Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
C2
Vaduz » Sargans
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4h50 |
17.7 km
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407 m
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383 m
Leave Vaduz and head towards the south west, first crossing the Rhine plain and the national border to Switzerland. From Sevelen, head slightly uphill through the wood to Gretschins. Pass the villages of Fontnas, Azmoos and Vild heading alongside the foot of the Gonzen peak to reach Sargans, the stage destination.
The Green Trail leaves the Principality of Liechtenstein and leads into Switzerland to Sevelen in the canton of St. Gallen. It follows the Rheinauen-hiking trail to the north west of the little town and the nature and relaxation resort of Haberfeld, then arrives at the inner dam in a southward direction passing the football stadium and crossing the Rhine and the border on the wooden bridge, which is under monument protection. Follow the main road, passing the railway line at Sevelen train station to reach the village centre of Sevelen. From here, the trail heads up through a little valley to the Oberschan plateau. It then continues past rocks, woods and marshland areas to Gretschins. Head over a ridge to reach Fontnas, from where the trail descents to the edge of the Rhine plains and follows the base of the Alviers massif to reach Azmoos. From here, the trail climbs again slightly and leads through the wood to Vild with its little chapel. Sargans Castle already towers up in the foreground, indicating the way through the vineyards and meadows. Below the castle, continue along the main road to Sargans train station. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
Wartau Ruins The Wartau castle hill lies to the east of Gretschins and is part of the Wartau hilly landscape, a charming and ecologically diverse countryside region. Flat terrain together with the warm foehn climate creates the ideal preconditions for the occurrence of numerous warmth-loving animal and plant species (including the rare smooth snake). Since the 1950s, the undergrowth has become so thick that the Wartau ruins as a symbol of the community threatened to disappear behind a forest of leaves. A project for the promotion of the castle hill landscape and ecology has been running since 2001. Fort Magletsch Artillery The Magletsch artillery fort, also called “Der Hammer” (the hammer), was built during the 2nd World War and forms the northernmost cornerstone of the Sargans fortifications. In the course of the army reform of ‘95, the large artillery work was closed down. There are guided group visits to the upper floor of the building as a construction of national importance, exhibiting how it was still run in the Nineties as a training camp. Sargans Sargans, set in a sink of the Rheintal valley, was mentioned for the first time in 765. As the old Zürich-Grisons access and trade road already led via Sargans and further to Italy and Austria, the town played an important role from a very early stage in terms of transport access. In the 13th century the counts of Werdenberg-Sargans established their main residence in the castle, from where there is a view over the entire valley. In 1337, Sargans received the town charter. In 1405, the little town was destroyed by the people of Appenzell, and in 1445 again by the Confederates. But the simultaneous attempts to take over the castle, sitting proudly on the rocky throne of the Gonzen ridge, were both unsuccessful. In 1811, Sargans fell victim to a major fire. Until the time of the Helvetic Republic, in other words until 1798, the castle was used by the landvogts (provincial governors) as an official residence. In 1899, the community of Sargans acquired the entire premises for approximately 80,000 franks. The urgently necessary renovation work was then undertaken immediately. Today, the castle accommodates a restaurant and in the keep the Sarganserland museum (local history collection, early history discoveries). In the old town, built after 1811 between the upper and lower gates, stand the classical “Gallatihaus”, today the town hall, and the “Broderhaus”, a simple townhouse with a farm building and also the parish church of St. Oswald and Cassian, which was first mentioned in the middle of the 9th century and rebuilt in 1709. The lower section of the tower dates back to a previous Gothic construction and was increased in height in 1892 and given a Käsbissen roof (gable roof) in 1934. Baroque marble portal. The interior boasts ceiling frescoes dating back to 1710, baroque altars and a pulpit in black marble. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
237 T Walenstadt ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Glarnerland Walensee ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG / ISBN 3-259-00865-9 (1: 60'000)
Wanderkarte Flumserberge-Walensee ~ Kantonal st. Gallische Wanderwege / ISBN 3-906606-08-0 (1: 25'000)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Tof - 2015-01-07
Trieste-Monaco le 18/8/14
Départ des ruines de Schalun pour entrer en Suisse. Ravitaillement possible à Sevelen (supermarché).
Arrêt au-delà de Mels, bivouac en forêt sur la route au lieu dit "furstchchopf" sur la carte. Pas d'eau.
Automatic translation
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Trieste-Monaco on 18/8/14 out of the ruins of Schalun to enter Switzerland. Can supply in Sevelen (supermarket). Stop beyond Mels, forest bivouac on the road at a place called "furstchchopf" on the map. No water.
Monaco - Trieste
Sargans - Vaduz is a transition walk that took me 6h (slowly), mostly roads to walk
joan - 2011-09-22
Hotel zum Ritterhoff was the cheapest in Sargans in the summer of 2011 (Single bath with breakfast 75 Sf.), but it generates a LOT of noise: there is one train every 10' all night long in the back, AND a disco in the front. So, think it twice before going into it.
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.