Lochweg Bridge – Schwänberg loop from Gossau SG
Lochweg Bridge – Schwänberg loop from Gossau SG
4.5
(11)
44
hikers
Lochweg Bridge – Schwänberg loop from Gossau SG
02:33
9.12km
180m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: March 19, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
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2.34 km
Familie Kunzie Dairy Farm – Milk for Appenzeller Cheese
Highlight • Structure
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3.17 km
Confluence of the Wissbach and the Glatt
Highlight • River
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3.38 km
Lochweg Bridge
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4.27 km
Schwänberg
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Schwänberg is a settlement in the municipality of Herisau. It is the oldest documented location in Appenzellerland. Schwänberg has a townscape of national importance.
In 821, the settlement was first mentioned as Suweinperac in a document from the monastery of St. Gallen.[1] It marks the beginning of the Alemannic settlement of the Appenzellerland, which progressed from north to south.
Until the end of the Middle Ages, people and goods in Schwänberg had a special legal status. They enjoyed certain privileges within the manorial system of the St. Gallen monastery. After the Appenzell Wars, Schwänberg succeeded in gaining partial autonomy from the Herisau parish church. In 1780, the Schar (district) of Schwänberg comprised over a hundred residential buildings west of Herisau. It formed a military organizational element, exercised police functions and was responsible for the fire brigade. The crowd probably met in the large hall of the old town hall.
In the first half of the 17th century, Schwänberg became the prestigious residence of several Herisau magistrate families. Several stately private houses were built on behalf of builders who had become rich through trade, medicine and mercenary service. Towards the end of the 17th century, Herisau was expanding and the leading families moved to or near the village. Textile cottage industry and agriculture became the economic basis of the population, which was hardly growing any more. In contrast to the rest of the Appenzellerland, arable farming was maintained for an extraordinarily long time. Around 1830 attempts were made to grow mulberry trees and breed silkworms.
When the textile home industry collapsed around 1920, agriculture was the only source of income. The young people who have moved here since the end of the 20th century led to a revival of the historic buildings.
Text/ Source: Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schw%C3%A4nberg
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4.80 km
farm shop
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5.84 km
Zellermüli Historic Mill Settlement
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6.27 km
Bench with a view of Marstalweiher
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In the 19th century, however, it was probably the most dangerous place in Gossau: A powder factory claimed some lives there. Far away from the Gossau city limits of that time, they manufactured explosive, hunting, cannon, musket and target powder.
Text / source: tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz
tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/stgallen/im-marstal-in-der-alten-pulverfabrik-kracht-es-auch-heute-noch-ld.1203206
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7.26 km
Muelt
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9.12 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
6.24 km
1.35 km
1.17 km
366 m
Surfaces
2.88 km
2.65 km
2.20 km
1.00 km
135 m
105 m
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Elevation
Highest point (740 m)
Lowest point (630 m)
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Weather
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Saturday 16 May
13°C
2°C
6 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h
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