Zürichsee-Rundweg
Overview
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Distance 13 km
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Duration 3 h 30 min
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Ascent 400 m
Intro
Walking along the southern Pfannenstiel foothills, it’s hard to believe you find yourself amidst one of Switzerland’s most populated agglomerations. Woods, pastures and vineyards adorn the way, followed by a descent over the Meilemer Tobel.
Description
If you are starting in Stäfa , i.e. are not combining the seventh and eighth stages into a single leg, you will first need to climb up through the ravine to the top from the final bus stop, passing vineyards on the way. Back amongst vines once again, the dirt road then winds along the edge of the forest to the northwest, running virtually parallel to the lake. Cows from the nearby farms and horses from the Wanne boarding, training and sports stables graze in the meadows. The restaurant next door offers magnificent views of Lake Zurich to accompany its speciality, American cuisine.
The buildings either side of the next part of the hiking trail are marked «Waisenhus», or «orphanage», on the map. A 1901 report by the Schweizerischer Armenerzieherverein («Swiss Association for the Education of the Poor») said that the building was designed to «afford poor, orphaned, neglected and abandoned children from the bourgeoisie with an appropriate Christian education». With the benefit of hindsight, however, the educational principles followed at the time are now viewed in a negative light.
The path then leads alongside meadows to the sports centre and the Widenbad restaurant in Männedorf. Above the Boldern seminar centre, surrounded by greenery on the edge of the forest, you will find an information board explaining the geography of the region that you can see from this panoramic viewpoint. Keeping above the residential area, the path – which alternates between gravel and paved – passes through a ravine and past the Hohenegg psychiatric clinic. After the cosy zur Burg restaurant,
you arrive at the ruins of Friedburg Castle, where the terrain drops away sharply to the west and south into the ravine. In the eastern corner, there was probably once a water-filled ditch, which is now partially exposed. Although nobody knows exactly when and why the castle was abandoned, it continues to fascinate visitors with its spellbinding atmosphere. The path then meanders along the village stream through the idyllic ravine to Meilen.
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 |
Stäfa
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Meilen
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
500 m
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| Ascent |
400 m
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| Descent |
380 m
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| Distance |
13 km
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| Duration |
3 h 30 min
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| Duration back |
3 h 25 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
All year
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| Theme |
With panoramic view
|
Quick Facts
Route number
