St.Oswald Church in Zug, and the famous Zuger Kirsch Torte

(This post published Jan.15, 2024)

September 29, 2022 -- Currently visiting are my Mom and sister and a very close friend. The weather has been pretty bad since they arrived on the 24th of September, so we haven't done any outings yet at all. 

This day we ventured into the Old Town of Zug, with our main goal to have coffee at a bakery which offers a local specialty called the "Zuger Kirsch Torte", a cake with a lot of cherry brandy produced locally. (In fact, the recipe is patented, and can only be called "Zuger Kirschtorte" if it uses the Kirsch brandy manufactured in Zug or in Küssnacht nearby).

We also had a look inside the St.Oswald church, which is the only surviving large-scale Late Gothic building in Central Switzerland. Along with the Bern Minster, St. Oswald's Church is considered the most ornate in Switzerland from this period. It took 70 years to build, starting in 1478.

We then walked through the castle grounds and up and down the two main pedestrian roads in the old town, before heading back home. One interesting item we missed was a climb into the clock-tower, which I didn't know we could do. (Update: We did this later in December 2023, those photos are HERE).

St. Oswald Church next to the Zug Castle in the heart of old-town Zug. This building took 70 years to build, from 1478 to 1548.

The stunning interior of St. Oswald Church. This is considered one of the most ornate churches in Switzerland from the Late Gothic Period. 

The artwork inside the building is mostly from the mid- 19th Century. 

A beautiful organ

More details of this stunning building

The Church of St. Oswald is the only surviving large-scale Late Gothic building in Central Switzerland. Along with the Bern Minster, St. Oswald's Church is considered the most ornate in Switzerland from this period.

From St.Oswald Church we walked over to the town's castle and walked through the grounds, and back into the old town. 

This interesting three-cornered building is called the Gloriettli. It was built in 1765 as a garden pavilion. 

Until 1967 the building was surrounded by gardens. Now it's attached by a walkway to the other buildings! The interior is apparently the original Rococo decor.

This beautiful building was the city mint (where coins were manufactured), built in 1580.

One of a few pedestrian roads in old town Zug, near the lake

Our main goal of this day was to enjoy the local specialty called "Zuger Kirschtorte". It was here in the bakery called Speck, where the cake was originally created in 1915. There is a patent on the recipe, and it can only be called Zuger Kirschtorte if it is made with the local cherry brandy. 

Coffee and Zuger Kirschtorte for all!

In retrospect, we should have ordered a variety of tortes, instead of all the same. The cake is very heavily doused in Kirsch, and it would have been enough to just sample from one or two pieces. It's not my favourite cake anyway.

Enjoying coffee in the Speck Bakery/Café in Zug. My mom used to bake this cake as well (it was my Dad's favourite) and to be honest, I liked hers better, as it was not so overpowered with the brandy. 

A final stroll along the lakeshore on this overcast and rainy day....