The 50 most beautiful places in Lucerne – Lake Lucerne

The village of Amsteg in Canton Uri owes its existence to its location on the Gotthard Pass route. First came the “Säumer”, the pack-animal drivers, who stopped here before negotiating the pass. Then a proper road was built, followed by the railway, a motorway and – the most recent milestone – the new Gotthard rail link.

The mother church of the Canton of Obwalden, St. Peter und Paul, is not located in the cantonal capital of Sarnen but on a hillside in Kirchhofen commanding sweeping views. The church quarter with its monumental religious edifice offers a counterpoint to other parts of the village dominated by farms and small businesses.

The lenticular Ufenau is an idyllic and totally unspoilt island situated towards the eastern end of Lake Zurich. It was already a place of worship in Roman times. But since 1970 day trippers have been flocking here to enjoy its natural charm, historic buildings and culinary delights.

The hamlet of Kehrsiten lies directly by Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Bürgenstock. Once a farming community and with a magnificent stock of fruit trees, Kehrsiten is now a popular day-trip destination and stopping point on the journey up the Bürgenstock.

The St. Urban monastery complex blends harmoniously with the largely manmade landscape in this part of Canton Lucerne. Alongside the magnificent church, the conventual wings with their spacious quadrangles also make an imposing sight. From the second half of the 19th century, in 1873 to be precise, until 2023 (150 years), part of the monastery served as a clinic for people with mental illness. Today, the monastery is used for cultural events, the arts and as an office building. The monastery church also serves as a place of worship for the parish of St Urban.

This small fishing and farming village is located in the Uri basin, right on the banks of Lake Lucerne. The village, which lies at the foot of an impressive mountain backdrop, is the smallest municipality in the canton of Uri.

As small as Flüeli-Ranft in the canton of Obwalden may seem, it actually enjoys great fame. The place of pilgrimage of the Swiss national saint, Nicholas of Flüe, invites you to visit the chapel – and take a trip to the Ranft Gorge.

Today, the former trading and fishing town is best known for the “Battle of Sempach”. The town impresses with its historic old town and beautiful location on the shores of Lake Sempach.

The historic town of Schwyz is also the cantonal capital. It is located at the foot of the gentle sloping hillside of the Grosser and Kleiner Mythen mountains and has one of the most impressive Baroque era squares in Switzerland.

Beromünster is situated on a gentle hill between Lake Baldegger and Lake Sempacher. The little town is known today not only for its magnificent abbey district, but also for its former radio station – and for the first letterpress to be mentioned in Switzerland.

Stans is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden and lies at the foot of the Stanserhorn. The expansive main square in the centre of town is truly magnificent – and one of the most beautiful squares in Switzerland.