On the Stählibuck Trail (Look-out Tower) from Weinfelden to Frauenfeld.

Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 -- In the northern part of Switzerland, Kanton Thurgau is renowned for its pear and apple orchards, which fruit is used to produce copious amounts of "Most" (or "Must", which is freshly crushed fruit juice which includes all parts of the fruit). Specifically, this is from fruit from "High Growth" trees, an old style of fruit tree which take a lot of work to maintain, but which also offer refuge to many animals.

In any case, when these high growth trees are in full bloom, the effect is quite spectular. We have experienced this on previous spring trips to the Thurgau (for example, see photos HERE), and I wanted to do another spring hike in the area this year. (As so many people have headed to the southern parts of Switzerland over the Easter long weekend, we were better off in the North anyway!).

The trail we picked -- called the "Stählibuckweg", or "Stählibuck Trail" -- between Weinfelden and Frauenfeld, was to include a castle and another look-out tower, one which has the reputation of one of the best views in Switzerland. (A steel-frame tower erected in 1908, whereby the tower was built in Näfels, Glarus, and transported in 10-meter sections to Frauenfeld by train, and then transported up the hill by horses! It is one of the oldest steel-frame structures in Switzerland.)

Although the day promised to be quite beautiful, I did not expect it to be so cold, with an icy east wind that made it very uncomfortable for me, being "underdressed" this day. (I almost aborted the trip). Furthermore, the day was hazy again, the "castle" was underwhelming, large sections of the trail were along long, straight agricultural roads (monotonous), and most disappointing of all: We were too early for the anticipated FULL bloom.

Nevertheless, because a photo album doesn't reflect the miserable cold, my photos turned out to be quite pretty anyway. Especially of the blooming trees and the half-timbered homes.

The end of our hike was in the city of Frauenfeld, where in keeping with the recent study of my family history, is the house where my father was born and spent most of his childhood years.

We started in a small community called Leutmerken, as it would have been too far to start in Weinfelden (the official starting point for the "Stählibuck Trail"). The small church hier was first mentioned in documents from 1275 and still contains parts of the original Romanesque Church

This 15-km hike in Canton Thurgau was almost 4 hours in length. A large section was on rather monotonous farm roads. 

Information about the Stählibuck Trail

Some colour in the countryside

Heading out in the direction of Frauenfeld (westward)

Even though the high-growth trees weren't yet in FULL Bloom, it still looks pretty

And we always enjoy the cows in the pastures!

A few of the blossoming fruit trees along the way. 

In the tiny hamlet of Griesenberg there was the old mill, now a residence

On the map there was an indication that there should be a castle here. Maybe this used to be one, but it is now a horse ranch

This cat thinks we might not see him!

The wind was so cold I had to wrap myself in a blanket for a large part of the trip. We have the blanket along most of the time for picnics, but rarely use it. It came in handy this time!

Approaching the village of Lustdorf

Entering the village of Lustdorf

There are always loads of Red Kites in the agricultural areas, taking advantage of when the farmers plough their fields

Lots of fruit trees in bloom

Half-timbered houses are always a pleasure to look at.

Japanese Cherries

A cool display of lots of old farming tools!

THIS is the kind of blossoming tree I was hoping to see everywhere!

Heading up the hill, a look down at the village of Lustdorf

As cold as it was, the landscape was still very pretty

Agricultural landscape in Canton Thurgau

Making sure we are still in Switzerland! In the background, we can just see the Alpstein Massif (Mt. Säntis)

We then entered a long stretch of forest, where there was enough sunshine and less cold wind!

First glimpse of the Stählibuck Tower, built in 1908, and one of the oldest steel frame structures in Switzerland.

View to the West from the top of the Stählibuck tower

View to the South. The air is hazy, so it is hard to see the Bernese Alps, which are just barely visible beyond the darker hills. 

The Stählibuck tower is ca. 27m tall and has 148 stairs. Built in 1908, it is one of the oldest steel framework structures in Switzerland. During WWII it was used as a flight observation tower and closed to the public

Shortly before Frauenfeld, we walked through a pleasant small ravine, called a "Tobel"

On the outskirts of Frauenfeld

St.Niklaus Catholic parish church in Frauenfeld. This is actually a fairly new structure, built in 1906 in the new-Baroque style. There was an older one at this site, but not enough room to add onto it as the parish grew. 

Impressive pipe organs in the St.Niklaus church

The inside of the church is light and airy like the old Baroque style. 

Before heading to the train station, we had time to walk to the Frauenfeld Castle, built in the 13th Century

The back of Frauenfeld City Hall

Our 15-km hike from Leutmerken (near Weinfelden) to Frauenfeld as seen on Google Satellite Maps

Location of Frauenfeld region on the Switzerland Map

And as a side note: This is the road and house in Frauenfeld where my Dad grew up. At that time, though, none of the houses had garages, as most people didn't own cars. The garages were all added later and there were also fewer houses then. My Aunt Ruth took me to see this in 2014.

The house in Frauenfeld where my Dad grew up, before the family moved to Küssnacht in 1946 or '47