Via Jacobi - Switzerland

This is a 350 km historical route, from east to west through Switzerland from Konstanz on the Swiss and German border to Geneva on the Swiss and French border. Pilgrims can continue through France along the Via Gebennensis or Geneva Road to arrive at Le Puy-en-Velay. The Via Jacobi (also known as Jakobsweg) is route #4 in Switzerland and is well marked throughout the entire country.

There is also alternate branch starting in Rorschach further south that goes to St. Gallen, to join the main route in Einsiedeln. In addition, pilgrims arriving from Austria, take yet another alternate path (route #44) that departs Feldkirch and/or Rankweil in Austria that goes through Appenzell Switzerland and connects with the main route just before Einsiedeln.

The main route #4 follows the general direction taken by pilgrims to Santiago Spain in previous centuries, although alternatives paths exist in places where the original route has now become a modern road. The route also connects with the Via Francigena that leads to Rome in Lausanne. It takes approximately 19-23 days to complete the entire route through Switzerland.

There are also two optional major paths within Switzerland; one to the north or south of the several lakes that the route passes by.

The southern optional path goes via the Brünig Pass (1002m), Interlaken and Thun, while the northern optional path, goes via Lucerne and Bern, both paths joining up again near Fribourg to continue to Lausanne and then to Geneva and the French border.

The hiking season is from between May and September with the latter month being the driest and months of May and June rainier. Expect cooler temperatures in the mountains any time of the year. The entire route is variable terrain, with more mountains and deeper valleys in the east.

Accommodation is variable and generally more expensive than other camino routes. However, pilgrims can find affordable accommodation such as Farm Stays where you get the opportunity to sleep in the barns on straw beds,  & numerous Bed and Breakfasts, or country/mountain pub and inns. There are now a number of pilgrim hostels, and a number of convents and monasteries that offer affordable accommodation for pilgrims.

Accommodation costs vary between 20 - 30 Sf per person for farm stays to 40 - 60 Sf for B&B per person that includes breakfast, or 50 -70Sf for dorm bed (includes breakfast and dinner) at mountain inns (Berghaus).

Food is universally good but expensive especially if you eat out in larger restaurants. A good option is to purchase dinners at the local Migros and Coop grocery stories, both normally have sit down café style dinners and offer dinner meals for under 20 Sf.

A daily budget for accommodation and meals would be approximately 100 Sf per person.

Websites

The Way of St. James in Switzerland

This is a multi language site and an excellent source of information, which includes downloadable PDF documentation on the entire route through Switzerland. www.jakobsweg.ch/en/way-james.html

Other sites

St. James – Via Jacobi

A busy site but excellent source of information that includes detailed stage information, accommodation, and alternate routes. www.wandersite.ch/Jakobspilger.html

Via Jacobi - Cult and Culture
Multi language commercial site. www.viajacobi.ch/

Guides

Brochures: Of the entire route - Itineraries and Accommodation.

These are is available for free download from the Way of St James in Switzerland website www.jakobsweg.ch/en/documents.html

Wanderland Schweiz. ViaJacobi
(Hiking in Switzerland Volume 4 - Via Jacobi)

Language: German (120 pages)
Published: 2008
ISBN: 978-3-03800-371-7

The guide describes a route taking 35 stages from Rorschach and or Constance to Geneva.

 

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