The Via Jacobi

[Kathy M.]

I'm planning to walk the Swiss way in July 2017. I have found a list of accomadations along the way and was wondering if it will be necessary to book ahead. Any recent experience with the Swiss way would be greatly appreciated. Also, is there a pilgrims office in Konstanz? Thank you!

 

[gittiharre]

Definetely book ahead in the designated pilgrims hostels like Rapperswil. They are the best accommodations and affordable and can be fully booked.
I sometimes had a bit of a problem with bed availability, but always got something eventually.
Sleeping in the straw is rarely booked I found, but that was 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[gittiharre]

I'm planning to walk the Swiss way in July 2017. I have found a list of accomadations along the way and was wondering if it will be necessary to book ahead. Any recent experience with the Swiss way would be greatly appreciated. Also, is there a pilgrims office in Konstanz? Thank you!

By the way, I found starting in Rohrschach more interesting scenically. Did the bit from Konstanz too, and it was a bit boring.
Got pilgrims passport at tourist office in Rohrschach.
Not sure about pilgrims office in Konstanz sorry.

 

[Kitsambler]

I have walked the Via Jacobi, from Konstanz to Geneva, with details of route and lodging in my blog (see link in the signature block). Your big issue might be timing: July is a vacation month in Switzerland, which is a very expensive place to be. Now is not too soon to book! The range of lodging available beats every other Camino nation hands down - no one else has sleeping-in-straw, and not many have $300/night hotels. If you have the accommodation lists from the Swiss pilgrim association, you can lay out your route, and make reservations attempts starting at the lower price points, moving up as necessary to find a space. Also there are many monastic lodgings, as well as hikers hostels, available.

Remember that Switzerland has truly outstanding train service from everywhere to everywhere, even tiny towns. So you don't necessarily have to spend the night at the point you stop walking; you could hop a train to lodging, and then return by train to resume your walk. It's a beautiful route, especially east of Interlaken, and I highly recommend it.

 

[Kathy M.]

I have walked the Via Jacobi, from Konstanz to Geneva, with details of route and lodging in my blog (see link in the signature block). Your big issue might be timing: July is a vacation month in Switzerland, which is a very expensive place to be. Now is not too soon to book! The range of lodging available beats every other Camino nation hands down - no one else has sleeping-in-straw, and not many have $300/night hotels. If you have the accommodation lists from the Swiss pilgrim association, you can lay out your route, and make reservations attempts starting at the lower price points, moving up as necessary to find a space. Also there are many monastic lodgings, as well as hikers hostels, available.

Remember that Switzerland has truly outstanding train service from everywhere to everywhere, even tiny towns. So you don't necessarily have to spend the night at the point you stop walking; you could hop a train to lodging, and then return by train to resume your walk. It's a beautiful route, especially east of Interlaken, and I highly recommend it.

 

[Patrick Shouvlin]

I'm planning to walk the Swiss way in July 2017. I have found a list of accomadations along the way and was wondering if it will be necessary to book ahead. Any recent experience with the Swiss way would be greatly appreciated. Also, is there a pilgrims office in Konstanz? Thank you!

We did the walk in July of 2012. Not sure about Konstanz, as we started in Rorschach. This was a good choice, as it took us through St. Gallen on Day 1, which has a beautiful Old Town and museum. We stayed in B&B's rather than hostels, and booked two months ahead. Booking ahead was useful, although we felt a little constrained at times, (i.e. we couldn't just stop after 10 miles if we were tired; we had to get to the next stop.) English guide books were not available. We obtained the Via Jacobi book in German. I think it had 18 or 19 stages. We followed that guidance. In advance, we scanned the book into Word, then ran each day through Google Translate to approximate an English guide. It was useful. There are some other websites that list some "pilgrim friendly" hostels, B&Bs, pensions and hotels.
You will not see many pilgrims--we saw thirty at most over 3 weeks. You will see the Swiss out on day hikes. We took rest days in Lucerne (great place, a short train ride from Schwyz), Interlaken and Lausanne. It was very scenic. Unlike the Camino, the churches were usually open and you self-stamp your passport. There are many great little chapels and shrines along the way. I would definitely do it again.

 

[Petros]

Hello, would also like to ask if its possible to find a pilgrim passport in Konstanz. Apparently there is one in Rohrschach.
And where can i get a list of accommodations??

 

[Paul-CH]

Hi Petros, have a look at this Webpage you have to click on the Towns Konstanz-Einsiedeln Einsiedeln-Brünigpass Brünigpass-Amsoldingen Amsoldingen-Romont Romont-Genève hope this helps even if the lists are in German

 

[caminka]

Hello, would also like to ask if its possible to find a pilgrim passport in Konstanz. Apparently there is one in Rohrschach.
And where can i get a list of accommodations??

Last year the tourist office in Rohrschach Hafen didn't have pilgrim passports. Don't know if that was a temporary thing or not. They did have a stamp. For sure they will have passports in pilgerherberge in St. Gallen.

 

[caminka]

Hello, would also like to ask if its possible to find a pilgrim passport in Konstanz. Apparently there is one in Rohrschach.
And where can i get a list of accommodations??

Here: https://viajacobi4.ch/informations-pratiques/les-hebergements/

 

[caminka]

Hello, would also like to ask if its possible to find a pilgrim passport in Konstanz. Apparently there is one in Rohrschach.
And where can i get a list of accommodations??

And my route last year: Post in thread 'Joining Freiburg im Breisgau with Motz on the Via Gebennensis' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...otz-on-the-via-gebennensis.87364/post-1265167

 

[Paul-CH]

I am from Switzerland and did order the pilgrim passport online in advance and got it delivered at home.

 

[Petros]

And my route last year: Post in thread 'Joining Freiburg im Breisgau with Motz on the Via Gebennensis' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...otz-on-the-via-gebennensis.87364/post-1265167

Splendid thank you so much. Very helpful. It's not as easy here as the spanish camino that have updated mobile applications with all information in.

 

[caminka]

Splendid thank you so much. Very helpful. It's not as easy here as the spanish camino that have updated mobile applications with all information in.

You're welcome. It is a bit like doing the camino 20 years ago.
Without such wonderful online maps: https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-4

 

[Petros]

You're welcome. It is a bit like doing the camino 20 years ago.
Without such wonderful online maps: https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-4

i did it 11 years ago with a book guide. It was wonderful! But in Switzerland i am more worried about the costs. So i have to organise myself around the cheap places. I also take a tent and could go on campsites or even wild camping if possible?
I would prefer the pilgirm atmosphere at hostels and monasteries but i am hoping to do some nights camping to lower the costs.

 

[Liica]

I can share a list and hotels/albergue (1) I've stayed in both variants (Lake/Alps-2020).
I also have the plan from Geneve to Le Puy en Velay in case you want to keep walking.

 

[Liica]

i did it 11 years ago with a book guide. It was wonderful! But in Switzerland i am more worried about the costs. So i have to organise myself around the cheap places. I also take a tent and could go on campsites or even wild camping if possible?
I would prefer the pilgirm atmosphere at hostels and monasteries but i am hoping to do some nights camping to lower the costs.

Wildcamping is forbidden in Switzerland.
Stay in the albergues instead or go to a campsite (which will not be easy to find everywhere on the way).

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

According to my research over the past week or two, wild camping is often tolerated above the tree line but with some exceptions. For example it's definitely not allowed in nature preserves, forests and the National Park. And the fines are huge - supposedly up to 10,000 Euros. (Although some sites seems to suggest that that is if you lite a fire so perhaps not solely because of wild camping)

That means of course that if you're in a Valley you're not allowed to wild camp.

You might want to look at these two excellent posts from @caminka in my recent thread:

Do you know this accommodation listings for swiss caminos?

Les hébergements - Viajacobi4

Liste des hébergements par région en Suisse Si tu as entrepris de marcher sur le Chemin en Suisse, nous te prions instamment de réserver ton hébergement par téléphone un jour à l’avance, pour t'assurer qu’il est bien ouvert. Pour tout renseignement: hebergement@viajacobi4.ch Liste des...

viajacobi4.ch

My numbers from 2023 Via Jacobi.

Rorschah Hafen - St. Gallen, 14,5km, pilgerherberge bed 20, food 0, other 65 (phone card)

St. Gallen - Aemisegg, 24,5km, gasthaus aemisegg hp 55 (drinks were extra so didn't take them), other 0

Aemisegg - St. Gallenkappel 26,4km, schlaf im stroh tschumperlin bb 28 + 7 small dinner (closed restaurant), food 0, other 1

St. Gallenkappel - Rapperswil 20,6km (detour via ritterhaus bubikon), pilgerherberge bed 25, food 8,1, other 14

Rapperswil - Trachslau 24,5km, martin kalin bb 30, food 29,2 (pizza and cookies), other 3,5

Trachslau - Ingebohl/Brunnen 23,6km, schlaf im stroh bucheli bb 29, food 6,20, other 21,5

Ingebohl - Stans 23,4km, schlaf im stroh waser bb 30, food 5,85, other 9,1 incl. boat

Stans - Giswil 28,5km, gertrud berchtold bb 45, food 2,9, other 2

Giswil - Brienzwiller 20km, pilgerherberhe hp 40, food 0, other 4,6

Brienzwiller - Interlaken 28,6km, hostel villa sonnenhof bb 35, food 31,85 (pizza and shopping), other 4,5

Interlaken - Spiez - Uebeschli 19km, bruno schneider bb 35, food 0, other 21,3 incl. train to Spiez

Uebeschli - Schwarzenburg 28km, marlise nydegger bb 40, food 4,5, other 2,7

Schwarzenburg - Fribourg 22km, couvent des cordeliers bed 33, food 1,85, other 23

Fribourg - Romont 30km, erika demierre bb 50, food 14, other 4,5

Romont - Montepreveyres 31km, gite el jire bed 10, food 10,8, other 1,5

Montepreveyres - St. Sulpice/Ecublens 27km, ruth jordan bed 20, food 20,5, other 5,5

Ecublens - Gland 31km, gite pelerin 10, food 0, other 0

Gland - Versoix 30km, gite pelerin in gland bed 10, food 10,2, other 10,80 incl. train to gland

Versoix - Geneve 13km, geneva hostel bb 48, food 10,2, other 55,6 incl. train to versoix and couchette reservation

Rapperswil - Fishingen 26km, kloster fishingen bb 47,5, dinner 18,5, other 5,5

Fishingen - Merstetten 27km, pilgerherberge bed 25, food 3,25, other 0

Unless you get bad hay fever (like I do unfortunately) you might seriously want to consider the camping in straw options to reduce your expenses

 

[Liica]

According to my research over the past week or two, wild camping is often tolerated above the tree line but with some exceptions. For example it's definitely not allowed in nature preserves, forests and the National Park. And the fines are huge - supposedly up to 10,000 Euros.

That means of course that if you're in a Valley you're not allowed to wild camp.

You might want to look at these two excellent posts from @caminka in my recent thread:




Unless you get bad hay fever (like I do unfortunately) you might seriously want to consider the camping in straw options to reduce your expenses

Sure, but the Camino is a bit further from tree line

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Sure, but the Camino is a bit further from tree line

Precisely why I made my point about the Valley?

Wildcamping is forbidden in Switzerland.
Stay in the albergues instead or go to a campsite (which will not be easy to find everywhere on the way).

I was simply trying to gently refute this completely inaccurate claim.

Incidentally, one Swiss University has a wild camping site:

https://www.switzerlandprogram.com/wild-camping

Edited to add this rather interesting quote from the website:
"Make sure to not stray too far North, or you’ll find yourself in France, where wild camping laws are significantly less flexible." !!

 

[Petros]

According to my research over the past week or two, wild camping is often tolerated above the tree line but with some exceptions. For example it's definitely not allowed in nature preserves, forests and the National Park. And the fines are huge - supposedly up to 10,000 Euros. (Although some sites seems to suggest that that is if you lite a fire so perhaps not solely because of wild camping)

That means of course that if you're in a Valley you're not allowed to wild camp.

You might want to look at these two excellent posts from @caminka in my recent thread:




Unless you get bad hay fever (like I do unfortunately) you might seriously want to consider the camping in straw options to reduce your expenses

Yes caminka's post is very helpful!
All this planning for me takes away the adventurous unknown part of the camino but it's a necessity in Switzerland i guess for financial reasons. And i'm sure its a magnificent place to hike!

 

[Petros]

Precisely why I made my point about the Valley?


I was simply trying to gently refute this completely inaccurate claim.

Incidentally, one Swiss University has a wild camping site:

https://www.switzerlandprogram.com/wild-camping

Edited to add this rather interesting quote from the website:
"Make sure to not stray too far North, or you’ll find yourself in France, where wild camping laws are significantly less flexible." !!

It's weird it says laws in France are even less flexible, i know lots of French people who wild camped on the way to Saint Jean. Maybe along the camino is more tolerated...(?)

But yes, i will not pursue it if its not allowed. Many thanks.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

It's weird it says laws in France are even less flexible, i know lots of French people who wild camped on the way to Saint Jean. Maybe along the camino is more tolerated...(?)

But yes, i will not pursue it if its not allowed. Many thanks.

Weird is an understatement, because it’s actually legal in France for hiker’s ! Subject to certain general rules of course. (Article R111-33 apparently!)

 

[caminka]

i did it 11 years ago with a book guide. It was wonderful! But in Switzerland i am more worried about the costs. So i have to organise myself around the cheap places. I also take a tent and could go on campsites or even wild camping if possible?
I would prefer the pilgirm atmosphere at hostels and monasteries but i am hoping to do some nights camping to lower the costs.

I completely understand that. I wouldn't have been able to afford my caminos without extensive prior research to find as many affordable places as possible.

Someone posted a list of campsites they stayed at from last year and the prices were really reasonable. Often the same or cheaper than france! Did you see it?
I wasn't thinking in terms of tenting last year, but for this year I bought an affordable tent and am taking it with me. (Also because my itinerary is tailor-made and there are days when there is no other budget or any other option.)

Expecting to meet other pilgrims can be a bit disappointing on vj. I met in total ten in three weeks and saw most of them only once or twice.

Edited: sorry, eleven, if I count the girl from Fishingen on the two-day other leg towards Konstanz.

 

[caminka]

I can share a list and hotels/albergue (1) I've stayed in both variants (Lake/Alps-2020).
I also have the plan from Geneve to Le Puy en Velay in case you want to keep walking.

Yes please to via gebenennsis!

 

[caminka]

Found it!
Post in thread 'Camping sites on the Jakobsweg/Via Jacobi route in Switzerland' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...acobi-route-in-switzerland.74936/post-1265471

 

[Petros]

I completely understand that. I wouldn't have been able to afford my caminos without extensive prior research to find as many affordable places as possible.

Someone posted a list of campsites they stayed at from last year and the prices were really reasonable. Often the same or cheaper than france! Did you see it?
I wasn't thinking in terms of tenting last year, but for this year I bought an affordable tent and am taking it with me. (Also because my itinerary is tailor-made and there are days when there is no other budget or any other option.)

Expecting to meet other pilgrims can be a bit disappointing on vj. I met in total ten in three weeks and saw most of them only once or twice.

Edited: sorry, eleven, if I count the girl from Fishingen on the two-day other leg towards Konstanz.

Thank you, i am also looking onto that thread, looks really helpful. With your list, and the camping one, and the few pilgrim hostels on the way, it finally looks affordable

I feel ok not to meet too many pilgrims, i may will be able to immerse in the amazing swiss landscape. And if there are, still perfect!

 

[caminka]

uploaded my accommodation list for Via Jacobi, updated after I returned from it in August 2023.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/accommodation-list-for-via-jacobi.862/

 

[Liica]

Yes please to via gebenennsis!

Here it goes (town + hotel):

1. Geneve: Hotel de Geneve
2. Beaumont: Les Lauzieres
3. Chaumont: Le Manoir
4. Seyssel: Les clés des songes
5. Jongieux: Les chambres du cru
6. Aoeste: Au coq en velours
7. Les Abrets: Find another place to stay. I do NOT suggest "P'tit Meuble". It's a scam place and they cancel booking reservation before you have the chance to complain. Booking did nothing about it.
8. La Cote Saint Andre: Les Art ont la cote
9. Saint Romain de Surieu: Une pause sur la coline
10. Bessey: Le gît'an roulotte
11. Bourg-Argental: Le square
12. Montfaucon: Hotel restaurant les platanes
13. Le Puy en Velay: Dyke hotel

Have a nice trip. Take a LOT of water with you and some backup food. This route have very few water and much less places to buy (at least before Le Puy). For your safety, bring an umbrella, specially during summer. It's hot like 40 degrees.

Buen camino and take care.

 

[Liica]

Via Gebennensis GR65
This might be helpful. But attention, it's from 2021.
You can get an updated/ complete one here: https://boutique.ffvf.fr/fr/

 

[caminka]

Here it goes (town + hotel):

1. Geneve: Hotel de Geneve
2. Beaumont: Les Lauzieres
3. Chaumont: Le Manoir
4. Seyssel: Les clés des songes
5. Jongieux: Les chambres du cru
6. Aoeste: Au coq en velours
7. Les Abrets: Find another place to stay. I do NOT suggest "P'tit Meuble". It's a scam place and they cancel booking reservation before you have the chance to complain. Booking did nothing about it.
8. La Cote Saint Andre: Les Art ont la cote
9. Saint Romain de Surieu: Une pause sur la coline
10. Bessey: Le gît'an roulotte
11. Bourg-Argental: Le square
12. Montfaucon: Hotel restaurant les platanes
13. Le Puy en Velay: Dyke hotel

Have a nice trip. Take a LOT of water with you and some backup food. This route have very few water and much less places to buy (at least before Le Puy). For your safety, bring an umbrella, specially during summer. It's hot like 40 degrees.

Buen camino and take care.

Thank you.
I see you had some pretty long stages, especially towards the end there.

I have a water filter, so can top up at pretty much any water source, if necessary.

 

[caminka]

Via Gebennensis GR65
This might be helpful. But attention, it's from 2021.
You can get an updated/ complete one here: https://boutique.ffvf.fr/fr/

Thank you for this too.
Yes, there were some pretty big changes in 2023, but it is still a good overview.

The link leads to a site with only via francigena booklets? At least I didn't find any other.

 

[Liica]

Thank you for this too.
Yes, there were some pretty big changes in 2023, but it is still a good overview.

The link leads to a site with only via francigena booklets? At least I didn't find any other.

Thank you.
I see you had some pretty long stages, especially towards the end there.

I have a water filter, so can top up at pretty much any water source, if necessary.

Oh, I'm sorry, my mistake haha. I sent the Francigena link.
Try here>> https://www.gr-infos.com/en/gr65.htm

 

[Liica]

And here> https://www.mongr.fr/trouver-prochaine-randonnee/carte?itineraire=gr-65

 

[Liica]

https://www.mongr.fr/trouver-prochaine-randonnee/parcours/gr-65-de-geneve-carouge-au-puy-en-velay