From Vorarlberg into the Appenzell country: about 53 kilometers from Rankweil over Eggerstanden and Urnäsch to St. Peterzell – a short, hilly feeder into the Swiss pilgrim network.
The Appenzell Route – also called the Vorarlberg-Appenzell route – is a short feeder from Vorarlberg into the Swiss pilgrim network. From Rankweil it runs over Eggerstanden and Urnäsch to St. Peterzell and on toward Wattwil.
At about 53 kilometers with some 1,600 meters of climb, it's a compact, hilly route through the green Appenzell country.
Ideal if you start in Vorarlberg and want a short, scenic entry into the Swiss pilgrim network – with the gentle, green Appenzell country and views of the Säntis. Comfortably done over a long weekend.
Less suitable if you want one long, continuous pilgrimage in a single stretch: the route is short and mainly meant as a feeder.
From Rankweil in Vorarlberg the route runs over Eggerstanden into the Appenzell country and on over Urnäsch to St. Peterzell. Along the way the view opens to the Säntis and the Appenzell mountains.
The landscape is typically Appenzell: green, rolling pastures with steady ups and downs.
At about 53 kilometers with some 1,592 meters of climb, the route is comfortably done in 2–3 days. The terrain is hilly with steady ups and downs, the highest point around 1,126 meters – demanding, but with no high-alpine passages.
The Appenzell Route continues over St. Peterzell toward Wattwil, where it meets the Via Jacobi – Switzerland's main axis from Constance to Geneva. From there, via Rapperswil and the pilgrim hub of Einsiedeln, you walk on into western Switzerland and ultimately, through France, to Santiago.
The best time is spring to autumn. Accommodation is in guesthouses and pilgrim lodgings; a pilgrim credential is useful for stamps and lodgings. Where the route diverges, always follow the official Way of St. James signs on the ground.
Switzerland is expensive. Budget roughly €60–100 per day for lodging, plus food; simple lodgings and self-catering lower the cost.
The starting point is Rankweil in Vorarlberg, easily reached by train; from St. Peterzell you return to the rail network through the Toggenburg.
The Swiss Ways of St. James are maintained by the association Jakobsweg Schweiz – Compostelle Suisse (formerly "jakobsweg.ch", renamed after its 2026 merger with "Les Amis"). The association waymarks and maintains the routes, trains pilgrim guides and publishes route booklets and the pilgrim credential.
Alte Metzg - Hostel
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Appenzeller Huus Löwen
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Backpacker Bären
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