St Jakob’s Way Stage 4 – Rapperswil to Einsiedeln Abbey
The Via Jacobi or Jakobsweg is a hiking trail in Switzerland that leads from Lake Constance to Geneva, with different route options. Stage 4 of this trail starts at Rapperswil, a small town on the northern edge of Lake Zurich, passes across lake Zurich and after a steep climb reaches the Etzel Pass and the Chapel of Saint Meinrad, descends into the major pilgrimage town of Einsiedeln and after 17 km finishes at the Abbey of Einsiedeln.
On Saturday 26 September a group of 10 pilgrims plus one dog (including Chaplain Revd Jackie Sellin and Curate Revd Corinne de Klerk) from St. Andrew’s Chaplaincy in Zurich set out from Rapperswil station. The group walked across the 840m wooden footbridge over Lake Zurich before picking up one more pilgrim at Pfäffikon and climbing up to Luegeten. At this point three more people joined the group before walking over the Etzelpass to reach St Meinrad. The pilgrims walked down to Galgenchappeli where they met three more people (who had come by train to Einsiedeln). Tired but happy to see their destination, the 17 people and dog then walked the remaining 3km to the Abbey in time to join Vespers just after 16:30 after walking for six hours.
In 2027 a Spring Walk and a further Autumn Walk are being planned – watch this space!