The municipality of Homburg lies on the Seerücken ridge between the Untersee and Frauenfeld. Hills, forests, orchards and farmland stretch from 439 to 721 metres above sea level. Two distinct highlights are available to help you plan your trip: trails and viewpoints in the countryside, and churches and castle complexes with a long architectural history. This lets you decide whether you would like to choose Homburg primarily for its panoramas and nature or for its historic buildings.

Landscape and panoramic circular trail

There are three marked running and walking routes in the municipality, ranging from 3.5 to 12.5 kilometres. One of them is the 5.1-kilometre Homburg panoramic circular trail, which is listed as open and easy. It starts in Reutenen; alternatively, you can start at the former Haidenhaus restaurant. Route details may be updated, so check the information before setting out.

The panoramic circular trail passes a viewpoint with a panoramic information board. In good visibility, it identifies more than 270 peaks in the Allgäu, Vorarlberg, the Rätikon, Alpstein, the Churfirsten, the St. Gallen Oberland, and the Glarus, Central Swiss and Bernese Alps. Waldriet Grosswis, listed in the Federal Inventory of Amphibian Breeding Sites of National Importance, is also along the trail. A detour from the route leads to the 200-year-old silver fir known as “Grandmother.” Grass frogs and water frogs, common toads and midwife toads, as well as smooth newts and alpine newts, can be found in Waldriet.

Landscape information boards

An Alpine panorama board stands in Hinterhomburg near Halde; the path from the main road is signposted. The geology board is on Haidenhausstrasse between Salen and Reutenen, on the right-hand side in the forest. It explains how the landscape formed and how rivers, valleys and lakes came into being. The two boards therefore offer different perspectives: one identifies distant peaks, while the other explains the landscape’s geological features.

Churches and historic village centres

In Gündelhart, the castle, church, rectory and the “Beggestübli” building complex still form a completely intact village centre. The church probably originated as a simple Romanesque chapel with a rectangular floor plan. Around the year 1300, a choir was added to the nave. A painting depicting the church’s patron saint, Mauritius, as a Roman officer was completed on the west gable in 1949.

In the village of Homburg, the Baroque Church of St Peter and Paul is visible from far away. The present-day church was built in 1753 and 1754. In 1784, part of the village and the church burned down; the most recent restoration took place from 1977 to 1979. Local history also offers a personal connection: Johann Traber grew up in Oberdorf in Homburg and founded the Raiffeisen banking system in Switzerland in 1899.

Klingenberg Castle

Klingenberg Castle is protected by law and classified as particularly valuable. The Lower Castle complex has structural cores dating from 1446. After a fire, the west wing was rebuilt in 1722, followed by the south and east wings from 1733 to 1736. Due to its historical and architectural qualities, its uniqueness, its artistic furnishings and its outstanding location, Klingenberg Castle is one of the most significant buildings in the municipality of Homburg.

Getting there and planning your trip

Homburg does not have its own railway station, but it is connected to public transport by PostBus routes 826 between Frauenfeld and Steckborn and 831 between Homburg and Müllheim TG. To reach the panoramic circular trail, take the train to Müllheim-Wigoltingen, then PostBus route 833 in the direction of Ermatingen to the Raperswilen, Schulhaus stop. From there, it is a 40-minute walk to the starting point. Timetables may change, so check connections before travelling.

The highlights are easy to distinguish when planning your trip: the panoramic circular trail combines scenic views with nature observation, while the churches, castle and village centres offer an insight into the area’s architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Hörhausen, Wagenhausen, Steckborn, Eschenz, Pfyn, Hüttwilen, Mammern, Berlingen

Return to the main travel overview: Steckborn.