Via Jacobi

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Konstanz → Geneva
• Length: 447.3 km
• Elevation: ↗ 11.518 m / ↘ 11.522 m
• Duration: about 18–22 days on foot
• Marking: National Route 4 (SchweizMobil) – the scallop shell points toward Compostela
• Other names: Schwabenweg, Swiss Way of St. James
• Character: Main Swiss Alpine Trail from Lake Constance via Einsiedeln to Geneva

Overview

The Via Jacobi is the Swiss Main Trail the Way of St. James—signposted as National Hiking Trail No. 4 across the country. From Constance Along Lake Constance, it passes by Einsiedeln Abbey, Lake Lucerne, and the Brünig Pass, all the way to Geneva and picks up whatever is on its way to Santiago from southern Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe.

Its spiritual highlight is the Einsiedeln Abbey home to the Black Madonna, one of Europe’s major pilgrimage sites for over a thousand years. In terms of scenery, the Via Jacobi—with its Pre-Alpine passes, four large lakes, and over 11,500 meters of elevation gain—is among the most impressive—and most challenging—sections of the European network of St. James’ Ways. In Geneva, it connects seamlessly to the Via Gebennensis and thus to the French routes.

Other Names

• German: Via Jacobi, the Swiss Way of St. James; the eastern section from Konstanz to Einsiedeln is called Schwabenweg
• French: The Way of St. James (Switzerland)
• English: Swiss Way of St. James

The first section is called the “Schwabenweg” because, in the Middle Ages, it was primarily Swabian pilgrims who traveled via Constance to the Black Madonna in Einsiedeln—the route has been documented as part of the Way of St. James since the 12th century.

Who This Route Is Ideal For—and Who It's Not

Ideal if you want to start the Camino de Santiago in a German-speaking region and experience authentic mountain scenery along the way. The trail is exceptionally well-marked, and the public transportation network is so extensive that you can reach each stage individually by train, bus, or boat—making it perfect for segmented pilgrimages as well. And as the first major leg of a journey to Santiago, the route is a classic in its own right.

Not the best choice if you’re looking for an affordable pilgrimage: Switzerland is expensive, and traditional pilgrim hostels are rare. This isn’t the place for those looking for flat terrain either—over 11,500 meters of elevation gain and several mountain passes require good physical conditioning. And anyone expecting the lively atmosphere of the Camino Francés will be surprised by how quiet it is over long stretches.

Route & Landscape

From Constance The Schwabenweg winds through the hills of Thurgau to the Benedictine monastery Fischingen and across the Tösstaler Heights to Rapperswil on Lake Zurich—where the second branch, which begins in Rorschach and passes through the monastic city of St. Gallen, also converges. In Rapperswil, you cross the lake on the Wooden Boardwalk to Hurden: 841 meters—the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland, which has stood since 2001 on the site where a pilgrims’ bridge once stood as early as 1360. Beyond it, the trail climbs over the Etzel Pass to Einsiedeln.

From Einsiedeln on, the terrain becomes alpine: over the Haggenegg down to Schwyz and on to the Lake Lucerne, by boat from Brunnen to Treib, then on via Stans to Flüeli-Ranft to Brother Klaus's hermitage and across the Brünig Pass to the Bernese Oberland. The route runs along Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, through Interlaken and Spiez, into the hilly region at the foot of the Fribourg Alps, past the ruins of the priory Rüeggisberg according to Fribourg, through Vaud to Lausanne and through the vineyards of La Côte all the way to Geneva.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

About 447 kilometers, a good 11,500 meters of elevation gain and loss combined, 18–22 days of hiking: The Via Jacobi is one of the more challenging St. James’ Ways in Europe, but it is excellently marked and well-maintained. Higher-altitude sections such as Haggenegg and Brünig are usually snow-free only from June through October. A tried-and-true division into nine sections (kilometers are approximate):

1. Konstanz → Rapperswil (72 km, 3 stages) – Thurgau Hills, Fischingen Monastery, Tösstal
2. Rapperswil → Einsiedeln (approx. 18 km) – Wooden boardwalk across Lake Zurich, Etzel Pass
3. Einsiedeln → Brunnen (approx. 26 km) – Haggenegg (1,414 m), descent to Schwyz, Lake Lucerne
4. Brunnen → Flüeli-Ranft (approx. 36 km, 2 stages) – Boat to Treib, Seelisberg, Stans, Ranft Gorge
5. Flüeli-Ranft → Interlaken (approx. 47 km, 2 stages) – Brünig Pass, Lake Brienz
6. Interlaken → Spiez (approx. 22 km) – Lake Thun shoreline, Spiez Castle
7. Spiez → Fribourg (approx. 55 km, Stages 2–3) – Wattenwil, Rüeggisberg, Schwarzenburg
8. Fribourg → Lausanne (approx. 68 km, 3 stages) – Romont, Moudon, the Vaud Hills
9. Lausanne → Geneva (approx. 74 km, 3 stages) – La Côte, Rolle, Nyon, Lake Geneva shoreline

Einsiedeln and the Haggenegg—a thousand years of pilgrimage, the second-highest pass on the route to Santiago

Einsiedeln is no ordinary stopover. It was here that, in 828, Saint Meinrad as a hermit; after he was slain in 861, two ravens are said to have pursued his murderers all the way to court—they still adorn the monastery’s coat of arms today. According to legend, Christ himself consecrated the Chapel of Grace in 948 (“Consecration by the Angels”). One figure illustrates just how great the medieval influx of visitors was: in 1466 alone, around 150,000 pilgrim tokens were sold.

The focus is on the Black Madonna, a late-Gothic statue from the mid-15th century. Incidentally, it wasn’t black from the start: the discoloration comes from the soot of the candles and oil lamps that burned in front of it for centuries. Around 800,000 people visit the Chapel of Grace each year, which is surrounded by Switzerland’s most significant Baroque church (1719–1735).

Just past Einsiedeln, the highest point of the trail awaits: The Haggenegg (1,414 m) is considered the second-highest pass along the entire route between Lake Constance and Santiago—only the Pyrenean pass is higher. At the top stand a small pilgrim chapel and the jagged peaks of the Mythen; below lie Schwyz and Lake Lucerne.

Highlights Along the Way

• Constance – Münster and the Old Town, historic pilgrimage site on Lake Constance
• Fischingen Monastery – Benedictine monastery with the Idda Chapel; overnight stays at the monastery are possible
• Rapperswil–Hurden Wooden Stairs – An 841-meter walk across Lake Zurich, just as pilgrims have done since the Middle Ages
• Einsiedeln Abbey – The Black Madonna and Switzerland’s most significant Baroque church
• Haggenegg – 1,414 m, Pilgrimage Chapel, and Mythen Panorama
• Lake Lucerne – Boat ride from Brunnen to Treib, view of the Rütli
• Flüeli-Ranft – A hermitage of Brother Klaus, the patron saint of Switzerland
• Rüeggisberg – Ruins of the Cluniac priory, medieval pilgrimage site
• Fribourg – Medieval Old Town with St. Nicholas Cathedral
• Lausanne – Gothic cathedral towering high above Lake Geneva
• Geneva – Saint-Pierre Cathedral, junction with Via Gebennensis

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

Hardly any other section of the European trail network has as many feeder trails as the Via Jacobi—it is the funnel where the trails from the German-speaking region converge:

• Oberschwäbischer Jakobsweg– from Ulm through Upper Swabia directly to Konstanz, the classic German route to the Schwabenweg
• Jakobsweg Nürnberg–Ulm– brings pilgrims from Franconia to Ulm, where the Upper Swabian takes over
• Münchner Jakobsweg– from Munich to Lindau on Lake Constance, then on to Bregenz
• Via Jacobi Bregenz– the Vorarlberg branch from Bregenz to Rapperswil, where it joins the main route
• Appenzeller Weg– from Rankweil through the Appenzell region to St. Peterzell
• Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg– from Blumberg via Schaffhausen and Zurich to Rapperswil
• Thurgauer Klosterweg– from Blumberg through Thurgau to Tobel, where it joins the Schwabenweg
• Jakobsweg Graubünden– the influx from southeastern Switzerland

Even within Switzerland, there are connecting roads leading to Route 4: the Luzernerweg from Lucerne to Rüeggisberg, the Baslerweg from Basel, the Drei-Seen-Weg through the Seeland region toward Payerne and the Tessiner Anschlussweg from Locarno to Central Switzerland.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The Via Jacobi ends in Geneva – right where the Via Gebennensis begins and leads to Le Puy-en-Velay in about two weeks. From there, the Via Podiensis Toward the Pyrenees, and over the Camino Francés you'll finally reach Santiago de Compostela. If you set out from Konstanz, you'll have a continuously marked route of a good 2,300 kilometers ahead of you—without a single break.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time is June through early October – Only then are Haggenegg and Brünig reliably free of snow. In the spring and late fall, the lower sections (Thurgau, Lake Geneva) are easily manageable.

Accommodations include monasteries (such as Fischingen and Einsiedeln), pilgrim lodgings, B&Bs, and inns; traditional hostels like those in Spain are rare, and it’s a good idea to book in advance in tourist areas. A Pilgrim's Pass It’s useful for getting stamps and finding pilgrim lodging—the Swiss Pilgrim’s Pass is issued by the Camino Association. The easiest way to plan your stages and accommodations is directly in the Camino Ninja app, where you can organize both at the same time.

What the journey will cost you

Switzerland is significantly more expensive than Spain or France. As a rough estimate, expect 60–100 € per day including inns and guesthouses, plus meals (as of August 2026). Monasteries, dormitories, and self-catering put a noticeable strain on the budget; the towns along Lake Geneva tend to be more expensive.

Getting There

The starting point is Constance On Lake Constance, easily accessible by train from both Germany and Switzerland; the nearest major airport for the start is Zurich. Those arriving on a pilgrimage can take the Oberschwäbischer Jakobsweg directly in Konstanz—or starts in Bregenz on the Via Jacobi Bregenz.

• Train to Konstanz: Connections from Germany (bahn.de) and Switzerland (Good morning)
• Return trip from Geneva: international airport and rail hub with TGV and SBB connections (Good morning)
• Staged Pilgrimages: Thanks to Switzerland's extensive public transportation network, virtually every stop along the route can be reached by train, bus, or boat

Path Carrier

The Swiss Way of St. James is managed by the association The Way of St. James in Switzerland – Compostelle Suisse, 2026 was formed through the merger of “jakobsweg.ch” with the “Friends of the Way of St. James,” which was founded in Lausanne in 1988. The association marks and maintains the trails, issues the pilgrim’s passport and publishes the magazine “Ultreïa”—and each year sends about 28 volunteers to serve as hosts at the pilgrim hostel in Belorado, Spain, on the Camino Francés.

Handy for when you’re on the go: On the signs along Route 4, the scallop shell always points toward Compostela—it’s missing in the opposite direction. The signage is supplemented by the yellow diamonds of Swiss Hiking Trails; Thurgau, as a pioneering canton, introduced its own blue-and-white scallop shell sign as early as 1991.