Wigoltingen: Hiking, Play and Architectural Heritage

Wigoltingen is a political municipality and a locality in the Canton of Thurgau, and belongs to the Weinfelden district. There are traffic-free paths along the Thur. Above the village, woodland paths are ideal for walks. Architectural landmarks and historical traces add to the range of leisure activities.

Hiking between the Thur and Vago Pond

The “Along the Thur” hike is 9.4 kilometres long. It starts at Müllheim-Wigoltingen railway station, heads downstream mostly along the embankment and is accessible year-round. It is an easy route. The “Vagoweier Wigoltingen” hike is 9.7 kilometres long and is also an easy route; it too is accessible year-round. The two distances differ by only 300 metres. The route for “Along the Thur” is described in more detail: it starts at the railway station and follows the river, mostly along the embankment.

Wigoltingen has traffic-free paths along the Thur and woodland paths above the village that are ideal for walks. There are fire pits around the Thur landscape. In good weather, views from various points in the municipality reach as far as the Säntis region. These long-distance views are therefore weather-dependent. If fishing at Vago Pond is part of your travel plans, weekly, monthly and annual fishing permits are available through the Municipality of Wigoltingen.

Leisure activities for a range of interests

Fussballgolf Thurgau is the first football golf facility in eastern Switzerland. The playing area covers 35,000 m² and has 18 holes. The facility is near Müllheim-Wigoltingen railway station and cycling, skating and hiking routes. Football golf is another leisure activity alongside the hikes.

The Wigi-Tigi Trail is a family puzzle trail combining tricky riddles, a story and a walk through the village. The trail of clues through Wigoltingen takes around an hour and a half and is particularly suitable for kindergarten and primary school-age children. Parts of the adventure can be listened to via QR codes; the trail is suitable for pushchairs. The walk combines getting active in the village with puzzles and a story.

Architectural heritage, the church and recurring events

Altenklingen Castle is protected by a legally binding designation and is classified as particularly valuable in the cantonal inventory of historic monuments. The impressive group of buildings, in the late 16th-century castle style, consists of two stepped-gable houses standing parallel to one another, round corner towers and oriel windows. This architecture provides a tangible point of interest for anyone interested in historic building styles.

Wigoltingen Church stands in the centre of the village; its acoustics make it suitable for concerts. The church houses three bells from the 14th and 15th centuries. Their being together in one church is considered exceptionally rare even in Switzerland. The recurring programme at the Chürzi Museum also offers a variety of themes: the spring exhibition takes place on four Sundays and brings together collection objects and loans in a historical context. The autumn exhibition also runs for four Sundays and gives artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.

Another regular event is the autumn market. It takes place on the Saturday before the Day of Prayer and Repentance, in the village square in front of the Chileschür. Together with the exhibitions, it offers a different perspective on Wigoltingen from the landscape paths and historic buildings: here, recurring village events take centre stage.

Historical traces in Wigoltingen

Wigoltingen is first mentioned in 889 under the name Wigoltinga. The year 1155 is also among the historical dates associated with Wigoltingen. A charter dates from 1403; in September 1445, a skirmish took place near Wigoltingen as part of the Old Zurich War. These dates mark different stages in the village’s history, from its first mention to an event during a war.

The church’s history extends beyond individual buildings: the parish originally stretched from the Thur to the Seerücken ridge, and Wigoltingen joined the Reformation in 1528. Raperswilen Chapel has been a subsidiary church of Wigoltingen since at least the 17th century. During a stay, the landscape, village life and the municipality’s different historical periods can thus be explored as distinct themes.

Discover more destinations: Wagerswil, Bürglen, Berg, Bussnang, Weinfelden

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