Schänis is a municipality in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

It was considered part of territory necessary to hold if the Coalition forces were to secure the Swiss Cantons.

On the morning of 25 September, prior to the second Battle of Zurich, Friedrich Freiherr von Hotze and his chief of staff were killed there while conducted a reconnaissance ride near the village of Schänis, on the Linth river by a party French scouts from the 25th Demi-brigade.

Of the rest of the land, 4.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (4.5%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).

[7] The municipality is located in the See-Gaster Wahlkreis on a terrace on the edge of the Linth valley.

Of the foreign population, (as of 2000[update]), 42 are from Germany, 64 are from Italy, 230 are from ex-Yugoslavia, 10 are from Austria, 5 are from Turkey, and 63 are from another country.

[11] The historical population is given in the following table:[3] The Roman watch tower at Biberlikopf, the former women's collegiate foundation house zum Heiligen Kreuz at Rathausplatz 1 and the Gallusturm are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

The wettest month is August during which time Schänis receives an average of 218 mm (8.6 in) of rain or snow.

The driest month of the year is February with an average of 92 mm (3.6 in) of precipitation over 14.4 days.

[16] Schänis railway station is a stop located on the regional line between Rapperswil and Ziegelbrücke.

Both trains run hourly, combining to provide half-hourly services to Rapperswil and Ziegelbrücke.