Pfäfers: Monastery Church, Hiking Trails and Hotels

Pfäfers is a starting point for hikes into the Tamina Gorge and to the Old Bad Pfäfers. The monastery church, other historic churches and the village museum also give the village a distinctive cultural character. When planning your visit, it is worth keeping the different destinations and their respective conditions in mind.

Hiking and Landscape

The Tamina Gorge near Bad Ragaz cuts deep into the rock and is characterised by wild nature. An adventure trail leads to the thermal spring, whose water is 36.5 °C. Pfäfers is a starting point for hikes into the gorge; a hike to the Old Bad Pfäfers also begins here.

Special travel conditions apply to the Old Bad: it can only be reached by postbus, horse-drawn carriage or on foot. Cars, bicycles and e-scooters are prohibited along the entire route. If you plan to use the postbus or horse-drawn carriage, check the timetable before setting off. This is separate from the bus service from Bad Ragaz, which connects Pfäfers to public transport.

The hike to the Tabor viewpoint passes the village linden tree and the monastery church in Pfäfers. This means that two of the village’s landmarks lie along the route described. Porta Romana offers a different focus: the hike follows a historic trade route through vineyards and past dry-stone walls, continuing to old fortifications. The two route descriptions therefore highlight different things—village landmarks on the way to the viewpoint, and historic traces along the route.

Pfäfers also has a fitness trail with nine stations. The nearby high valley of St. Margrethenberg is suitable for family hikes and can be reached by postbus. If you are planning to visit a particular attraction, check the latest information about the trail and facility details beforehand.

Monastery History and Bathing Culture

Construction of the Pfäfers monastery church began in 1688, and the building was completed to shell stage in 1693. As a Baroque church, it bears witness to the period when Benedictine monks lived and worked there. The hike to Tabor passes the church, linking a specific point on the route with the history of the monastery.

The Burächilchli St. Evort stands outside the village. The church was built in 1625 and renovated in 1984; it serves as the parish’s mortuary chapel. Its altar features a 17th-century Pietà. The building’s history, its religious function and its altarpiece each give this small church its own historical significance.

The Pfäfers Village Museum is located in the centre of the village, in a former monastery house. A short film, old documents and rare exhibits introduce the history of the village, local personalities and the region. The Old Bad Pfäfers is Switzerland’s oldest Baroque bathhouse. In the monumental bathhouse, which includes a chapel, the Bath Museum presents the changing history of the baths and bathing, from their origins to the present day. The Village Museum focuses on local and regional history, while the Bath Museum focuses on the history of bathing.

Pracavals and Events

There are water features and a fountain at the Pracavals pond. Above Pfäfers, the Swiss Family picnic and barbecue area is set in a forest clearing; the hut there provides shelter for up to 15 people. As information about facilities can change, it is advisable to check the latest details about the water features and hut before visiting.

Events are held regularly at Lindenplatz under the name “Linden Höck,” mainly concerts. The programmes vary. From 2025, an annual Taminatal 1 August celebration will be held, organised in rotation by the tourism associations of Valens, Vättis or Pfäfers. If you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the announcement for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Margrethenberg, Vättis, Flums, Walenstadt, Quarten, Tannenheim, Vilters-Wangs, Bad Ragaz.

See the regional travel overview: Sarganserland.