Zürichsee-Rundweg
Overview
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Distance 13 km
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Duration 3 h
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Ascent 120 m
Intro
Starting at the Horgen fountain, the way leads alongside the lake, with numerous possibilities to take a break, a swim or light a fire underway. Highlight on this leg is the Halbinsel Au with its castle, park and natural pond– a real sight to see!
Description
Stage three is just made for families. Starting from the district capital of Horgen, the route follows the shoreline and is mostly straight and flat. Whether you’re out and about on foot, on your bike, pushing your buggy or showing off your rollerblading skills, you’ll almost always have some company along the lakeside path. You’ll have magnificent views of the water most of the time, punctuated only occasionally by – equally magnificent – houses between the lake and the trail. Did you know that it is not only nowadays that the plots of land here are so highly sought after? The shallow shoreline was already inhabited in prehistoric times. You can still stumble across finds from all those years ago or sunken cargo boats known as «Ledischiffe» from more recent times.
You soon come up level with the car ferry that plies between Horgen and Meilen and saves drivers from having to take the circuitous route across the dam or through Zurich itself. Once there, you can cool off in the lakeside bathing area if you like, or visit the mine in Käpfnach (only open on Saturday afternoons ). Right up until the Second World War, miners used to toil in the tunnels here to mine coal less than 200 metres uphill from the hiking trail. A trip inside on the mine train is a good tip for anyone keen to learn more about the place’s history.
Another potential destination for an excursion not far from here is the Au peninsula, which boasts the Ausee lake, a restaurant perched at its highest point and a vineyard. The only section of the tour that has a slightly steeper climb takes you up to the viewing point. On the other side, steps take you straight down to the railway line, passing through plots in the vineyard set up for demonstration purposes. On a series of panels, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) provides information about the 280 grape varieties and clones that are cultivated here to preserve the gene pool. You can enjoy the grapes themselves in the restaurant, where expert oenologists have turned them into wine.
Back between the lake and the railway line, you soon come to Wädenswil, affectionately called «Wädi» by locals. On the hiking trail, you feel as if you are going back in time through part of the town’s history: as the population grew, factories and older residential buildings near the shore were put to a new use. You soon turn onto the final spectacular section of the trail, which takes you onto a footbridge. Rather than simply besides the lake, this stage actually ends with a walk across the water, finishing in Richterswil, whose railway station is a listed building. The town itself is home to many well-preserved half-timbered houses.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Horgen
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Richterswil
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
400 m
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| Ascent |
120 m
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| Descent |
120 m
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| Distance |
13 km
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| Duration |
3 h
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| Duration back |
3 h
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Season |
All year
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| Theme |
Along Water
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Quick Facts
Route number
