| Buechberg | |
|---|---|
 Buechberg onObersee (Zürichsee), as seen from theJona river inJona,Speer,Chüemettler andFederispitz mountains in the background | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 631 m (2,070 ft) |
| Prominence | 202 m (663 ft)[1] |
| Coordinates | 47°12′5″N8°54′32″E / 47.20139°N 8.90889°E /47.20139; 8.90889 |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Obersee (Zürichsee),Nuolen andTuggen, Switzerland |
Buechberg (alsoBuchberg) is an elongatedmolasse hill in theSwiss cantons ofSchwyz andSt. Gallen onObersee lakeshore.
TheMolasse hill is a remain of the last glacial period in Switzerland. Situated on the southeasternObersee lakeshore, the hill is situated on the area of the municipalities ofTuggen andWangen−Nuolen in thecanton of Schwyz, bordered by the lakeshore area in thecanton of St. Gallen and by theLinth river towardsSchmerikon. The highest elevation is about 631 metres (2,070 ft) at the southwestern end of the hill, overlooking the Linth and Obersee area at around 406 metres (1,332 ft) sea level.
The commonly calledBollingen Sandstone since centuries is used for the construction of buildings, among them theEinsiedeln Abbey and theSt. Gallen Abbey, as well as for the construction ofFraumünster andGrossmünster in Zürich; the quarries are still in use.[2]
The official name is the Swiss-German language termBuechberg (not written with "ü"), althoughBuchberg is often used.
Among the area around theHolzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden lake crossing and betweenRapperswil andBusskirch around Obersee,Güntliweid up toBätzimatt at Buechberg are listed astbird reserves of national importance. The reserve is located on the south shore, at the foothills of Buechberg and extends from the south ofBätzimatt at Schmerikon toGüntliweid east ofLachen. It is considered as a particularly valuable resting place forwaders, and may be obtained as resting place for birds on passage.[3]
About two thousand years ago, Buechberg formed an island in the former flatTuggenersee lake area, and there was probably at least oneRoman watching tower on the hill established. In the early 13th century AD theHouse of Rapperswil built theGrynau Castle at the most important and strategically river crossing over the Linth river nearby the then nearly landed lake.
From Tuggen there's also a historical road heading from the former granary at theGrynau Castle over the Buechberg hill towardsSiebnen.[4]
The taming of the Linth river (Linthkorrektur) from 1807 to 1823 once more changed the landscape, which is also very popular for hiking.[5]
