In Mollis, village history, exhibitions and two very different themed trails come together. The village’s historic townscape, with its manor houses, is of national importance; the church, museum and Linth Escher Auditorium each add their own themes to this cultural and historical focus. When choosing activities for a stay, you can explore local history, an astronomical trail or the story of Schabziger.
Village History and Exhibitions
The Mollis Museum’s permanent exhibition, “Old Crafts,” presents the history of craftsmen from earlier times. On the ground floor, you can also see an excerpt from a former exhibition about Fritz Zwicky, an astrophysicist, rocket researcher, inventor and mountaineer. Exhibition content may change; check what is currently on display before visiting.
The present-day Mollis church was built in 1760 by Johann Ulrich Grubenmann and is a listed building. The church contains memorial plaques commemorating the Glarus men who fell at the Battle of Näfels on April 9, 1388, and were buried in Mollis. This place thus brings together the history of the building and a precisely dated event in Glarus history.
The Linth Escher Auditorium presents a collection on the work of Conrad Escher von der Linth (1767–1823). It also features a permanent exhibition of documents about the Linth project. Since its inauguration in autumn 1996, guided tours and lectures have been held there regularly. Check the current registration options before visiting.
Themed Trails with Different Focuses
The Glarus Planet Trail depicts the solar system to a scale of 1:2 billion. It runs along the right bank of the Linth on an easy, marked hiking trail from the Gelbe Fabrik in Mollis to the weir in Netstal. The trail is 2.25 km long; walking it one way takes about 40 minutes. The route and signage may change. Check the latest information before setting out.
The Schabziger High Trail focuses on a different subject: ten stations cover the history, production and marketing of Glarus Schabziger. The route leads from Filzbach and Habergschwänd to Mollis and Oberruestel. The two trails therefore appeal to different interests: the depiction of the solar system on the Planet Trail and the story of a Glarus product on the high trail.
Location and Getting Around
Mollis is in the Glarus lowlands and borders the Linth Canal and Lake Walen to the north. Its elevation ranges from 419 to 2,118 metres above sea level. Mollis is also the western starting point of the Kerenzer Pass road, which runs along the southern flank of Lake Walen towards the Rhine Valley.
Mollis shares a railway station with Näfels on the Rapperswil–Glarus–Linthal regional line. The village centre is served by the Glarus bus route Bilten/Ziegelbrücke–Niederurnen–Näfels–Mollis–Filzbach–Obstalden–Mühlehorn. Check current timetables and connections for specific travel dates.
Mollis airfield is now used mainly for civilian purposes and is no longer a military airfield. Sightseeing flights by helicopter, powered aircraft or glider are offered at the airfield. Booking and operating conditions may change; check them before planning a flight.
Discover more destinations: Elm, Glarus South, Mühlehorn, Braunwald, Nidfurn, Näfels, Glarus, Engi.
Back to the main travel overview: Glarus.
