Ballwil – Horben – Hitzkirch

This high-level hike leads from Ballwil to the Lindenberg, crossing meadows, farmland and forest. Along the way are the historic Hohenrain Commandery, Horben and far-reaching views, before the trail descends to Hitzkirch.

From Ballwil railway station, the trail leaves the village and crosses open farmland to Oberebersol. Well-kept farms and meadows line the gentle ascent to Hohenrain. There, the route passes the Knights Hospitaller Commandery, one of the order’s oldest establishments in present-day Switzerland. Parts of the medieval complex date from the late 12th and 13th centuries.

Beyond Güniken, the trail continues to climb across meadows and through forest to the Horben plateau. Views open up at the Alpenzeiger and the Sulzerkreuz. Nearby are the Chapel of St Wendelin, Schloss Horben and the Alpwirtschaft Horben mountain inn. The route then reaches its highest point near the Lindenberg at around 860 m.

The trail continues through the Sulzerwald to Müswangen, where the Linde offers a place to stop for refreshments. A longer descent now leads through meadows and past the first houses to Hitzkirch. The final stretch to Hitzkirch railway station begins at the Church of St Pankratius and the village fountain.