Paxmal

With the Paxmal, the peace painting, the basic idea of which is peace for all, Karl Bickel created a place of inner contemplation, of meditation on man and his goals, his way of life and his society. The artist was born in Zurich-Hirslanden in 1886 and lost his father at the age of four. From 1900 to 1904, he trained as a lithographer and cliché draughtsman at the Paul Bleuer studio. He became technical manager at the Hüttner graphic design studio and opened his own graphic design studio in 1908. Until 1912, he produced letterheads, business recommendation cards and fashion catalogs. In 1913, Bickel fell ill with tuberculosis and spent over a year in Walenstadtberg for treatment. This gave rise to visions that he wanted to realize in the form of a peace stamp when he recovered. In 1924, he began the 25-year construction of the Paxmal and met Berta Albrecht from St. Gallen, whom he married in 1926. His son Karl was born in 1927. Bickel died at the age of 96 in 1982 on Schrina-Hochrugg. The Paxmal is a highly interesting place of wonder. Energetically, it is not enough to be a place of power. Enjoy the space between the monumental Churfirsten peaks and Lake Walen, engage with the work of art and its statements and let your soul take flight when the sky is reflected in the water. The Paxmal is freely accessible from spring to fall.