Engi: Mining History and Historic Buildings
Accommodation in Engi
Engi is a locality in the municipality of Glarus Süd in the canton of Glarus. It is divided into Vorderdorf, Dörfli and Hinterdorf. The settlement developed at the entrance to the Mülibachtal, which includes the Mühlebach Alp. Between the village districts and the surrounding area, you’ll find traces of mining, historic buildings and opportunities for activities in different seasons.
Slate Mining at Landesplattenberg
Slate was mined at Landesplattenberg from at least the 16th century; mining ended in 1961. In 1837, more than 200 people worked in the mine. Fossilized fish, birds and turtles are also part of the history of Plattenberg. They are around 35 million years old.
Guided tours are offered through the tunnel system. The tunnel entrance is 120 metres above the valley and leads into the mountain. Inside, large halls supported by slate pillars open up, reaching heights of more than 20 metres. The Landesplattenberg Engi experience is not accessible to people with disabilities. As visitor arrangements may change, check the latest information before planning your visit.
Slate remains part of local craftsmanship: artisans in Sernftal continue to make furniture, clocks and accessories from material mined at Landesplattenberg Engi, including genuine slate boards. Slate products are available to buy at the Landesplattenberg Pavilion in Engi-Hinterdorf.
Bridges and Traces of Valley Transport
The Engi Bridge is documented as an important crossing for traffic through the valley as far back as 1460. The stone bridge over the Sernf also tells the story of the village’s architectural history: it dates from around 1600. In 1525, the Wydenhaus served a different purpose than it does today: it was a packhorse inn. A surviving wall anchor with a hook and ring for pack animals is a reminder of this. The bridges and wall anchors illustrate different aspects of former transport through the valley.
Sernftal Railway Museum and Local History
The Sernftal Railway Museum opened in 2009 in the goods shed at Engi Vorderdorf. A garden railway was added in 2015 as an additional family attraction.
Hiking in the Glarner Wald
A three-hour hike from Engi Vorderdorf to Engi Hinterdorf passes through the Glarner Wald forest reserve. The area contains a great deal of deadwood, which is important for biodiversity and forest regeneration. The app for the Glarner Waldperlen experience offers GPS navigation as well as stories, games and information on site; its content may be updated. Seasonal trail conditions can affect access, so it’s worth checking the latest information before setting out.
Golf and Cross-Country Skiing
Engi is home to a 9-hole short course at Golf Glarnerland, within the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chipping and putting greens are available for practising the short game. Three alternative tee positions extend to 118 metres; the course layout may change, so you can check the latest details before playing.
The Engi–Matt trail offers seven kilometres each for classic cross-country skiing and skating. It runs from Matt to Engi along the historic Suvorov Trail. In Engi-Hinterdorf, the trail starts at the Plattenberg bus stop by the car park. Snow conditions affect whether the trail is usable; check the latest transport information before setting out, too.
Discover more destinations: Mühlehorn, Obstalden, Filzbach, Näfels, Niederurnen, Elm, Mollis, Matt.
See the main travel overview: Glarus.
