Amlikon-Bissegg walks

Nineteenth stage: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura mountain range. For this final stage, you will take the ViaJacobi, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads German pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela via Geneva. Following in their footsteps, you will reach the city of Constance (Konstanz), nestled in southern Germany. Constance charms visitors with its medieval charm, particularly in the picturesque Niederburg district, where narrow streets and half-timbered houses tell centuries of history. Its majestic Romanesque cathedral, the Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, has watched over the city since the Middle Ages. Finally, Lake Constance (Bodensee), a true natural gem, stretches out at the foot of the Alps and unites three nations — Germany, Switzerland and Austria — in a landscape of serene beauty.

This cycle route takes you round the main part of Lake Constance. I recommend doing it on a gravel bike, as the route alternates between roads, cycle paths and dirt tracks. For the fittest cyclists, the tour can be completed in a single day. Otherwise, it’s perfectly possible to do it over several days. The lakeside areas are popular with tourists, so you’ll easily find accommodation and places to eat all along the route. To follow the official cycle route around Lake Constance, look out for the signpost showing a cyclist with a blue rear wheel.

Stage 18 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage, starting from Uesslingen, first takes you through peaceful agricultural pastures before skirting the vineyards of an old monastery. You then reach Warth, home to the Ittingen Charterhouse, which bears witness to more than 850 years of history and spirituality. Passing through Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and return to the tranquillity of the banks of the Thur. The route takes you to Pfyn, then offers a beautiful immersion along the river, punctuated by the passage of the superb Eschikofen customs bridge. A stage combining heritage, nature and the gentle flow of the river.

This second stage will take you from Gyrenbad to the Hulftegg Pass. The Schauenberg offers a magnificent view of the Alps. The route to Sitzberg offers more interesting views, particularly of the Bichelsee. From Sitzberg (on the border between the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen) to Allenwinden, the route follows a small road, which fortunately is not very busy. When you arrive at the Hulftegg Pass, you will enjoy a superb view of the Toggenburg and the Appenzell region.

This third stage will take you from the Hulftegg Pass to the isolated inn at Chrüzegg. The start of the route alternates between forest and pastures before taking a ridge trail at Roten. You will follow this ridge between the cantons of St. Gallen and Zurich to the Schnebelhorn, the highest point in the canton of Zurich and also the highest point of the hike. This summit offers a splendid panorama stretching from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich. The scenic route then passes through the Schindelberg, Rossegg, Habrütispitz and Chrüzegg peaks, offering more superb views.

Four-day tour through the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen. This route offers views of Lake Zurich and the peaks of the Bernese Alps, the Glärnisch massif and the Alpstein, including the Säntis Winterthur, the starting point, and Rapperswil, the finish, both have remarkable historic centres.

For this first stage, starting from Winterthur station, after exploring the old town, you will very quickly find yourself in the countryside. You will cross an animal park. The route is quite varied, following the Töss river and passing through the peaceful village of Kollbrunn. Then, a ridge path will lead you to Gyrenbad, a place of tranquillity and rest.

A relaxing, accessible walk around Immenstaad: the route follows fully tarmac-surfaced paths along Lake Constance and through the region’s apple-growing areas. The walk is well suited to pushchairs and wheelchairs and combines the lakeside, sweeping views and a rural atmosphere to create a pleasant outing for everyone.

This fourth stage will take you from Chrüzegg to Rapperswil on the shores of Lake Zurich. The trail quickly leads to a ridge line, passing through Tweralspitz. In the distance, you will recognise Chrüzegg. You will then descend gradually towards Rotstein, Schwammegg and Köbelberg, with panoramic views on both sides. From Rüeterswil, the Züri Oberland-Höhenweg and the Via Jacobi merge. The arrival in Rapperswil is achieved by avoiding roads as much as possible.

Seventeenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. Through the landscapes of northern Zurich, this stage takes you from Embrach to Uesslingen-Buch, following the rivers and villages that line the Huguenot Trail. From hamlet to hamlet, you will walk along well-marked footpaths, between discreet forests, peaceful farms and typical bell towers. Gradually, the scenery opens up onto the vast agricultural expanses of the Thur Valley, signalling the proximity of the German border. This route, rich in heritage and contrasts, ends gently by the river, in the peaceful countryside of Uesslingen.

This varied hike leads from Friedrichshafen through the idyllic Eriskircher Ried – one of the most important nature reserves on Lake Constance. Two viewing platforms with magnificent views over the unique reed landscape await you. Impressive views of Lake Constance open up again and again before the tour ends in a relaxed manner at the lido in Eriskirch. Ideal for nature lovers, families and anyone looking for a peaceful hike in beautiful surroundings.

The Rhine Falls are waterfalls located between Neuhausen (right bank) and Flurlingen (left bank) in Switzerland, downstream from Schaffhausen. With a height of 23 metres and a width of 150 metres, they are among the largest in Europe. When the Rhine has its average flow, 750m3/s of water rushes over the rocks.

This stage will take you from Speicher to Appenzell via Trogen. At Hohe Buche, you will enjoy a superb view of Lake Constance and the city of St Gallen. Another hill will take you to the summit of the Säntis. A descent through the mountain pastures will lead you to Appenzell, famous for its cheese. A visit to the town is a must.

This 10-stage Alpine panorama trail takes you from Rorschach on the shores of Lake Constance to Lucerne. The trail crosses numerous mountain pastures and offers a few small peaks with beautiful views of the Alps and lakes. You will visit Appenzell, world-famous for its cheese. You will enjoy the Säntis, the highest point of the Alpstein massif. You will meet many pilgrims in Einsiedeln. You will enjoy walks along the lakes of Zug and Lucerne.

This stage will take you from Rorschach to Speicher. After a beautiful walk along the shores of Lake Constance, you will climb up to the village of Heiden. At Kaienspitz, the highest point of the stage, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of Lake Constance and the Alps.

This stage will take you from Appenzell to Schwägalp at the foot of the Säntis. This day is devoted to climbing the Kronberg, a ridge parallel to the Alpstein massif. The Kronberg offers superb views of the Säntis to the south and the plain stretching to Lake Constance in the north. In the evening, you will appreciate the tranquillity of Schwägalp.

This short stage will take you from Schwägalp to Stein. You will cross numerous mountain pastures until you reach Lutertannen. From Risipass, you will continue through meadows and mountain pastures until you reach Stein (Canton of St. Gallen).

This is an easy route. You will follow various streams through forests and villages, exploring the outskirts of Zurich as far as the beautiful Lake Greifensee, where you can go swimming (in summer, at least).

Almost all of the elevation gain is in the first two kilometres. Your efforts will be rewarded once you reach the lake. A peaceful and relaxing spot, with views of Santis and Ebenalp among others, which will make you forget the tingling in your thighs.

Circular hike starting from Wasserauen: an ascent to the tranquil Sämtisersee, passing by the magnificent Fählensee, then climbing to the spectacular Saxer Lücke, which offers exceptional views of the Alpstein. The route then descends towards the Seealpsee before returning to Wasserauen. This is a challenging hike through some of Switzerland’s most beautiful landscapes.

This stage will take you from Stein to Amden. You will walk alongside the Dürrenbach, a torrent with numerous waterfalls, for a long time. At Vordere Höhi, you will enjoy a superb view of the Glarus Alps. You will pass at the foot of the Mattstock as you descend to Amden. As you approach this village, you can also admire the Walensee.

Circular walk along sections of the Way of St James and through peaceful woodland. This walk to Bethlehem leads directly from Pfullendorf into a beautiful woodland area with good farm tracks and moderate gradients. Along the way, we frequently follow sections of the Way of St James, which leads from Wald via Pfullendorf on to Überlingen.

This stage will take you from Siebnen to Einsiedeln. After the long climb up the Stöcklichrüz, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich and the Sihlsee. At the Etzelpass, you will pass the St. Meinradskapelle chapel and the birthplace of Paracelsus. In Einsiedeln, a major pilgrimage site in Switzerland, don't miss a visit to the monastery.

An exciting circular walk for the whole family The circular walk along the Wilhelmsdorf Ried Nature Trail begins right next to the Wilhelmsdorf Nature Conservation Centre, home to the interactive exhibition ‘Experience the Moor’. Here, over a relatively short distance and along soft, well-maintained paths, you can walk through the various moorland habitats and make many exciting discoveries. A visit to the Ried Nature Trail is particularly worthwhile for families with children.

This route starts in Pfäffikon (SZ) and leads to Rapperswil (SG) along a wide causeway that divides Lake Zurich into two parts. The first section follows wide gravel paths through a peaceful landscape. Up to Hurden, the path winds through meadows. From Hurden to Rapperswil, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the lake as you walk along a series of wooden jetties. In Rapperswil, the path passes through a beautiful park leading to the historic town centre. The return journey can be made via the same route or by train (a train runs every half hour between Rapperswil and Pfäffikon).

A historic hiking trail surrounded by rich flora Rising a good hundred metres above the surrounding landscape on the edge of the Pfrunger Ried, the isolated Ringgenburg-Höhe proves to be a wonderful area for walking. Vertical Nagelfluh cliffs and caves still bear witness to the erosive power of the meltwater that carved out the Ostrach and Rotach valleys on either side. The porous Nagelfluh layers support a rich variety of flora. Despite the woodland, the 725-metre-high mountain spur offers magnificent views down into the Ried. The fact that the Rinkenburg or Ringgenburg, a prehistoric refuge fortress whose moats are still visible, once stood here adds to its appeal for many.

Thanks to its high altitude, this circular walk promises stunning views of nature and the countryside. From a distance, you can see the wind turbines atop the hill, which stretches southwards from Pfullendorf to the west of the Pfrunger-Burgweiler Ried. Almost a hundred metres above the Ried lie several small villages set in a varied landscape. The high altitude offers walkers magnificent views into the distance; in good weather, you can see as far as the Upper Swabian national mountain, the Bussen.

A lovely circular route starting from the Unterwasser car park, passing by Grappelensee and descending towards Alt St Johann. The route follows small tarmac roads before reaching the higher ground. The same applies on the descent. These roads are quiet.