Winden: Trails, Orchards and Village History

Winden is a village in the political municipality of Egnach in the Arbon district of the canton of Thurgau. It lies on a slope facing Lömmenschwil. For hikes, Häggenschwil-Winden railway station is an important starting point: it is on the St. Gallen–Romanshorn line operated by the Südostbahn, and several trails start there. When choosing your route, you can consider its course and destination, as well as the features along the way.

Hiking from Häggenschwil-Winden

The “Unterwegs im Oberthurgau” route begins at Häggenschwil-Winden railway station and ends at Amriswil railway station. It is open for hiking year-round and passes Balgerweiher through the municipality of Egnach towards Muolen. This sets it apart from circular routes that return to their starting point: here, the start and finish are at different stations. At Balgerweiher, the route meets a piece of local landscape history that you can learn more about along the way.

The Panorama-Wanderung im Apfelland is a circular route: it starts and ends at Häggenschwil-Winden railway station and passes through the village of Winden. Along the way, you will pass two quaint half-timbered houses and a flower-adorned fountain. The “Bauerngärten um Egnach” route also starts at the station, but ends in Egnach. These different routes can help you choose: the key question is whether you want to return to your starting point or arrive at another station or destination.

The Bireweg passes through extensive orchards and high-stem gardens before reaching Winden railway station. Ten attractively designed information panels line the trail. The Bireweg is also available digitally: the CubeTrail app lets you access historical background information along the route. The trail also offers views of meadows, fields, trees, farms, half-timbered houses and the lake. It combines a walk through the orchard landscape with information about the area and varied views.

The Egnacher Beeri-Weg also starts at Häggenschwil-Winden railway station. There are many orchards, meadows and farms along the route, and a fire pit in the forest along the Beeri-Weg. The two trails have different features: the Bireweg has information panels and digital historical background information, while the Beeri-Weg passes several elements of the agricultural landscape.

Ponds, orchard landscapes and local history

Balgerweiher was once a reservoir for a sawmill and a mill in the village of the same name. It is one of the local ponds that have been preserved, while most of the others were filled in over the past 80 years. In April 2025, there was also a barbecue area at Balgerweiher. As facilities can change, it is best to check the latest information before your visit.

The names of Winden also tell the story of the village: in 1302, the place was mentioned in official records as Oberwinden and Niederwinden; from around 1575 to 1910, it was also known as Kügeliswinden. The Balgen half-timbered house dates from 1779 and is one of the best-preserved buildings in the canton. Such historical details add to what you can see of the houses and landscape on the trails through Winden and the surrounding area.

Local agriculture includes “Manser, Ferien beim Bauer,” a small traditional farm in Winden with cows, cider apples, a cider press and agrotourism. Another local feature is the “Stubete mit Tanz” at Wirtschaft zum Klösterli, where musicians and guests are welcome. Together with the hiking trails and the village’s recorded history, these experiences offer different ways to shape your stay in Winden around your interests.

For the overall travel guide: Egnach.