Alt Sankt Johann is a village in Toggenburg in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. For planning your trip, there are several specific places and routes to consider: the Sound Trail starting at Alp Sellamatt, trails along the Thur and the Churfirsten Trail, as well as the Sound Forge and the area’s monastery history. This lets you plan your stay around nature, sound, or local heritage, instead of trying to fit every experience into a single route.
Sound Trail: Starting at Alp Sellamatt
The Toggenburg Sound Trail runs for around six kilometres from Alp Sellamatt, above Alt Sankt Johann, to Oberdorf near Wildhaus. The route starts at the alp. From Alt Sankt Johann, you can reach Sellamatt by chairlift and gondola lift. Operating times may vary by season, so check the timetable for your visit. When planning, it is important to note both the start and the destination: the uphill ride takes you to the starting point at the alp, while the trail itself continues to Oberdorf near Wildhaus. The distance of around six kilometres refers to this stretch.
Trails along the Thur and through the Churfirsten landscape
The Upper Thur Trail leads from Unterwasser through Alt Sankt Johann to Starkenbach. Along the Thur, it passes through villages with traditional architecture. Rustic waterwheels are mounted on some charming wooden houses. This specific route therefore combines riverside scenery with traditional buildings.
The Churfirsten Trail offers a different kind of scenery: it leads through forests, expansive alpine meadows, and karst landscapes into the Gluristal valley. It also climbs Hinterrugg, which, at 2,306 metres, is the highest of the seven Churfirsten peaks. When comparing the routes, the Upper Thur Trail focuses on the Thur and the villages along the way, while the Churfirsten Trail features a variety of landscapes and Hinterrugg.
At the foot of the Churfirsten, a route features twelve short stories on painted panels. The stories offer a narrative way to explore the landscape. Alongside trails through riverside, forest, and alpine meadow scenery, there is also a route shaped by its painted panels.
Snowshoe trail at Alp Sellamatt
As a winter option, the marked snowshoe trail at Alp Sellamatt crosses open snowfields, passes through snow-covered fir forests, and goes by authentic alpine huts. Snow conditions depend on the season, so they are an important part of planning this tour. The trail’s winter character sets it apart from the routes along the Thur and through the Churfirsten landscape; which option is right for you depends on the scenery you want to experience.
The Sound Forge and monastery history
The Sound Forge is located in Alt Sankt Johann, right by the Thur, in a typical Toggenburg house. There, you can explore different themed rooms by experimenting with sounds. With expert guidance, you can also forge your own cowbells. These are two different ways to engage with sound: you can experiment with sounds in the rooms or try your hand at the craft of forging.
The history of the monastery can also be traced through several points in time. Around 1150, two hermits built a monastery in the area of what is now the St. Johannertal valley. After the fire of 1626, Alt St. Johann Monastery was rebuilt. The monastery church became the parish church in 1806. Together, these dates mark the monastery’s early construction, its rebuilding after the fire, and its later use as a church.
You can easily distinguish between the different experiences when choosing what to focus on: the Sound Trail runs from Alp Sellamatt to Oberdorf, the trails along the Thur and through the Churfirsten offer distinct landscapes, and the Sound Forge and monastery history add sound and culture to your trip. For the Sound Trail, the uphill ride to the alp is part of the planning; for the snowshoe trail, seasonal snow conditions are important.
Discover more destinations: Nesslau-Krummenau, Nesslau, Wildhaus, Ebnat-Kappel, Krinau, Libingen, BĂĽtschwil, LĂĽtisburg.
For the broader travel overview: Toggenburg.
