At Rütteli, you can combine barbecuing, swimming in the Necker and relaxing; the St. Peterzell Cultural Trail, by contrast, offers a hike with clearly defined details. This gives you two different options for your stay: time by the water or a route from the village through several hamlets and back to the starting point. The history of the provostry and the pilgrimage routes also contribute to the area’s cultural character. You can therefore plan your visit around walking, the river or history, rather than trying to fit everything into a single tour.
By the Necker: time at Rütteli
The Rütteli barbecue and swimming area is located right where the Tüfenbach and Necker rivers meet. You can barbecue, swim in the Necker and relax there. Sankt Peterzell lies along the middle course of the Necker; at Rütteli, the river setting is brought to life by the confluence. This makes it different in character from the Cultural Trail: at Rütteli, the focus is on activities by the water and barbecuing, while the trail offers a hiking route with a stated distance, walking time and elevation gain. River conditions and the availability of the area may vary; check these before your visit.
The Cultural Trail as a hike with set details
The St. Peterzell Cultural Trail is a moderately difficult hike covering 6.1 kilometres, with a walking time of two hours and 184 metres of ascent and descent. This lets you assess the route not only by distance, but also by its stated duration, difficulty rating and elevation gain. It leads from the village through the hamlet of Hofstetten and the hamlet of Furt in Brunnadern, continues via Auboden and returns to the starting point in St. Peterzell. The route therefore starts and ends in the same place.
The Cultural Trail follows an old pilgrimage route in the Toggenburg holiday region, which was an important trade route. The hike thus combines its route with a connection to history. For practical planning, the stated two-hour walking time and route length remain useful guides; check seasonal conditions before setting out.
Provostry, mule track and pilgrimage routes
The origins of the St. Peterzell Provostry date back to the hermitage of the brothers known as «Sancti Petri Cella». The provostry building was completed in 1764 and served as an important stopping point on the mule track linking the monasteries of St. Gallen and St. Johann. Its origins, completion and former function offer different insights: into the beginnings of the provostry, the completed building and its historical role on the route between the two monasteries. The Falksche Haus adds a Rococo façade to the area’s architectural history.
Pilgrimage routes are also associated with different periods. In the 11th century, three pilgrimage routes converged in Sankt Peterzell; today, two sections of the Way of St. James meet here. The details differ both in number and in the route connections described: the three routes refer to the historical account of the 11th century, while the two sections describe the Way of St. James as it is today.
Carnival parade and getting here
The carnival parade in Sankt Peterzell takes place every other year. If you would like to plan your trip around the parade, check the specific event date separately. Sankt Peterzell is served by three PostBus routes. As timetables and transport networks can change, check connections for your travel date.
When choosing your travel dates, you can first decide which experience matters most to you: the hike with its stated walking time, a stay by the Necker or a visit for the carnival parade. This makes it easier to search for accommodation based on the actual purpose of your trip. For a hike, take seasonal trail conditions into account; river conditions and the availability of the area may change if you plan to spend time at Rütteli.
Discover more destinations: Bächli, Nesslau-Krummenau, Libingen, Mogelsberg, Wildhaus, Ebnat-Kappel, Brunnadern, Oberhelfenschwil.
Back to the main travel overview: Toggenburg.
