By taking road 8 from St Gallen or road 16 from Kreuzlingen via Wil, we reach Lichtensteig (618 m/2,028ft; pop. 2,200), an old-world little town which is picturesquely situated on a rocky hill above the right bank of the Thur. It is the principal place in the Toggenburg region with some handsome old arcaded houses. In the Toggenburg Heimatmuseum can be seen a notable collection of rural crafts and popular art, including documentation of alpine husbandry as well as musical instruments and costumes. Also of interest is the church of St Gallus, a modern building (1966-72) by W. M. Förderer, and Freddy's Mechanical Music Museum in the Hans Zur Frohburg.
The road to Buchs runs from Wattoril up the Thur valley, here wide and fertile, and in 5.5km/3mi reaches Ebnat-Kappel (633-650 m/2,077-2,133ft), actually two towns with a combined population of 5,500 inhabitants and a variety of industry. The twin towns attract summer visitors and winter sports enthusiasts. The Ackerhus has a notable exhibition concerning traditional Toggenburg customs.
Address: Ebnat-Kappel Tourist Office, Bahnhof Ebnaterstrasse 4, CH-9642 Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland
Beyond Ebnat-Kappel, the valley closes in. Ahead the Churfirsten (on right) and the Stockberg (on left) come into sight. At Krummenau (716 m/2,349ft) the valley briefly opens out again. At the far end of the village, on the right, is a large parking place near the chairlift (2,025 m/6,644ft) from Krümmenschwil (740 m/2,427ft) to Rietbach (1,120 m/3,675ft), from which there is a ski-lift to the Wolzenalp (1,456 m/4,777ft).
2.5km/2mi from Krummenau is Neu-St Johann (760 m/2,494ft), a village set amid meadows in a wider part of the valley (summer holiday accommodation, winter sports), with a fine 17th C. Baroque church belonging to a former Benedictine monastery.
Beyond Krummenau, the Thur flows under the natural rock bridge known as the Sprung and through the Kesseltobel gorge, with the road running on the hillside high above it.
2km/1mi south of Lichtensteig on road 16 is Wattwil (617 m/2,024ft): pop. 9,000), a long straggling town which is the economic hub of Toggenburg, with a variety of industry (Textile College). The popular Swiss writer Ulrich Bräker (1735-98) worked here as a weaver.
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