4 - km16.5
The route runs over a side road with little traffic.
km16.5 - km17.0
The route runs through the Schmerikon industrial area on a road with average traffic.
Schmerikon rest area and playground
The Schmerikon rest area has places to sit and two table tennis tables.
Schmerikon location description
km17.0 - km21.2
Natural paths interchanging with asphalted stretches lead through the countryside and alongside the natural reed-laden shores of the lake.
Bollingen rest area and playground
The Bollingen rest and play area also has a table tennis table, next to it stands a signpost pointing out the sandstone excavations in the region and the C.G. Jung tower.
km21.2 - km27.2
Natural paths interchanging with asphalted stretches, with chiefly natural paths leading over the countryside. The route leads past a restaurant, camping place and the Mariazell-Wurmsbach monastery with large farmyard, guesthouse, boutique and girl's boarding school, as well as the Jona Allmend nature reserve.
Mariazell-Wurmsbach monastery
Branching to the Knie children's zoo
Charming chance meetings with elephants, giraffes and monkeys all take place at the Knie children's zoo. And no other zoo in Europe offers the chance of taking a ride on an elephant as well as helping feed the loveable giants. Around 400 animals, sea lion show, large adventure playground, monkey breakfasts and horse driven tram promise everlasting memories.
Knie children's zoo
Rapperswil railway station en route
Exit the underground railway passage direction south/lake.
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Stiftung SchweizMobil
Monbijoustrasse 61
3007 Bern
Tel. +41 (0) 31 313 02 70
info@schweizmobil.ch
www.schweizmobil.org
Monbijoustrasse 61
3007 Bern
Tel. +41 (0) 31 313 02 70
info@schweizmobil.ch
www.schweizmobil.org
