Leymen Circuit at Mariastein

This hiking circuit combines historical heritage and spiritual dimension. Along the way, you will notably have the opportunity to discover the chapel of the Souls in Purgatory. Built exclusively with local materials and thanks to Alsatian know-how, this modest chapel offers a resting place appreciated by hikers and pilgrims on their way to the Landskron castle or the nearby sanctuary of Mariastein, a Swiss monastery founded in the 17th century.

Perched at 340 meters above sea level, the Landskron castle overlooks the Leimental. Classified as a historical monument in 1923, it has long suffered from the effects of time. Since 1983, a Franco-Swiss association has been committed to preserving, restoring, and enhancing this site steeped in history. Now a symbol of the valley, it is accessible to visitors from both sides of the border, who can also enjoy the numerous trails winding through the first reliefs of the Jura.

The trail also leads to the abbey of Mariastein, a major pilgrimage site that hosts many faithful every year. Its church attracts as much for its flamboyant Gothic architecture as for the peaceful natural surroundings. The origin of this site is linked to a legend: that of a child who fell from a cliff and was miraculously saved by the intervention of the Virgin Mary. Today, Mariastein is the second largest pilgrimage site in Switzerland.