Hiking
ViaJacobi
Stage 1, Rorschach–Herisau
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ViaJacobi
Stage 1, Rorschach–Herisau
Rorschach, a medieval traffic hub and lake port of St. Gallen, is mentioned as a pilgrimage station around the year 1300. Highlights of the hike to Herisau include a visit to the Abbey Library in St. Gallen and the bridge landscape in Bruggen.
The hike has a lot to offer: the lakeside promenade in Rorschach, the cathedral and the Abbey Library in St. Gallen, the bridge architecture around Bruggen or the lovely old town of Herisau. The multifaceted hike from Rorschach to Herisau takes just under seven hours and starts on the lakeshore.
Between the rolling hills of the Appenzellerland and the expanse of Lake Constance lies the pretty St. Gallen harbour town of Rorschach. In the Middle Ages, it developed into the most important trading centre on the southern lakeshore. The lively town centre, the stately homes and the Kornhaus (granary), built in 1749, still bear witness to this history.
From the lakeside promenade, neighbourhood streets lead through the middle of town. Outside the settlement area, you reach Sulzberg Castle. A little above the castle pond, the route continues to Untereggen. About an hour and a half later, you get to the village, and soon after, to the Martinstobel, crossed by the Martinsbrücke bridge. After about four hours, you arrive at St. Gallen.
111 ornate oriel windows embellish the facades of the houses in the old town. They are a common sight in Spisergasse, Marktgasse, Kugelgasse and Schmiedgass. However, St. Gallen's true landmarks are the baroque cathedral and the monastery library. 140,000 documents, some handwritten and over a thousand years old, are kept in the magnificent rococo hall, among other places. The entire abbey district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Following the city centre, the route continues to Bruggen. Since St. Gallen lies between deep valleys and gorges, it is surrounded by numerous bridges. The stately Chräzeren road bridge from 1807 provided a link to Winterthur and Zurich. Its two arches made of molasse sandstone with a span of 26.40 metres are impressive.
Continue on your way past the bathing area of Gübsensee lake and through a short section of forest to quickly reach the first buildings of Herisau. After another hour of hiking, the route ends in the centre of Herisau. Although the town first developed under the influence of the monastery of St. Gallen, it later became Protestant and was therefore assigned to Appenzell Ausserrhoden in the 16th century.
Between the rolling hills of the Appenzellerland and the expanse of Lake Constance lies the pretty St. Gallen harbour town of Rorschach. In the Middle Ages, it developed into the most important trading centre on the southern lakeshore. The lively town centre, the stately homes and the Kornhaus (granary), built in 1749, still bear witness to this history.
From the lakeside promenade, neighbourhood streets lead through the middle of town. Outside the settlement area, you reach Sulzberg Castle. A little above the castle pond, the route continues to Untereggen. About an hour and a half later, you get to the village, and soon after, to the Martinstobel, crossed by the Martinsbrücke bridge. After about four hours, you arrive at St. Gallen.
111 ornate oriel windows embellish the facades of the houses in the old town. They are a common sight in Spisergasse, Marktgasse, Kugelgasse and Schmiedgass. However, St. Gallen's true landmarks are the baroque cathedral and the monastery library. 140,000 documents, some handwritten and over a thousand years old, are kept in the magnificent rococo hall, among other places. The entire abbey district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Following the city centre, the route continues to Bruggen. Since St. Gallen lies between deep valleys and gorges, it is surrounded by numerous bridges. The stately Chräzeren road bridge from 1807 provided a link to Winterthur and Zurich. Its two arches made of molasse sandstone with a span of 26.40 metres are impressive.
Continue on your way past the bathing area of Gübsensee lake and through a short section of forest to quickly reach the first buildings of Herisau. After another hour of hiking, the route ends in the centre of Herisau. Although the town first developed under the influence of the monastery of St. Gallen, it later became Protestant and was therefore assigned to Appenzell Ausserrhoden in the 16th century.
Rorschach, a medieval traffic hub and lake port of St. Gallen, is mentioned as a pilgrimage station around the year 1300. Highlights of the hike to Herisau include a visit to the Abbey Library in St. Gallen and the bridge landscape in Bruggen.
The hike has a lot to offer: the lakeside promenade in Rorschach, the cathedral and the Abbey Library in St. Gallen, the bridge architecture around Bruggen or the lovely old town of Herisau. The multifaceted hike from Rorschach to Herisau takes just under seven hours and starts on the lakeshore.
Between the rolling hills of the Appenzellerland and the expanse of Lake Constance lies the pretty St. Gallen harbour town of Rorschach. In the Middle Ages, it developed into the most important trading centre on the southern lakeshore. The lively town centre, the stately homes and the Kornhaus (granary), built in 1749, still bear witness to this history.
From the lakeside promenade, neighbourhood streets lead through the middle of town. Outside the settlement area, you reach Sulzberg Castle. A little above the castle pond, the route continues to Untereggen. About an hour and a half later, you get to the village, and soon after, to the Martinstobel, crossed by the Martinsbrücke bridge. After about four hours, you arrive at St. Gallen.
111 ornate oriel windows embellish the facades of the houses in the old town. They are a common sight in Spisergasse, Marktgasse, Kugelgasse and Schmiedgass. However, St. Gallen's true landmarks are the baroque cathedral and the monastery library. 140,000 documents, some handwritten and over a thousand years old, are kept in the magnificent rococo hall, among other places. The entire abbey district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Following the city centre, the route continues to Bruggen. Since St. Gallen lies between deep valleys and gorges, it is surrounded by numerous bridges. The stately Chräzeren road bridge from 1807 provided a link to Winterthur and Zurich. Its two arches made of molasse sandstone with a span of 26.40 metres are impressive.
Continue on your way past the bathing area of Gübsensee lake and through a short section of forest to quickly reach the first buildings of Herisau. After another hour of hiking, the route ends in the centre of Herisau. Although the town first developed under the influence of the monastery of St. Gallen, it later became Protestant and was therefore assigned to Appenzell Ausserrhoden in the 16th century.
Between the rolling hills of the Appenzellerland and the expanse of Lake Constance lies the pretty St. Gallen harbour town of Rorschach. In the Middle Ages, it developed into the most important trading centre on the southern lakeshore. The lively town centre, the stately homes and the Kornhaus (granary), built in 1749, still bear witness to this history.
From the lakeside promenade, neighbourhood streets lead through the middle of town. Outside the settlement area, you reach Sulzberg Castle. A little above the castle pond, the route continues to Untereggen. About an hour and a half later, you get to the village, and soon after, to the Martinstobel, crossed by the Martinsbrücke bridge. After about four hours, you arrive at St. Gallen.
111 ornate oriel windows embellish the facades of the houses in the old town. They are a common sight in Spisergasse, Marktgasse, Kugelgasse and Schmiedgass. However, St. Gallen's true landmarks are the baroque cathedral and the monastery library. 140,000 documents, some handwritten and over a thousand years old, are kept in the magnificent rococo hall, among other places. The entire abbey district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Following the city centre, the route continues to Bruggen. Since St. Gallen lies between deep valleys and gorges, it is surrounded by numerous bridges. The stately Chräzeren road bridge from 1807 provided a link to Winterthur and Zurich. Its two arches made of molasse sandstone with a span of 26.40 metres are impressive.
Continue on your way past the bathing area of Gübsensee lake and through a short section of forest to quickly reach the first buildings of Herisau. After another hour of hiking, the route ends in the centre of Herisau. Although the town first developed under the influence of the monastery of St. Gallen, it later became Protestant and was therefore assigned to Appenzell Ausserrhoden in the 16th century.
Length
25 km
Ascent | Descent
800 m | 420 m
Hiking time
6 h 45 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
difficult
Arrival | return travel
More …
Saving metres in altitude
There is a train between Rorschach and St. Gallen that saves about 250 metres in altitude.
SBB Sitter bridge
Duration
27.03.2023 - 05.05.2023
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
Due to construction work on the SBB bridge, the hiking trail will be rerouted via Stocken - Chräzerenbrücke - Sturzeneggstrasse during the construction period. The diversion is signalled.
Status
validated
Data source: Swiss Hiking Federation and Cantonal hiking associations
Hints
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton and the communities.
St. Galler Wanderwege
Sömmerliwaldstrasse 7
9000 St. Gallen
info@sg-wanderwege.ch
www.sg-wanderwege.ch
