From Lake Walen to Sargans Castle

From the town hall built in 1812, we ascend past the church to Dorfhalde. Time and again, we look back at the beauty of the Churfirsten with the Walenstadtberg. After the bridge, we descend and hike along the field path to Tscherlach. At the mill, we cross the Tscherler Bach, ascend on the left, and reach Berschis via Brüsis - Gela, whose pointed church tower greets us from afar. Above it, on a rocky hill, stands the St. George Chapel, probably originating from an early medieval church fortress. It is considered the oldest chapel in Sarganserland. We hike above the village along the stream and enter the beech forest, where the path climbs steeply. To the left below, the wild Berschner Bach rushes. We follow the road along the forest edge, pass through Furggelswald, and arrive at Calspert-Valaschga. Again and again, we enjoy the magnificent view of Guscha and the spa area of Flumserberg. On flat terrain, we go to Langwisen, then steeply descend through the forest over Schreien-Bach to Gapöscha and Poli. We bypass the Hagerbach gravel trap and glimpse the summit of Gamidauerspitz, the outermost outpost of the Schwarzen Hörner. Before March, we reach the valley floor. We follow the path to Reschu near Heiligkreuz, a district of Mels. Above the vineyards at Heiligkreuzerhalde, where the famous Melser grows, we continue hiking into the Talid forest. Ahead of us, the Käsbissenturm of the church and the castle of Sargans greet us.