The start of this geologically highly interesting round trip is in Bad Ragaz. After the village centre, you turn onto the old, picturesque road towards Valens, where you have to climb 300 metres in altitude for the first 4.5 kilometres. A panoramic stop on the Tamina Bridge, which opened in 2017, is a must. With a span of 260 metres, it is the largest arch bridge in Switzerland. From Pfäfers, follow the gently ascending main road into the Tamina Valley. The next stop is worth a stop at the Windegg viewpoint in front of Vadura. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Glarus main thrust and the Wildseehörner. World Heritage information boards, viewing judges and cool loungers invite you to linger... but you probably want to go further.

At kilometre 16 you reach Vättis, where the exhibition 'BergeQuake!' shows the connection between earthquakes and mountain building in the Sardona tectonic arena... very impressive thanks to the live transmission of seismic recordings! Over the next few kilometres at the bottom of the bubbling Görbsbach, you can enjoy the view of the rugged limestone formations of the Haldensteiner (2,805 m) and Felsberger Calanda (2,697 m). The Eggwald mountain restaurant in Ober Kunkels (1148 m a.s.l.) invites you to stop for a bite to eat. A last short ascent, you have reached Graubünden soil and soon also the Kunkelspasshöhe (1,357 m a.s.l.). The garden terrace of the mountain inn Überuf is irresistible. The lovely pass plateau presents itself like an arena, surrounded by the Calanda (2805 m above sea level), the Crap Mats (2947 m above sea level) and the Ringelspitz (3247 m above sea level), the highest mountain in St.Gallen, located in the Tectonic Arena. Inside the inn, an educational information room is  dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sardona Tectonic Arena.

The descent to Tamins (660 m a.s.l.) leads over a steep and bumpy natural road built during the First World War. The view from the tunnel blasted into the rock is spectacular. You can overlook the Domleschg and even see the Bernina massif in the distance. From Tamins, follow the national Veloland route no. 2 to Felsberg, where you continue along the right bank of the Rhine to Chur. Once again, you can educate yourself in geology: In the Chur Natural History Museum, a comprehensive geology exhibition focuses on the topic of Alpine formation. Then you can easily roll down the Rhine to Landquart and Bad Ragaz... or you can swing to the train station, look up again to the Calanda... and end the round on the railway.

"RheinWelten" is a unique two-wheeler offer from the source of the Rhine to Basel for enjoyable explorers. 45 local tours in 15 adventure worlds can be discovered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on an e-bike.  The tours combine visits to producers and farm shops, visits to museums or wineries, as well as local restaurants and overnight accommodations with the most beautiful cycling routes or hikes in the regions. The adventure worlds can be visited individually as a day trip or as a multi-day bike tour. 

Selected information on the new digital platform www.rheinwelten.com encourage people to discover new things. RheinWelten takes you through 12 tourist destinations in six cantons as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. Experience unique cultural landscapes and the culinary diversity along the Rhine by e-bike.

Not the way is the goal, but the worlds of experience of the RheinWelten.

Rhine Route 2: Andermatt - Oberalppass - Disentis - Trun - Ilanz - Versam - Reichenau - Chur - Landquart - Jenins - Maienfeld - Sargans - Buchs - Oberriet - Altstätten - St.Margrethen - Fussach (D) - Gaissau (D) - Rohrschach - Arbon - Romanshorn - Kreuzlingen - Steckborn - Stein am Rhein - Gailingen (D) - Schaffhausen - Dachsen - Ellikon - Eglisau - Zurzach - Felsenau - Laufenburg - Stein - Rheinfelden - Pratteln - Muttenz - Basel

www.viafrancisca.ch/wegbeschreibung/

For more explanations on the trail, visit us on www.viafrancisca.ch

www.viafrancisca.ch/wegbeschreibung

The hike through the vineyards and forests of the Five Villages into the Bündner Herrschaft begins at the northern end of the village at the "Gargällis" bus stop. Cross the access road to the village in a northerly direction and follow the sign for Molinära. After the Molinera, the path climbs slightly along the edge of the forest.

After another ascent to Dunkel Töbeli and over the Chessirüfi, you are already in the municipality of Landquart. At Birchholz there is a beautiful view of the village of Igis and the Rhine valley. It is worth stopping over the former moated castle of Marschlin. In slight ups and downs, the route continues to the Ganda, where it crosses under the Prättigauerstrasse.

After the passage at the tennis court, cross the river Landquart and walk along the right bank. After about 1 kilometre, leave the dam and head over the hay divider towards Malans station.