Constance-Einsiedeln (Swabian way)
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(93 km, walking time about 25 hours)
The Way of St. James from Constance (Konstanz) to Rapperswil is also called „Schwabenweg“. As in earlier times, the cathedral of Constance is the meeting place for pilgrims from Southern Germany and Switzerland who want to set out on the Way of St. James through Switzerland to Santiago de Compostela. The route leads through the Thurgau and Zürich’s Oberland to the lake of Zürich, then across the Etzel pass to Einsiedeln. The pilgrims use well-marked paths and roads, away from busy and noisy motor roads, across cultivated fields and meadows, through forests, alongside smaller and bigger brooks and rivers, crossing valleys and following hill crests until reaching the lake of Zürich. They cross it on a wooden pilgrims‘ causeway. Then, they reach Einsiedeln on a path also used by the pilgrims to the sanctuary of that place. Along the route, monasteries, churches and chapels, and many quiet spots beside watercourses and on hilltops invite to a contemplative rest. Pilgrims also come across hamlets and villages with decorative houses and farmsteads. They meet a very industrious rural population not averse to a friendly chat. It is to note that on part of this route, the Way of St. James still is marked with the original white-blue « Schwabenweg » fingerposts.
Important pointer
Helpers and association members walked the route themselves to inspect it. As volunteers, they edited the brief route descriptions based on the state as encountered. The accuracy of the contents and specially the correspondence with the official Way of St. James way-posting cannot be guaranteed by the association „jakobsweg.ch » and the authors, also in the sense of a product guarantee. Pilgrims are therefore asked to follow the official Way of St. James way-posts if discrepancies occur, and to notify us. Many thanks.
Texts : Winfried Erbach, Joe Weber and Klaus Augustiny (manuscript reader). Translated from German by Hans Bamert, Spiez. Pictures: Wolfgang Hörer / Winfried Erbach, and several others