Schänis lies in the Linth Plain on the right-hand side of the Linth Canal, west of Lake Walen, in the Gaster region. The Museum Trail is an outdoor historical discovery route through Schänis and its outlying villages. Along the way, you will pass cultural and historical monuments, sites and churches—the route brings various traces of local history into focus. When the weather is fine, you can explore the trail on foot or by bicycle. An interactive map shows the route; check the route information before your visit.
Local History and Architecture
The Schänis Local History Museum was redesigned in 2017 and offers an audiovisual and tactile exhibition experience. Its themes include Schänner history, “Schänis from A to Z”, legends and field names, as well as names and figures. The range thus extends from village history to local stories and place names, as well as names and figures.
Further historical layers can be distinguished at St. Sebastian’s Church. The oldest surviving part dates from the 12th century and comprises the front part of the nave and the crypt. Three interlace panels from the Carolingian era, which here spans the 5th to the 11th century, are on display there. The building’s history and the exhibits thus point to different historical periods.
The Gallus Tower is a Romanesque round tower, believed to have been built shortly after 1100. Today, it is the only one of its kind in Switzerland and the only surviving remnant of the Gallus Chapel, which was destroyed in the fire of 1824. The existing St. Sebastian’s Chapel tells a different story: it was built in 1512 and incorporates older building fabric. Since 1564, the pilgrimage to the chapel has taken place every year on 3 January. If you would like to plan your stay around this date, it is advisable to confirm the current arrangements locally.
Historic Sites and Landscape
The town hall square is also associated with an important event: the turbulent Landsgemeinde (cantonal assembly) held there in 1847 was an important link in the creation of modern Switzerland. Until 1811, the noble convent of Schänis shaped the history of the village, with which it was closely connected. On 29 April 1610, a devastating fire destroyed the village, the church and the convent. In 1798, the convent’s rights of rule passed to the municipality; the convent church passed to the Schänis parish.
Those wishing to complement the historic sites with outdoor experiences will find a variety of scenic highlights. The Niederwindegg castle ruins offer lovely views of the Linth region and a barbecue area where you can linger. From the main road, the ruins can be reached along a narrow path in about 15 minutes. Trail conditions and access may change seasonally; check them before your visit and follow local guidance on using the barbecue area.
Biberlikopf is a mostly wooded hill with two summits in the municipality of Schänis. The higher summit is home to the ruins of a Roman watchtower and, next to them, a popular resting place with a fire pit. At Niederwindegg, the views and barbecue area take centre stage, while at Biberlikopf, the two summits and the watchtower define the landscape. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay: historic architecture and local history, or views of the landscape and its archaeological traces.
Discover more destinations: Ernetschwil, Schmerikon, Uznach, Weesen, Amden, Benken, Eschenbach, Goldingen
Go to the regional travel overview: See-Gaster.
