Thur and Necker Trail – The mindful path through the Toggenburg
The Thur and Necker Trail is a roughly 80-kilometre network of paths along the Thur and Necker rivers in Toggenburg. It connects existing hiking routes between Wildhaus, the Schwägalp and Bazenheid and winds its way through river landscapes, woods, bogs, meadows and villages. What has been created is not just another hiking trail, but an experience that invites walkers to engage with and be more mindful of the landscape around them.
When the Thur and Necker Trail was being devised, the key question was how people encounter a landscape. Often paths are primarily used to get from one place to the next. The network in Toggenburg deliberately takes a different approach, however, inviting people to slow down, to take a closer look around, to listen and to discover connections.
The trail connects the Thur and Necker river valleys more than geographically, because it also builds bridges between nature and culture, between the past and the present and between people and their environment. Along the route there are frequent touchpoints with the history, traditions and distinctive features of the region. Nature is understood not as a backdrop, but as habitat, cultural space and source of inspiration alike.
A range of installations crafted from locally sourced timber encourage visitors to pause and take in their surroundings as they walk. Oases of tranquillity made from local wood create places where people can linger, while works of art blend seamlessly into their surroundings. A wealth of stories about nature, culture, traditions, crafts, history, sound and cuisine offer new perspectives on the landscape. They tell of the region’s distinctive features, traditional ways of using the land, cultural characteristics and the close connection between people and the landscape.
Another key component of the trail is what are known as mindfulness prompts, which explore themes such as perception, stillness, slowness, a connection with nature, conscious breathing and presence. They invite visitors to turn their attention to their surroundings, take in the sounds, let their gaze wander, or simply allow nature to work its magic on them for a moment, free from distraction.
The Thur and Necker Trail does not see itself just as a place for individual experiences, however: it also creates space for encounters. Three natural stages in Nesslau, Lichtensteig and Necker offer an opportunity to hold workshops, courses, club events or common activities right in the heart of the landscape, turning the path into a place of exchange and shared learning.
At the same time, the Thur and Necker Trail is increasingly becoming a place of extracurricular learning. Educational programmes under the title “Art by the River” were developed for school groups in collaboration with the Dogo Residenz für Neue Kunst and Artefix Kultur und Schule. The children engage with the artworks as they proceed along the route, discovering the landscape through observation, conversation and their own creative experiences.
The Thur and Necker Trail shows how existing paths can be rethought – not as pure infrastructure for leisure activities, but as an opportunity to connect people with their environment. Nature, culture, knowledge, encounters and personal experience combine to form a trail that invites visitors to explore the landscape mindfully and with all their senses.
The Thur and Necker Trail is well served by public transport, offering access for short walks just as much as day hikes or multi-day tours.
Further information (only in German): www.thurundneckerweg.ch