Stage 1: Vaduz (Gaflei, FL) → Sargans

Via Alpina · Day 1 of 20 · km 0 of 392

Distance

28.0 km

Ascent

+476 m

Descent

−1,592 m

Estimated average time

7 h 30 min

Highest 1,597 m · lowest 453 m

28.0 kilometres, 476 metres of ascent, 1,592 metres of descent, 7 hours 30 minutes of walking, an estimated average; highest point at 1,597 metres, lowest at 453 metres.

Technique: easy · fitness: hard

What Clotilde says

Vaduz → Montreux

First day, and already 28.0 km! Good news: it starts downhill, 1592 m between Gaflei and the Rhine valley, passing below Vaduz Castle. Less good news: your knees will feel it. Above the fields, look up for the red kite and its long forked tail. Sargans Castle is waiting for you at the end of 7 h 30 min of walking.

Montreux → Vaduz

Last stage of your journey east, and not the gentlest: 1592 m of climbing between Sargans and Gaflei, over 28.0 km. Allow 8 h 30 min of walking. You cross the Rhine, then Vaduz, where the prince's family lives in the castle. Up at Gaflei, the Rhine valley spreads out below you: you've well and truly earned that view!

Along the way

• Vaduz Castle Above the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz Castle is the permanent home of the prince's family.
• Sargans Castle Counts and then bailiffs lived in this castle above Sargans. Today it houses the Sarganserland museum, which also tells the story of iron mining on the Gonzen.

In the nature guide

Red kite

Sources: Wikipedia, "Château de Vaduz" and "Château de Sargans" (French), "Schloss Vaduz" and "Schloss Sargans" (German); Municipality of Vaduz, "Schloss Vaduz"; museums.ch, "Schloss Sargans und Museum Sarganserland".

See on SwitzerlandMobility (new tab)

Distances, ascents, walking times and route: Federal Roads Office FEDRO, cantons, SwitzerlandMobility Foundation — Hiking in Switzerland (ch.astra.wanderland), open data OPEN BY.