The neoclassical Church of St. Charles Borromeo, built in 1846, defines Ernetschwil’s rural village silhouette with its tower. The village lies on the southern slope of the Ricken Pass in the See-Gaster electoral district of the Canton of St. Gallen. Here, you can combine a look at the village’s history with a detailed description of a hike.
A place with a long history
Ernetschwil was first mentioned in writing in 885. A document from St. Gallen Abbey names it as the first village in today’s municipality of Gommiswald. The former political municipality of Ernetschwil merged with Rieden to form the municipality of Gommiswald on January 1, 2013; since then, the village has been part of the unified municipality. The two dates tell of different periods: the early written mention and the more recent municipal reorganisation.
Church, rectory, and dairy building
The Church of St. Charles Borromeo is neoclassical in style and has a tall choir tower. Within the church precinct, the church and rectory stand side by side on an east-west axis. The two-storey rectory has a hipped roof and cross gables on both long sides. Together with the dairy building, which also has notable architectural and historical qualities, it offers further clues for discovering the village’s buildings. Different building types stand alongside one another: the church, rectory, and dairy building.
The history of pilgrimage routes is also part of Ernetschwil’s background. In the past, several inns provided accommodation and meals for pilgrims travelling over the Ricken to Einsiedeln. The dedication of the parish church is associated with a pilgrimage by Cardinal Charles Borromeo: in 1570, he rode through Ernetschwil on his journey. This connection remains a distinct historical point of reference alongside the village’s long history.
Hilly landscapes and distinctive stream formations
Ernetschwil lies among hills and forests in a landscape shaped largely by agriculture. Some places offer views of the Glarus Alps, large parts of the Linth Plain, and the upper end of Lake Zurich. The views are therefore not a continuous panorama; they open up at selected spots. South of Ernetschwil, in the surrounding area, the Ernetschwilerbach and a tributary have cut deep into terraces formed during the Ice Age. These consist of moraines, gravel, and swamp and still-water deposits over a molasse bedrock.
The Böllenbergtobel gorge reveals further striking features of the stream: steep sections have small waterfalls and pools with eroded potholes. The landscape can thus be viewed from two perspectives: as a hilly, forested area shaped by agriculture, and through its sculpted streams and geological surroundings.
Hike from Berg Sion Monastery
An easy hike leads downhill from Berg Sion Monastery to Ernetschwil. It is 2.7 kilometres long and takes 45 minutes. Along the way, the route passes the Chapel of Felix and Regula, which contains statues of the two saints. The hike thus combines a clearly defined walking time with a specific religious connection. If you are planning a stay, you can treat this route as a short hike in its own right, distinct from the architectural and historical highlights in the village.
Discover more destinations: Rapperswil-Jona, Gommiswald, Schänis, Benken, Uznach, Weesen, Eschenbach, Amden.
View the broader travel overview: See-Gaster.
