Views over Zug from the Guggi Look-Out

(Post published March 29, 2024)

Wednesday March 15, 2023 -- Before heading up to Mount Zug for a spring walk on my own, I stopped at a popular look-out point in the old city of Zug called the Guggi, from where on a clear day like today, you can get some spectacular views of the Bernese Alps, almost better than being there close-up. (These are additional photos to the ones I published on the blog page with the actual hike I did on Mount Zug, see HERE).

Most foreign tourists coming to Switzerland know only of about three popular places to go, and the most popular probably is Grindelwald (and Lauterbrunnen) where you are right up close to the most famous of the Bernese Alps: Mounts Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. As spectacular as that is, sometimes it is almost more spectacular to view these silhouettes from further away, as was the case on this particular day. It goes without saying that Zug is a very nice place to live!

Sometimes, like today, the Bernese Alps look really close

Old town Zug with its many towers from the original city walls. The prominent mountain in the back is Mount Rigi. 

On the right is the most prominent of Zug's landmarks: The Zytturm (Clock Tower). We found out quite later that it is possible to ascend the tower (to those windows under the roof) and it doesn't cost anything! (See also HERE)

And on this photo, the prominent mountain (although blocked by clouds) is Mount Pilatus, which is Luzern's landmark mountain. 

Close-up of the famous trio: Mounts Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch (left to right) at the very back of the photo. 

The path back down to the main road in old town Zug. 

It seems there is a rose garden here, with over 50 different types of roses. I will have to return some time during the blooming of the roses!

Panoramic Views of the Alps from our House Mountain: Zugerberg

Wednesday March 15th, 2023 -- For a change, Urs had to work this Wednesday, so I was on my own. On sunny days I usually like to enjoy the sun on my balcony, but sometimes I will go out for a walk on my own.

As the visibility was extremely good today, I decided on the spur of the moment to head up to our "house" mountain, Mount Zug (Zugerberg) for a short, 5-km walk from where I knew I would get some pretty good views of our local mountains such as Mt.Rigi, Mt.Pilatus, and even the Bernese Alps in Central Switzerland. We have done a lot of walks on our mountain, but there is a high spot called Hochwacht where I had not yet been. From there I walked on a short section of the Alpine Panorama Trail and caught the bus back on the road to Aegeri.

There is a look-out point down in the old town of Zug (called the Guggi), from where I know you can get a good look over the roofs and towers of our old town, and a particularly good view of the Bernese Alps far across on the other side of the lake, so to make sure I got the view before the clouds moved in, I made a stop there before heading up the mountain with the funicular.

Since I started relatively early at 10 a.m., it was still a bit chilly, especially when the clouds hid the sun, but otherwise a very nice and refreshing 90-minute local walk. Sometimes you don't have to travel far...

Heading by bus along the lake into the old part of Zug town, this view across Lake Zug and to the Alps of Central Switzerland (including the Bernese Alps) is just magnificent. 

This viewpoint is called the Guggi, and you can see the old city towers, the church towers, the lake and Mt.Rigi in particular, plus the Bernese Alps. This is at 10 a.m.

One of our old town towers

Across the roofs of old town Zug, and a better view of the Bernese Alps

Here is a very close-up view of the Alps of Central Switzerland, including the famous trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland). 

A 10-minute bus ride from "downtown" Zug to the funicular, and another 8-minute ride with the funicular to the top of the mountain

Zug funicular crossing on the way up to the mountain. It was a good time to go up here, we were only about 10 people in the funicular. 

Zug funicular crossing on the way up the mountain.

There is little wind right now and you can see all the reflections of the clouds on the still lake. It looked pretty neat. 

Starting on my walk from the summit station of the Zugerberg Funicular. Eventually I passed by that tower going left, but first I followed a road to the right, and came up from the forest on the other side. 

A short 5-km hike across the top of Mt. Zugerberg, via the look-out at Hochwacht, and catching the bus on the Aegeri road on the east side of the mountain. 

Mt. Zugerberg is not a very high mountain, and yet there was still plenty of snow in the forest on the east side. 

The sun-dappled forest and snow-covered trees were very pleasant to walk along!

Looks lovely with snow...

Near the tower now, a look down at the Montana International school which is near the funicular station. 

The tower which I saw from below

A view from the tower toward Mount Pilatus (Luzern's House Mountain), which is hidden in clouds

That small hill with the tree is called Hochwacht, from where you get some nice panorama views

Zugerberg Hochwacht. I took a few photos from up there but didn't stay long, as there was a cold wind blowing

From Hochwacht: The view to the East, to Unterägeri, Lake Aegeri, and the Glarnisch Alps in the background. 

Far-reaching view to the northeast, past Lake Zurich to the Toggenburg Region

To the northwest, the city of Zug is not visible, only the very west part of it where we live (in the circle) and the next town over: Steinhausen. This is the north end of Lake Zug.

And to the Southwest in the direction of the Bernese Alps in the center. Most prominent is Mt. Rigi on the left, which is at the south end of Lake Zug. 

Close-up view of the summit of Mount Rigi. (See the helicopter on the top left? Usually it's a fly or some other bug which appears on the photo).

Panorama view to the West from Hochwacht on Mount Zug

A red kite in flight

Sunshine on the frosted branches of the beautiful large trees on the Hochwacht summit

Another look toward Lake Aegeri (Aegerisee) as I head down the small hill

The only photo of me on this small walk; I put the camera on one of those fence posts for a self-timed photo!

A look behind me at the small hill with the big trees at Hochwacht

Now I've joined National Trail no.3, the "Alpine Panorama Trail"

From here my end goal is the bus stop at "Schmittli" on the main road between Zug and Unterägeri

There is still plenty of snow on these low mountains. Hopefully some warm weather will get rid of it soon!

This farm is called Brunegg, and there is a restaurant here as well. From here it's just another 15 minutes down to the bus stop on the main road. 

I really wanted to scratch this girl's forehead, but all she wanted to do was slobber all over my hands with her very long tongue!!

So many walks around our city of Zug and our mountain. The one in light blue is the 5-km walk I did this day. 

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....