City of Zug: The Farms around the Old Lorze River

Sunday April 23, 2023 -- More unpredictability in the weather forecast, so it's impossible to arrange to travel to parts of Switzerland renowned for their fabulously blossoming cherry orchards. Fortunately for us, Zug is also a renowned cherry growing region (particularly known for the brandy called Kirsch, made from the cherries... and subsequently the patented recipe for the famous Zuger Kirsch Torte). Even just looking out from my balcony I can see so many blossoming trees, not just cherry, but apple and the high-growth pear trees.

On this Sunday we had some wonderful sunny weather (very local), so I set off to do a 4-km round tour of the neighbouring farmlands to photograph some of these beautiful trees (cherries almost finished, and pears not quite in full bloom). Part of my tour was along the old Lorze River, and I was surprised that the bear garlic, which I thought was already finished, was just in full growth here. A pleasant surprise was a display of hand-painted rocks along the way, created by private individuals to make the trail more "fun". (We used to walk this trail often, and this is new).

It was nice to go visit the neighbourhood once again! 

(Note: One of Switzerland's most famous cherry-growing areas is Nuglar-St.Pantaleon in the western part of Switzerland. We did a "Cherry Blossom Hike" there in April of 2019, that was a very successful outing at the time, we timed it well, just before the end of the blossom season. Those photos are HERE).

From my balcony the view across the farms with their blossoming trees. The "New Lorze" river is along the line of trees below. 

I don't have to go far to enjoy the blossoming trees!

Especially the high-growth (pear?) trees are stunning

The lovely 4-km walk in the farmland between the cities of Zug and Steinhausen takes about an hour. We live in an ideal spot. In the city, but on the outskirts next to farmland, between the two Lorze Rivers (Old and New). (I started at 13:40)

The first stretch is next to the "Neue Lorze" river, with lots of nice trees along the way, to the West

This one is looking east toward Mt.Zug

A line of very pretty cherry trees

After crossing to Schochenmühle (this is a restaurant), you can join the smaller river called the "Alte Lorze" (Old Lorze River)

This is the Old Lorze River. I was surprised at how fresh the bear garlic is here. 

A pleasant surprise to see the trail next to the stream was decorated with these beautiful hand-painted stones. The artist calls them "Magic Stones". People respect the request not to touch or move the stones. 

A whole line of "Magic Stones". They've nicknamed this the "Gnome Trail" (Wichtelweg)

Details of the painted stones. The gnome says "Enjoy and rejoice, but don't move anything or take them away.... Thank You"

Some of the tree trunks were even decorated like little gnome houses, so cute

A view towards the mountains, where there were more clouds than here. 

Juxtaposition of old and new. 

Aren't these high-growth trees simply spectacular? (Mt.Zug in the background)

After walking for just over 30 minutes, I was too hot in my warm clothes so I sat on a bench in the shade for 30 minutes. When I continued on the walk, the sky had already gotten overcast. I got home about 20 minutes later, just before it started to rain.

At 14:45, an hour after I left the apartment, the weather had turned.

Crossing back over the "New" Lorze River (man-made canal).

City of Zug: St.Michael's Church and Blossoming Trees near the Lake

Tuesday April 18, 2023 -- The weather this April is pretty unpredictable, so it is hard to organize a hiking trip to areas of the country known for their fabulous cherry blossoming countrysides.

On the other hand, Zug also is a major cherry-growing area, and we have lots of blossoming trees in our neighbourhood. On this day I had an appointment in town, and decided on a quick detour to the south end of town to St.Michael's Church, where there is a double-row of fabulous blossoming Japanese cherry trees in the middle of the cemetery.

Unfortunately, those blossoms are now long finished, but nearby there are many other blossoming trees (perhaps cherry and pear?), so stunning in their white "garments", so I took a few photos of this lovely part of town before heading back home. (The weather got better later in the day).

St.Michael's church is a rather "young" church, built at the end of the 19th Century in the neo-gothic style

Probably the nicest part of the interior of St.Michael's church: The organ

There were a few interesting artistic touches, but no continuity of design

One of several of Zug's original city towers

There are so many other churches in the city to discover. 

The weather cleared up as I got back home, so I walked over to our local shopping center (not 100 meters away!) where there is a small hill with half a dozen cherry trees which blossom so beautifully at this time of year. I have long wanted to photograph them.

I sat on the bench for a while, until it got too cold again.

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.