Local Fortress Ruins: Wildenburg in Zug--Allenwinden

 April 11, 2021 (Sunday Afternoon) -- Some time ago I discovered that Zug has its own medieval fortress ruins, so for a short afternoon walk, I took Urs up to revisit it with me.

It was a beautiful day, but since we had done a long hike the day before, we only decided late in the afternoon to go outside and do a 1-hour walk nearby. The sun disappeared shortly after we started, which was OK, otherwise it would have been too hot.

To reach the ruins, you have to descend into a small ravine near the Lorzentobel Bridge, where there is a pretty waterfall which drops over a slide created by limestone deposits... a lovely secret place.  

We had planned on a loop trail on both sides of the ravine, but it turns out there is construction going on, and the second half of the trail is now closed. So we simply walked down to the nearest bus station.

There is a cat in every meadow!

Afternoon Bike Ride through the Lorzentobel Ravine in Baar

(Post done on December 19, 2021)

Saturday April 4, 2020 -- As the COVID pandemic has now hit Europe, and the Governments aren't really sure how best to deal with this new situation, schools have been closed and people have been sent to work from home. Fresh air and exercise are encouraged, but recommended is to stay near your home.

Because this year is an unusually early and warm Spring, with day after day of wonderful weather, people are NOT going to keep themselves and their children indoors! Not having to go to work in an office means you can be outdoors more than usual! Near our home is a popular walking trail parallel to the new Lorze River, and currently almost impossible to travel on as it is overly congested with walkers, joggers, racing bikes with no consideration for pedestrians, and lots of moms with baby buggies, taking the opportunity to meet in groups... all things actually discouraged at this time.

We felt more endangered on this trail "near our home", so on this beautiful Saturday we decided on a bike ride, starting on the overfilled trail (we were respectful of the walkers) along the Lorze River and cutting over to the Lorzentobel in Baar, a section of the river which passes through a type of ravine, and also a popular bike trail. Considering that people were supposed to "stay at home", we were surprised that the forests and riverbanks were literally packed with families doing Saturday outdoor grills!

Our round loop was about 16 km (about 2 hours), and required pushing our bikes up the hill to get out of the ravine, followed by some welcome downhill! The highlight of the day came near the end, near the Lindenpark S-Bahn train station, where the most fantastic Japanese Cherry Trees were in full bloom. Absolutely marvelous. 

Approx. 2-hour round-tour by bike along the Lorze River. About half of this tour is part of the themed trail "Lorze Industry Trail" which runs from Aegeri to Cham. 

The Lorze River in the Lorzentobel (gorge). This is a popular biking trail near the city. 

Stopped to take some photos of the river as we were riding our bikes along the bike trail. 

A power plant below the Lorzentobel Bridges

The first bridge was built in 1910 to connect Zug to Menzingen. No longer used as a vehicle bridge, it is a pedestrian walkway, which we have yet to try out. The second bridge is the motorvehicle bridge from Zug to Aegeri. 

From Aegeri to Cham is a really interesting themed trail called the "Lorze Industry Trail" with lots of very interesting information about the growth of industry in this region, using the power of the river. We have done most sections of this trail. 

This wooden bridge dates from 1759. It was here that the first bridge over the Lorze River was built in the middle ages. Due to flooding, the original bridges were ripped away and rebuilt a few times!

The "railway" bridge, with five arches and a length of 187m, was built in 1910 of natural stone, in the style of the railway bridges at the time. The newer cement bridge was completed in 1985, as it was more cost-effective to build a new bridge than to repair the old one, which had started to show signs of wear. The old one is now a pedestrian bridge. 

After pushing our bikes up the hill out of the ravine, we come into the blooming cherry orchards of Zug. 

Typical farmhouse construction here. 

The St.Sebastian Chapel in Inwil near Zug dates from 1581

Japanese Cherries in full bloom

Japanese Cherries in full bloom

Japanese Cherries in full bloom

That's a pretty big mouse trap!

A lovely day for an afternoon bike ride near our home. 16 km and two hours. 

Short Walk near home to the Ruins of Fortress Wildenburg in Allenwinden

December 10, 2019 -- This was a Tuesday, my day off, and the weather was just too beautiful to spend the day indoors, so I traveled by bus to Allenwinden, not even 30 minutes from here, to check out a castle ruins which I happened to notice on the hiking map. From there it was an easy walk through the farms back down to Zug. 

I had miscalculated on my planning though: On the hiking map, instead of following the official hiking trail, I mapped out some roads through a couple of farms (it is often possible to do this) but when I got there, there were signs forbidding access to vehicles and horses, and only after I passed through the first farm did I realize that there might have been forbidden access to all unauthorized traffic, even pedestrian, "on pain of death!". So I didn't risk the second farm, and had to follow the main road, where there was also construction.... I'll stick to the official hiking trails from now on, if at all possible!

On the start of the trail in Allenwinden, the sign warns me that it is perilous to leave the trail or the fortress grounds, so I expected a much more treacherous trail than it ended up being.

Even though it is December, I'm pretty sure this trail isn't life-threatening.

Information about the Ruins of Wildenburg: First construction in 1200, the fortress was abandoned in 1400.

It's never boring visiting the ruins of fortresses

Not sure what the purpose of this narrow tower was

I always love it when our trails include forested sections into small ravines, usually accessed on such stairways.

This waterfall was special: It built itself a stalagmite slide made of limestone!

Usually there are several bridges to cross at the bottom of these ravines

First glimpse over the city of Zug and Lake Zug

Next to this barn was a road marked on my map, which I followed to descend a section of the hill

Once I passed through the farm, I saw this sign which indicates that no horses or cars are allowed to use this road, but the sign below it also seems to indicated that passage is forbidden for anyone without permission (hopefully no one saw me!)

At the second farm, and on closer inspection, I figured they were quite serious, so I made my way along the regular road, where there was construction going on, and quite a bit of traffic, so not as much fun.

At this farm it was OK to walk down their driveway, because they had a farm store selling eggs.

At the bottom of the hill I came to the community of Inwil, and had a small coffee break on the bench in front of this 450-year old chapel which is under heritage protection

There are many such lovely old farm houses amongst the newer residential developments

This hike started in Allenwil and ended in Zug. Later in February we did a hike starting in Unterägeri and ending in Allenwinden (Those photos HERE)

We have covered a lot of ground in this area because it is easy and quick to get to by public transit

Short Afternoon walk from Knonau (Canton Zürich) to Steinhausen (Canton Zug)

December 1, 2019 (Saturday) -- A very mild early winter this year, and when there is no snow in the lower areas, we can still do a large assortment of local hikes or short afternoon walks.

To get out for some fresh air this winter afternoon we took a train to Knonau, a little town with its own castle, and only a 20-minute trip for us with public transit, so a good starting point when we start late in the day. This town is just North of the border between Canton Zug and Zurich, so the 5-kilometer walk we did from there to Steinhausen (which is one village West of Zug) meant we once again crossed the border line, which is always fun.

Among other things, we came across an "erratic", which is a large stone deposited upon the retreat of a glacier, in this case probably the Reuss Glacier. Amazing to think that there was once glacier ice this far North of the Alps

On really clear days, you can actually see the Alps from this area just northwest of the city of Zug.