Short Visit to Locarno's Camellia Gardens (Celebrating 100-year Jubilee)

Friday March 27, 2026 -- As we had a massif cold front come in on Wednesday afternoon (March 25th) with negative temperatures at night and even snow down to lake levels here on Lake Zug and Lake Lucerne, it seemed a good idea to go looking for warmth and sunshine in Canton Ticino once again, with weather forecasts of 15 degrees and higher. 

Back in December 2024 we walked from Ascona to Locarno around the Maggia Delta and discovered a lovely park called the Camellia Park which features hundreds of different varieties of Camellia bushes, some of which still had a few flowers. As the height of the flowering was taking place in March of this year (plus there was a special exhibition there from March 18-22 celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Camellia Park), I thought this would be a nice place to go, to sit on a bench in the gardens or at the lake, enjoy the sunshine for a couple of hours before simply heading into the cold north again.

BUT I forgot to check the wind report, and once I got to Bellinzona, I was surprised at the cold winds blowing (turns out about 30 km/hr). It was quite uncomfortable, even in the park, and besides that the flowers had either suffered frost damage or were at the end of their bloom, and it was not as impressive as I had hoped. So I didn't stay long. A walk through the park and short time on a bench for lunch, and then I walked the four kilometers back to the Locarno train station along the lakeshore and headed right back home again, after only two hours "in the sun" there. (Total travel time was five hours there and back). Had I checked about the wind, I would not have gone..... especially as we were planning for a hike in this region the next day.

Heading south by train toward Canton Ticino, it is difficult to believe that only two weeks ago we did a lovely spring hike here at the Sägel Moor on Lake Lauerz!

I got to Bellinzona at 11:45 and would have had to transfer to this train to Locarno, but it looked like everyone on my full train from Lucerne had the same idea! There was a bus leaving in 15 minutes, so I took that instead, and got to my destination 30 minutes later than planned. 

Passing by Lago Maggiore on the bus to Locarno, a 50-minute ride but with only 6 people in the bus!

I got to the Camellia Park at 1 p.m. (Parco delle Camelie). I had planned to sit on a bench here in the park or at the lakeshore for a couple of hours, enjoying the sunshine. But there was a strong wind blowing, so there was no point in staying too long. 

There were a few nicely-blossoming bushes, but most of the flowers looked damaged, either from frost or maybe I was already a bit too late. 

The flower park is right next to the lakeshore at Lago Maggiore, so I checked there first for a possible bench to sit and have my picnic lunch, but it was even windier here! Looks like those people are doing a photo shoot!

Those kids seem to be having a good time playing in the sand at the "beach", and the wind doesn't seem to bother them!

VIDEO:

The kids don't seem to mind the strong cold winds!

I found a bench across from this pond in the center of the park, but I didn't stay long as it was partly in the shade and cold. It was also in a "high-traffic" area with lots of people walking past. 

A pavilion next to the large pond gives information about the history of this park in Locarno. It was 100 years ago that the city held the first Camellia Festival, and the Camellia became Locarno's official flower.

The other side of the pond from where I sat to eat my lunch.

I went for another stroll around the park, and found some of the bushes still flowering nicely.

I was actually looking for a better bench more in the sun and away from the other visitors (a tour bus full had shown up) and found that one over there, next to the three ducks.

Another walk to the lakeside before finding my way out of the park. The wind is so strong that the branches on the willow trees are almost horizontal!

After spending just over an hour in the "Parco delle Camelie", I headed back toward the train station, trying to follow a route we had not done before. I walked through the next park called "Parco della Pace" (Park of Peace), and followed the lakeshore through the grounds of the public swimming area (which is open to pedestrians from November to March), through a small wooded park, and to the center of the main street in Locarno. It was a short, 4-km walk, and I caught the train at 15:15 for the two-hour trip home.

A small bay between the "Parco delle Camelie" and "Parco della Pace". 

Now I am walking along the lakeshore through another park called "Parco della Pace" (Park of Peace) 

The wind was whipping the water over the wall!

This next section of lakeshore actually belongs to the public pool and paid lake access (Lido) and is usually off-limits, but open to pedestrians between November and March, so I was happy that it was currently open and I could walk along the shoreline and sandy beach. 

I did enjoy watching the waves crashing! It doesn't usually look like this.

VIDEO:

The wind is strong and is whipping up waves on Lago Maggiore.

This view is from the lakefront at the Lido 

(You can only walk through here from November to March).

View across the lake to Monte Gambarogno and Monte Tamaro

I thought the reflection of the mountains looked impressive on the windows of the lido buildings.

Sandy beach here! But you have to pay an entrance fee in summer to enjoy this beach!

You can see how strong the wind is!

I then walked through a small forest called Bosco Isolino, which ended here at a park-like minigolf site.

There was a huge roundabout with a large fountain. This is called Fontana Pedrazzini.

The sun on the tops of these palm trees looks interesting. 

Looking back at the Fontana Pedrazzini with Monte Gambarogno in the background. The palms that look like pineapples are called Canary Island Date Palms. They definitely give the site a Mediterranean flair! 

It is unfortunate that this beautiful building has fallen into disrepair. That is an olive tree in front of the building.

What a beautiful tree! An Internet photo search indicates this might be called a "Cedar of Lebanon". 

I didn't really need to go to the Camellia Gardens, as there were other just as beautiful bushes in the middle of the city!

This is my favourite photo: All the flowers which have fallen off the Camellia bush.

A look into the main square (Piazza Grande) of the old part of Locarno city. It is where the Locarno Film Festival takes place every year. This is "is the most significant cinematographic event in Switzerland and among the most important in Europe."

I then headed toward the lake again through the park called "Giardini Rusca". Those stacks of blocks along the path are bronzed hand-prints from "famous" musicians who have visited Locarno. This path is called the "Walk of Fame". The music festival "Moon & Stars" also takes place at the Piazza Grande.

Here in this park was a grandiose Rhododendron Tree.

Back down at the lake now, this site is called Debarcadero, where the cruise ships on the lake dock. (Side note: I took friends on a cruise here on Lago Maggiore last fall, and we also docked here. These are the photos --> HERE)

The Canton flags at Debarcadero are flying hard today!

VIDEO:

A video shows much better how strong the winds are!

A quick walk along the lake promenade before heading to the train station. (This part of the city is called Muralto). This is a monument in honour of Giuseppe Cattori, who "served as Brigadier General during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), where he led Swiss troops stationed at the French-German border". He was born 1836 in Lugano, somewhat south of here. 

A final look south across the lake before heading to the train station. 

Right next to the train station is this church called "Chiesa di San Vittore". For all the hundreds of times we have been in various church buildings in Canton Ticino, I am embarassed to say I have never been in this one!

At 15:08 the train to Bellinzona pulls in. (Leaving at 15:15 for the two-hour trip back home). 

What my 4-km walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps. I travelled three hours to get to the Camellia Gardens, and spent only two hours here in Locarno before heading back home (a two-hour trip). Not really worth it, even if the weather in the north is depressing. 

When we walked around the Maggia Delta in December 2024, (pale pink line), we had made a foray into the Camellia Gardens, but then headed straight along the main road to the train station. This time I tried to find paths we had not walked before!

These are all the hikes we have done to date around the region of Locarno, Ascona and the Maggia Delta. 

The lovely hills on the north side of the Magadino Plain as the train makes its way from Locarno to Bellinzona. This area gets lots of sunshine and is great for growing grapes. There are several vineyards along the hillsides. We have walked there often in winter. 

And now, passing Lake Lauerz once again on the way to the Arth-Goldau train station. It looks just as bleak and uninviting as it did earler in the day on my way south. 

Location of Locarno within Switzerland

A Short Piece of the Lake Zurich Trail from Nuolen to Altendorf

Sunday March 22, 2026 -- Not the best day for a long hike, which we didn't want to do anyway because we walked 14 kilometers the day before!!!! But we still wanted to enjoy a bit of sunshine, so we decided on a "short" lakeside walk on Lake Zurich, just 8 kilometers, but I can't manage much more on lakeside or riverside walks anyway.

We started in the small village of Nuolen, a 90-minute trip from home and where we had ended a walk over Mt. Buechberg in October 2020. We then did a two-hour walk via protected marsh regions, the Wangen-Lachen airfield, and the lakeside promenade at Lachen, then visited the double-spired onion-domed church which we have seen often from afar, and ended up catching the train at the small lakeside train station in Altendorf next to the lake. I was hoping for a lot of blossoming trees as Japanese Cherries and Magnolias are blooming right now, but there weren't many. 

Views of the Glarus and Schwyzer Alps are usually quite spectacular from here, but on this day it was extremely hazy. Also, once again a cold wind was blowing. But it was an easy Sunday afternoon stroll along the themed trail called the "Lake Zurich Loop Trail" (Regional Trail no.84, a total 130-km themed trail encircling the entire lake, including the Obersee, which is where we were walking this day) and there were very many other pedestrians and cyclists out this cold and only partly-sunny afternoon. 

We got to the bus stop in Nuolen near Lake Zurich at 12:15. As we had already once strolled into the Nuoler Ried (marshlands) north of the town at the end of our October 2020 hike across Mt.Buechberg, this time we headed straight westward along Trail no.84: "Zürichsee Rundweg" toward the little air landing strip. 

That is quite a beautiful tree! The trails here on this side of Lake Zurich are pretty level, and mostly on paved roads, but no car traffic here. 

Looking northwards now past the marsh and moorlands to the other side of Lake Obersee, which is actually the southern part of Lake Zurich, separated from the main lake by a land bridge. The swans are grazing just like the cows and sheep do!

This mom was struggling with two small children and two little bikes on her Sunday afternoon outing with the kids!

There were several new lambs here in the pastures. It also looks like they just recently were shorn! (Ready for hot summer weather). 

A short detour from the main trail to a little bay called Ryffelbucht near the Wangen-Lachen airstrip. We had our picnic lunch here, but didn't stay long. We did watch several planes come in for a landing. 

Small planes coming in for a landing at the Wangen-Lachen airstrip. 

Looking eastward past the houses in Nuolen where we started on our walk, to the smaller mountain called Buechberg, which we walked across in October 2020. The mountain further back, which you can barely see, is called the Federispitz, which is located in Canton St.Gallen.

These marshes are havens for waterbirds. At this time of year there aren't so many yet: Ducks, geese, storks, usually herons. We also saw a kestrel hunting rodents...

VIDEO:

A kestrel spots something in the pastures below. 

A zoomed view past the marsh grasses and Lake Obersee to the Wurmsbach Monastery buildings on the north side of the lake, a site we have yet to visit. 

This was an easy 2-hour, 8-km walk along the shores of Lake Obersee (the "upper" portion of Lake Zurich east of the land bridge between Pfäffikon and Rapperswil) along Regional Trail no.84: "Zurichsee-Rundweg". Side note: As you can see from this map, there is a Canton Border which runs through the middle of the lake. This southern part is Canton Schwyz, the northern is Canton St.Gallen. 

Long straight stretches through the pastures and marsh landscape and past the airstrip toward the airport building. 

This view directly to the south is into the Wägital (Wägi Valley), a beautiful and lesser-known valley which we have visited several times. Unfortunately, due to the hazy air, we don't get the full majesty of the Schwyzer Alps here.  (Most recently I started a hike at the lake in that valley, and walked all the way out. Those photos HERE). 

After passing the airport buildings and small-boat harbor (with a busy restaurant and a toilet break) we reach the river called "Wägitaler Aa), which flows all the way from Lake Wägital in that side valley, entering Lake Obersee near here. 

I was hoping to see lots of blossoming trees along this walk, but there weren't many. Here a bit of white blossoms as we follow the course of the Wägitaler Aa River. 

Along the way you can do a detour to a small peninsula called Aahorn. (At this time of year you can only go as far as the look-out tower, as further on are breeding grounds for waterfowl, a restricted area). Later we returned to the themed trail no.84 which we are following. 

We did the detour to the Aahorn look-out tower. The view from there would have been prettier if the bushes had been greener. 

View of the Aahorn marshes where we are now continuing our walk over the boardwalk. 

Crossing the boardwalk in the Aahorn marshes.

Another 20 minutes of walking from the Aahorn marshes, we reach the lakeside promenade at Lachen. There were quite a few other people enjoying a Sunday afternoon stroll along the lake. 

Past the harbour in Lachen (one of the stops on the Obersee ship cruise tours), we see the double-towers of the Lachen church. A stop here was one of the goals of this walk. 

On the way to the church, we pass via the City Hall square (formerly, i.e. in the 15th Century onwards known as the "Market Square"), with a very prettily decorated city hall building. 

In the earlier Middle Ages, the town hall was actually in the neighbouring village of Altendorf (which is where we are walking to next and the end of our hike), but was transferred here in the early 1400's, although it was a different building, which served as market, wedding hall, theater, archives and prison, among other things. It was rebuilt in 1837, with two more additional improvements in 1925, and 2011. 

Twin onion-domed towers of the Heiligkreuz (Holy Cross) parish church. The church was built in 1711 and renovated very recently, in 2024/2025. 

Even the doors to these buildings are works of art. 

Another Baroque church. The second-storey galleries on either side are quite attractive as well. 

A closer look at the main altar and some more lovely carved wooden choir seats. 

On the entrance side, another spectacular organ. Amazing the hundreds of organs we have admired by now, all mostly hand-crafted... 

A close-up look at the ornate organ in the Heiligkreuz church in Lachen. 

More details of the church interior. 

Description of the church. Built in 1711, the church has a particularly special "ringing of the bells" which we heard as we left the site at 2 p.m. 

Now we continue on our walk along a somewhat busy vehicle road, with a look back at the magnificent building. 

FINALLY, a flowering magnolia tree!

A look behind us at the twin towers as we continue toward the railway line. 

Outside of the city of Lachen, the "Lake Zurich Trail" continues along the railway line now, all the way to Pfäffikon (from there the trail heads up into the hills). We are only going as far as the little station in Altendorf, another 1½ kilometers from here. (Once again, we are pretty tight on time for the next connection). 

Across the lake from here, a zoomed view of the Rapperswil Castle, whose grounds we have visited several times. Side note: On this side of the lake we are in Canton Schwyz, and on the other side where Rapperswil is located is Canton St.Gallen. 

And looking behind us as we continue parallel to the lakeshore, another view of the Lachen church. 

There was a lovely and fairly new park here in Altendorf, called "Park am See". The little cluster of houses here is called "Seestatt", and is also a stop along the boat cruise tour on Lake Obersee. 

Side note: This map shows the trajectory of the Obersee Ship Cruises (weekends and holidays in summer), and now that we have passed via the docks in Lachen and Altendorf (and as we have also walked to the docks in Pfäffikon, Rapperswil and Schmerikon on separate occasions), this looks like a boat trip we should take soon. 

Another very attractive old farm house. 

Finally, a lovely flowering bush!

It's so nice to see these happy colours in the gardens now. (It's hard to believe that only a couple of days later temperatures dropped to minus degrees, and snow fell right down to these elevations, lasting for several days). 

Yellow and white daffodils, so pretty!

A sign indicates that the small hamlet called Seestatt is a "Townscape of National Importance". Probably worth a visit, but we didn't want to skip a train, so we have put a visit off for the next time we start a hike here!

The willows are the first to get "greened up", and look very pretty with the lake as a backdrop. 

Some nice houses along the road next to the railway line. 

And finally a lovely Japanese Cherry Tree in full bloom. This was now very near to the train station. 

Final stretch to the Altendorf train station (upper left). It is now 14:27 and the train leaves at 14:34, so we are doing one of our "close calls" again, as is often the case! (Quick walking at the end of our hike). 

The little Altendorf railway station. No problem! We were at the platform (other side from here) with three minutes to spare!

Our train to Pfäffikon, and ultimately just over an hour to get back home!

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite maps, starting in Nuolen and walking 8 km to the train station in Altendorf. We started at 12:15 in Nuolen, and reached Altendorf at about 2:30 p.m. A quick 2-hour walk on a sunny but cold Sunday afternoon. 

We haven't done a lot of walking around Lake Zurich, as I can only manage two hours of lakeside walks. But in October 2020 we walked over Buechberg from Uznach to Nuolen, so that is why we chose to start in Nuolen this day, and walk just 8 km along the "Around Lake Zurich" Trail. This two-hour walk was just the right amount of lakeside walk for me. Some other time we will start in Altendorf, and walk to Pfäffikon!

From Pfäffikon the train heads northwest along Lake Zurich, as we pass the little castle in Pfäffikon. In November 2023, as we were headed for a walk in "Heidiland" south of here, we stopped for a quick detour to have a closer look at this old fortress, and also walked to the pier where the ship docks on the Obersee lake cruises. 

Riding the train along Lake Zurich. Below is part of the same themed trail (no.84, "Lake Zurich Loop Trail") we had walked this day. There are several such sections which we still need to walk (always in only 2-hour stretches, as that is all I can manage!)

This is one of the cruise ships on the lower (main) section of Lake Zurich. 

More of the lakeside trail along Lake Zurich. 

We switch trains at Thalwil, and I just had to photograph another blossoming tree next to the station!

View over Horgen as our train now heads south again toward Zug. Usually, you can see all the Glarus and Schwyz Alps from here!

The Sihl River between Zurich and Zug. We also did a very lovely walk here on March 30, 2019 (also only two hours, just long enough!). So almost to the day SEVEN years ago!