Murg lies on the south shore of Lake Walen, on the alluvial fan of the Murgbach stream. The village is part of the municipality of Quarten in the Sarganserland constituency, Canton of St. Gallen. The Murgbach Gorge, with its glacial mills, begins just a few minutes from Murg railway station. A visit to the village offers a glimpse of the landscape shaped over time by the Murgbach stream.
Gorge, Stream and Chestnut Trails
The glacial mills in the Murgbach Gorge formed through the action of the Murgbach stream over a period of around 15,000 years after the last ice age. Red Verrucano rock characterises the gorge. The theme of water continues in the Murgtal: the valley stretches from the edge of the village to the three Murg lakes and offers opportunities for hiking. The Murgbach stream flows through the valley and the three lakes before emptying into Lake Walen as a southern tributary.
There are two different versions of the chestnut trail to choose from. The longer one is 2.5 kilometres long and leads from the village towards the Murgtal through old chestnut forests. The shorter circular route is 1.5 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 90 metres. This lets you take both the distance and, for the circular route, the elevation difference into account when planning. The Pro Kastanie Murg association regularly offers guided tours along the chestnut trail. If you are interested in a guided tour, check the latest dates.
Local History Between the Chapel and the Spinning Mill
Murg was first mentioned in records in 1045 as «Murga». One chapter of the village’s history is the former Murg spinning mill: built in 1834/35, it was considered the oldest cotton-spinning mill in the Sarganserland and ceased operations in 1996. Today, it is known as the «Alte Spinnerei» industrial heritage site and has been brought back to life. The history of the former business and the site’s present-day use are thus linked across time.
The history of religious buildings can also be traced through specific dates: the St. Bartholomew Chapel was consecrated in 1493. The village church was built in 1760 and replaced in 1975 by a new building with a parish centre. In the Unterbach neighbourhood, a stone arched bridge crosses the Murgbach stream; locals call it the «Roman Bridge». It is also mentioned in the Swiss Inventory of Historic Roads.
Chestnuts, Playground and Overnight Stays
The annual chestnut meal takes place at the «Kastanienstübli» in November. The menu includes hot chestnuts with various side dishes, as well as wine and music. At the Murger Chilbi in October, there is also a «Kastanienbeizli», where products made from sweet chestnuts are sold. These two events offer different opportunities to experience chestnuts as part of local life beyond the trail.
The chestnut playground is a family destination with play facilities and a fire pit. Overnight accommodation is also available at the Murgsee hut. When planning, you can distinguish between a stay in the village and an overnight stay in the hut, as these are different types of accommodation.
Connections in the Surrounding Area
A year-round connection to Quinten is available in the vicinity of Murg. It is worth checking the latest connections when planning your trip. The wider municipality of Quarten is served by the Mittensee-Murg motorway junction on the A3 (Zurich–Chur) and by SBB railway stations in Murg, Unterterzen and Mols. This information covers the wider municipality; you should still check your specific travel arrangements separately.
Discover more destinations: Mols.
Back to the main travel overview: Quarten.
