Wooden Footbridge (Hurden) / Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden

The Wooden Footbridge (Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden), the footbridge across Lake Zurich, is a long timber walkway that connects Rapperswil on the St. Gallen side with Hurden on the Schwyz side, running beside the Seedamm causeway where the lake narrows to its tightest point. It is one of the longest wooden pedestrian bridges in Switzerland, at a little over eight hundred metres, and it makes walking across the lake possible in a few minutes.

A crossing has existed here for centuries. The first wooden bridge was built in the 14th century, in 1358, under the Habsburg Duke Rudolf IV, as a way to connect the shores and to shorten the route between the Habsburg lands and the pilgrim road to Einsiedeln. The place became part of the Way of St. James, the old pilgrimage road toward Santiago de Compostela, and pilgrims walked across the lake on planks for centuries. The medieval bridge was repaired and rebuilt many times, and in the 19th century it was replaced by the solid stone causeway that now carries the road and railway. Today’s Wooden Bridge, opened in 2001, rebuilds the old crossing in a contemporary form and revives the pilgrim route, and signs along the way tell the story.

Walking across is a pleasant experience. The planks are wide enough for walkers and cyclists to pass, and the railing gives a clear view of the water on both sides. Looking back, Rapperswil’s old town and the castle rise above the lake in one of the classic views of the region, and the Alps stand beyond. On the Hurden side you arrive in a quiet village with views of the Zürichsee and the Schwyz hills, and there is a small harbour and some restaurants. The reed beds and shallows beside the bridge are a habitat for water birds, and the lake mood changes with weather and season, from still and silver on calm mornings to grey and choppy in wind.

The bridge is open at any time of year, though winter ice or wind can make it slippery. It is free to cross, and the walk is flat, so it suits strollers, children and people with limited mobility. For a longer outing, cross to Hurden, walk the lake shore and return by train or boat. At the Rapperswil end the bridge starts near the harbour, the castle and the old town, so it combines naturally with other sights listed for Rapperswil-Jona.

It suits walkers, photographers, pilgrims and anyone who likes a good lake view. Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light.