Hans Brühlmann Rundweg, Station 2

Müliboden with a view of Langgasse and the Calfeisental.

The Görbsbach with its spring water from the Kunkels - also called Mühlbach because of the mills - was a good drinking water supply for people and cattle of the people living in the Winkel and on the Langgasse ("Hinterbrüggler"). Because the Langgasse was located far above the Mühlbach, Wasserwegli was needed for a direct connection. One of these has been preserved, it is even written on and is also tracked in winter. In the past, there were even more such waterways. Until the commissioning of today's water supply in 1890, Vättis had only one public village fountain on the church square: this was fed by the Trögli above Vättis (Poppali-Stein). The route is still visible behind and above the houses on the slag heap. The Tamina, then called "Grossbach", or "Grausbach" in Vättner German at the time, was easily accessible for the "Vorderbrüggler". Vättis is clearly visible from this location as the gateway to the Calfeisen Valley, the secluded wilderness. In the past, there was hardly any way to get through where the Gigerwald dam now stands. Thus, the Calfeisen valley was not originally settled from Vättis, but from behind, from the Sardona Pass and the Trinserfurgga from the Surselva. From 1300 to 1652/1653, the Calfeisen Valley was inhabited by the Free Walsers all year round. They built their little church of St. Martin in 1312. Since 2003 there has been the Förderverein Pro Walsersiedlung St.Martin und Calfeisental.

Today, the Calfeisen Valley is the centre of the Tectonic Arena Sardona World Heritage Site. 10 Alps with 1000 head of cattle, shepherded by hearty and rustic alpine farmers, are home in summer. Her pagan-Christian Alpine blessing is legendary. Flora and fauna are well known: ibex, bearded vultures, black deer and many more animals are native, part of the area belongs to the federal ban area Graue Hörner. Hiking trails lead to the SAC hut Sardona at 2158 meters above sea level - and from there on to Weisstannen (SG), Elm (GL) and Flims (GR). The 36.5° warm healing water of Bad Pfäfers, Bad Ragaz and Valens comes from the Sardona area. The Ringelkette is the highest mountain range in the canton of St.Gallen.