Berg in the canton of Thurgau combines a rural landscape with paths that showcase different sides of the municipality: orchards, forests and historic districts. If you are planning an overnight stay, you can tailor your visit to whether you want to focus on a hike through the municipality, local history or an additional excursion in the surrounding area.
Four circular routes with different highlights
The four municipal circular routes offer a practical way to compare distances and approximate walking times. The Northern Route is 9.5 kilometres long and takes about two and a half hours. It passes close to the Heimenlacher Moor, where people were already settled several thousand years ago. Around the hamlet of Beckelswilen, the path winds between apple trees through the rural parts of the municipality.
The Eastern Route is a similar length at 9.6 kilometres and is also listed as taking approximately two and a half hours to walk. Along the way, you can explore Kehlhof, one of the oldest parts of present-day Berg. The route passes between meadows and orchards by the Tobelweiher pond and offers views of the Säntis and Churfirsten mountains. At 7.4 kilometres and about two hours, the Southern Route is the shortest of the four options described. It heads towards Mauren, passing a Catholic church and a Protestant church; apricot orchards line the path because of its south-facing slope.
The Western Route is 8.1 kilometres long and takes approximately two hours to walk. It follows forest paths over the Ottenberg. After leaving the forest, the route offers views of the Säntis and Churfirsten mountains; from Mauren, it returns to Berg through orchards. Path conditions on the municipal routes may vary. The approximate figures help you compare the hikes by distance and time required.
Landscape and history on the Ottenberg
Berg lies on the sunny slope of the Ottenberg. The municipality includes rolling hills with forests, fields and small streams; the landscape is ideal for walks and cycle rides. The circular routes let you experience this variety in different ways: the Northern Route passes apple trees, while the Eastern Route takes in meadows, orchards and the Tobelweiher pond. Apricot orchards define the route in the south, while the forest on the Ottenberg is a feature of the western route. The routes therefore differ not only in length, but also in the landscapes that take centre stage along the way.
The area’s history can also be traced through specific buildings and names. Berg Castle preserves an old castle wing and a castle chapel, built at the beginning of the 17th century and renovated several times in the centuries that followed. Berg was mentioned in 796 as “Berga.” In the Early Middle Ages, the area belonged to the episcopal seat of Constance and lay on the southern border of the Bishopric of Constance; in 1798, the village was incorporated into the newly established canton of Thurgau.
An additional excursion in the surrounding area
As a regional addition, the Weinfelden Wine Trail runs from Weinfelden railway station via Ottoberg and Boltshausen back to Weinfelden. The route is around nine kilometres long and takes about three hours. It follows the vineyards on the Ottenberg’s southern slopes and offers expansive views over the Thur Valley. This clearly sets it apart from the four Berg circular routes: it is a separate excursion in the surrounding area and passes through Weinfelden. Check the latest route details before setting out.
Choose your accommodation based on your excursion plans
When looking for a hotel in Berg, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on. The four circular routes range from 7.4 to 9.6 kilometres and are listed as taking approximately two to two and a half hours to walk. This makes it easier to compare the time required, while the scenery ranges from moorland and apple trees to forest paths and mountain views. If you also plan to take the Weinfelden Wine Trail, treat it as a separate regional excursion. This makes choosing your accommodation part of a concrete travel plan, rather than just a list of possible excursions.
Discover more destinations: Bussnang, BĂĽrglen, Weinfelden, Wigoltingen.
Go to the higher-level travel overview: Weinfelden.
