Winter Loop Hike at Hemberg in the Toggenburg

Monday December 30, 2024 -- Continuing on a roll with the good weather, this was the sixth day in a row since Christmas Day where we had planned an afternoon walk in the sunshine. Each one of these walks was in a region which we could get to with about two hours of travel each way.

On this day we went eastward into the Toggenburg, as that region also tends to have less fog than in our region around Lakes Zug, Zurich and Luzern. We had also read of a newly-created official prepared winter trail, a loop starting and ending in a town called Hemberg, with views of Mt. Säntis. Also, being a bit out of the way of the popular ski regions, we figured we wouldn't run into too many people. Surprisingly, there were quite a few people doing the winter walk, most up to a small family ski hill, where there were still too many people for us to consider staying long. 

We were out on the trail and visiting the village for about three hours altogether. It was almost too warm on this sunny afternoon! 

The bus got to Hemberg shortly before 11 a.m. (we had left home at 8:50), and the first thing we did was go to the local shop to get some bread and meat for our picnic lunch. This is the main street in the village. 

This beautiful house is called "Das Grosse Haus", or "The Large House", built by one Abraham Brunner in the late 18th Century. Cotton had just be introduced to Eastern Switzerland, and Mr. Brunner set up a factory here for the production of cotton fabrics. 

Information here tells about the "Grosse Haus" and Mr. Brunner, who had a fabric factory here, and who also donated the organ to the Evangelical Church nearby. 

We had a quick look inside the Evangelical Church. This was the organ donated by the businessman Abraham Brunner. Before 1779 and after the Reformation (1500's), both Catholics and Evangelicals used the same building higher up in the village, so the Evangelicals built this, their own church in 1779. 

These are the typical style of houses here in the Toggenburg. The large house here used to be the "Hotel Krone". 

I always like the signs on the buildings indicating what business they run. These are signs for the "Hotel Löwen" (Lion) and "Hotel Krone" (Crown)

Various houses along the main street as we make our way southwards toward the start of the winter walk.

This is kind of cool!

The older church at the south end of the village is the Catholic Church of St. Anna, originally built in the early 13th Century but dedicated to John the Baptist. Most of the citizens of Hemberg converted to the Protestant Religion in 1531, and they took over the church, but were required to allow the Catholics to meet for services every two weeks. After the new Evangelical Church was completed in 1779, the church was returned to the Catholics, rebuilt in 1781, and renamed St.Anna's.  

Typical Baroque interior. The original church here was different; this one was built in 1781 after the Evangelicals built their own church at the north end of the village. 

Details of the artwork inside of the Catholic Church in Hemberg. At this time there was a Nativity Scene displayed near the altar. 

We saw a sign with an arrow indicating that there was an "Anna's Chapel" behind the main altar (where we also discovered the organ), and went down a narrow stairway into the basement to find it. Later research explains that there was a "St. Anna's Chapel" near this parish church, which was disassembled and rebuilt beneath the bell tower of the church as the new church was built in 1781. 

Just some regular houses in Hemberg!

The sign indicates the start of the newly-created winter walking trail, no.162 from the Swiss Mobility Website. The loop is just over 7 kilometers, and takes about 2½ hours to walk via Fuchslöcheren and the "Skihus" restaurant.   

After visiting the village, we started on the actual walk at about 11:30, and got to the Ski House at 12:20. We didn't stay long there because there were a lot of families with small kids. We continued along the loop and returned to the bus stop in Hemberg at 13:50.   

A look back over the top of the village of Hemberg as we head up the hill 

A look back over the top of the village of Hemberg as we head up the hill 

Posing with Mt. Säntis in the background to the east! I was wearing stockings under the jeans, and had to take off the jeans soon after this photo. 

Just before the second hill, we could have gone clockwise first (to the left), but followed all the other people going straight up the hill (counterclockwise).  

Looking behind us down the Necker Valley shows lots of fog in the northern part of the Toggenburg and over Lake Constance (Bodensee). 

In November of this year we did a superb hike in this region, starting in Brunnadern in the Necker Valley, and descending to Wattwil via the Knöbelisberg Restaurant (at the arrow). Those photos are HERE. 

The next goal is the Ski House next to the barn on the hill at the upper left, but even in my black stockings it was much too hot walking here! So I stopped at the barn here, and changed back into my jeans, which was actually more comfortable. 

We lost the walking trail here (which went to the right) as we saw someone walking straight up to the restaurant here, and simply followed. But this looks more like a slope for sledding!

We got to the "Skihus" restaurant at the top of a small family ski hill at 12:15 and hoped to find a nice bench to sit on and enjoy the view! But all the benches were already taken or had too many people nearby. 

We shared a bench with young couple with a baby that started crying, so I didn't stay long! The peak on the right is called Hochhamm, and we have been to the top of that one in December 2015 (Those photos HERE). 

This was a look to the south, where we are headed now. 

As we continue on our walk, a look back at the terrace of the Skihus restaurant and the small ski hill. This is nice for locals to come here with their children!

Small farms dot the snowy countryside

Another view of Mt.Säntis

Enjoying our sunny afternoon winter walk. 

The only view we got of the Churfirsten mountains. 

What a neat place to have a cabin!

There were a few sections through a forest, which was very pleasant with the sunshine. In the very shady places, there was still quite a bit of snow on the trees!

From here we now head down to the farm called Fuchslöcheren. 

Fuchslöcheren farm, with the farm cat enjoying the sunshine as much as we are!

Mt. Säntis

A look back at Fuchslöcheren as we continue on our walk. 

Along the way was a bench we would have loved to take a break on, but it was already occupied, and they weren't even close to leaving! The metal sculpture on the left had a name, it was called "Der Wächter", or "The Sentinel"

Heading north along the loop, this is the first look we get at the village of Hemberg. 

Following the Winter Trail no. 162

On this stretch heading back to the village, we were almost alone on the trail. 

Hemberg

A final look behind us as we head back to Hemberg. 

Descending back down into the village and heading to the bus stop. It's now 1:35 p.m. and we have been walking for about 2½ hours.

Heading into town we detoured to a farmhouse that offered a self-service fridge where we bought some locally-made Toggenburg cheese! (You pay into the little cash box). The owner was there and showed us the milk storage room. He said he doesn't produce the cheese here any more, but all the farmers in the region bring their milk here in the morning, where it is all stored in the large tank until the entire amount is picked up and taken to the regional cheese factory. 

On this farm, the birth of their children is celebrated, as is a tradition in the farm regions. Three girls and either twin boys or a boy with two names! 

14:04 bus for the ride back to the train station in Wattwil! The whole trip home was just over two hours. Unfortunately, after we passed through the Ricken Tunnel back to the region of Lake Zurich, the thick fog was way too cold!

And again, the view of the Churfirsten mountains as the train leaves Wattwil and before it heads into the Ricken Tunnel!

These are the hikes we have done in this region of the Toggenburg. A year earlier on December 19th, 2023, I did a walk from St.Peterzell to Wattwil, and earlier this year in November we did the one from Brunnadern to Wattwil. 

Region of the Toggenburg near Mt. Säntis in Switzerland.