ViaJacobi, Stage 12/33

The trail from Wattenwil to Schwarzenburg leads past the ruins of Rüeggisberg Monastery and the church of Wahlern, which can be seen from afar perched on a hill. On this route, you hike through the pristine pre-Alpine landscape of the Gantrisch Nature Park.

From the Wattenwil, Bären bus stop, the hiking trail leads through the village and past the church. Open meadows and small settlements then alternate along the route. It climbs via Burgistein to Riggisberg, where it passes the church. Above the village, views open up towards the Bernese Alps.

The route continues through hilly pastureland towards Rüeggisberg. Around halfway, near Egg, it reaches its highest point at approximately 930 m. The trail then leads through Rüeggisberg, past the church and monastery. From there, it descends via Helgisried-Rohrbach to Wislisau, where it follows the Schwarzwasser for a short stretch.

The final section once again crosses open meadows and passes through the hamlets of Elisried and Schönentanne. At the Liseren barbecue site, the final stretch to the first houses of Schwarzenburg begins. After 21 kilometres and a little over five and a half hours, the hike ends at Schwarzenburg railway station.