Arbon - St.Gallen

We reach our starting point, the Arbon train station, by train from Rorschach or Romanshorn, or by post bus from St.Gallen. The route starts on the lake side of the station, where we first follow Bahnhofstraße towards the town center. Before the police station, turn left through the Arbon "Pärkli" to the former city wall and at the tower turn right on Promenadenstraße towards the castle and church. Here once stood the late Roman castrum Arbon, of which some wall remains are still preserved. On the site, there are display boards explaining the history of the castrum location Arbon.

On the right side next to the Arbon parish church St. Martin, standing on the Roman castrum wall, is the Gallus Chapel built in the 13th century. It is usually closed but can be visited as part of guided city tours. Additionally, a small window allows a view inside the chapel even when the door is locked. On the left of the entrance is the so-called "Gallus stone" embedded in the masonry, on which, according to legend, Saint Gallus left his footprints.

After the detour to the Gallus Chapel, we reach the shore of Lake Constance via Hafenstraße and arrive at the main signpost "Arbon Schiffländi 398 m". On the lake promenade, we head towards Steinach. Beyond the Arbon bay, the onion dome of the Steinach parish church of St. Jakobus and Andreas is already visible and offers a good next orientation point. In good weather, from the lakeside promenade, the Säntis mountain can also be seen, in the direction of our destination St.Gallen.

In the village of Steinach, at the first fork, we turn left towards Horn, Rorschach, Tübach, and Goldach. On Gallusstraße, where we are, after a right curve, we soon reach a new signpost, which we follow now along Otmarstraße towards Goldach, Mörschwil, the Steinerburg ruins, and Berg. Shortly after, we cross the main road and stand before the next signpost. We follow it along Kirchweg towards the Steinerburg ruins. These will be our next intermediate destination after visiting the Steinach church. The church of St. Jakobus and Andreas is directly accessible from Kirchweg. On the baroque high altar, two statues of Saints Gallus and Otmar recall Steinach's former connection to the St.Gallen monastery.

After the church visit, we continue over the railway line. After around 700 meters, we reach the end of Kirchweg, where there is a wayside shrine with a relief of Saint Gallus with a bear. We cross the street and bridge and hike, always following the yellow signposts, first along the Steinach towards the Steinerburg ruins, which we reach after about two kilometers. The castle, built on the edge of the Steinach valley, was mentioned as owned by the nobility of Steinach as early as 1209 and belonged to the St.Gallen monastery since the 16th century. Today there is a nice fire pit at the ruins.

After Steinerburg, we descend into the Steinach valley (direction Mörschwil). We cross the Steinach on the so-called Gallus footbridge and then gain height again via stairs in the forest. Here there is the possibility to follow the (white-signed) footpath through the Steinach valley to St.Gallen. However, we take the hiking trail to the Mörschwil station. There is a train connection to St.Gallen every half hour from there, giving the option to shorten the hike.

From Mörschwil station, we follow the signposts towards St.Gallen-Neudorf. We take the “via Galgentobel” route, which leads us back towards Steinach valley at the "Simishus 616 m" signpost. This upper part of the valley is also called Galgentobel – a reminder of the former high court site of the St.Gallen abbey, which stood by today’s Evangelical-Reformed church Heiligkreuz. Along the railway line, we reach the city. St.Gallen-Neudorf is our orientation point. There is a bus stop where you have another chance to shorten the last kilometers of the Gallusweg. Those taking the bus or post bus from Neudorf should get off at the Marktplatz/Bohl stop to visit the main highlight of our hike, the St.Gallen abbey district, the Gallus monastery.

On foot, we reach the monastery from Neudorf by always following the signposts to St.Gallen Stiftsbezirk. Soon, at Fuchsenstraße, we encounter the well-marked Jakobweg (Hiking route 4), which also leads to the Stiftsbezirk. This way, we reach the city center without difficulties. Towards the end of Linsenbühlstraße, where the St.Gallen pilgrimage hostel is located (house number 61), we see the two towers of the abbey church appear. At the roundabout, we take a left onto Moosbruggstraße and then after 100 meters a right up the stairs through Karlstor. This gate’s name refers to Saint Karl Borromäus, who supposedly was the first to pass through it during his visit to the St.Gallen monastery in 1570. Another passage leads us through the 1769 completed "Neue Pfalz" to the monastery courtyard, where we are greeted by the magnificent double-tower facade of the St.Gallen abbey church.

Today the church, now a cathedral, is dedicated to Saints Gallus and Otmar. It is one of the most beautiful houses of worship in Switzerland. Through the side portal – the actual main entrance – we enter the central rotunda with its impressive ceiling painting, the "St.Gallen Heavenly Hosts." After the visit, we exit the church again via the side entrance. In front of the twin towers, we find a passage leading to the "Bischofshof." There, two monumental saint figures – Desiderius and Mauritius – guard the inconspicuous door to the historically significant Gallus Chapel, which is usually closed.

Through another passage (near the Otmar fountain), we reach the monastery bistro and then take the stairs left. These lead to St. Georgen Street, where, a few dozen meters to the left, we arrive at the Steinach waterfall. Here the saint Gallus is said to have once fished. After that, we return via St. Georgen Street to Gallusplatz (with Gallus fountain) and continue through Webergasse, Vadianstraße, and Kornhausstraße to St.Gallen train station.