Suworow Velo-Route

In contrast to today's cyclists, in 1799 the Russian troops could not enjoy the beauty of the Alpine world. In late autumn the 70-year-old General Suworow rushed 20,000 ragged soldiers from Altdorf over the Chinzigpass (2073 m) into the Muota Valley, over the Pragelpass into the Klöntal, through the Sernftal and over the Panixerpass (2400 m) into the Vorderheintal. Thousands froze to death in rain, snow and fog. The 18% steep Pragelpass is still strenuous, but nature is worth it: below the wild Muota, above the bare, furrowed karst landscape of the Silver, the mysterious Bödmeren jungle with falling wood, scrub and ferns, and inside the mountain the Hölloch, a 190 km long cave system. The fjord-like, clear Klöntlalersee lake reflects the Firnkuppe des Glärnisch, the main town of Glarus is the busy centre of the Glarnerland. The early industrialisation of the Linth valley brought Schwanden the first consumer association in Switzerland, the oldest hunting ban area, the "Freiberg Kärpf", has Schwanden since 1548. 40 million years old is the worldwide unique geological alpine overthrust, which lies on the razor-sharp, yellowish edge in the rock faces of the Sernft valley. For centuries, slate was quarried from the mountain for roofs, tables and school blackboards, the latter of which can be seen up close in the slate museum in Elm.