This time, after another short 20-minute ride in an almost empty train, we started at the village of Mühlau on the Reuss River, in the district called Freiamt in Canton Aargau. Our main goal of this hike was to walk northward along the river to the point at which the Lorze River flows into the Reuss River. This is of particular interest to us, as the Lorze River flows past our building and empties into Lake Zug nearby, leaving the lake again only a couple of kilometers further West at Cham, and continuing northwards to join the Reuss. Geopolitically this was also fascinating, as the tip of the triangle formed by the two rivers is still part of Canton Zug, whereas the Reuss forms the border with Canton Aargau to the West, and the Lorze forms the border with Canton Zurich to the East. So in essence, on our 3-hour and ca.12-km walk from Mühlau to Mettmenstetten, we covered ground in three Cantons!
Plus the landscape is lovely, the villages are pretty (especially Maschwanden, whose tiny church had the largest organ I'd even seen!) and on much of the way you can see into the Alps, although yet again, the air was too hazy. Also of interest are the large nature reserves in that area, which we will return to look at once the marsh grasses have grown higher... In particular, the Maschwanden Allmend (of which the tip is called Rüssspitz) is considered one of the "European Network of Most Valuable Wildlife Habitats".
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| From the train station in Mühlau, here is a look over the Reuss Valley. After walking into the village (to the Church) to find something for a picnic lunch, we crossed the river over the Reuss into Canton Zug, and walked North along the far river bank to Rüssspitz, where the Lorze River meets the Reuss River |
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| It's a lovely time of the year which it would be a real shame to miss out on. |
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| The church in Mühlau. Obviously we are going to check out the inside (organ, ceilings, windows!) before heading to the river |
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| The pretty church organ in Mühlau's parish church. They also had the old town clock from 1880 on display in a glass case at the back, but it was too difficult to photograph |
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A
last look back at the
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Mühlau
where we started is in Canton Aargau. Across the river and all the way to the
Rüss Spitz through the nature reserve, that is Canton Zug. And once we cross
the
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| Crossing the Reuss River, which is the Border between Cantons Aargau and Zug |
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| Just a hazy glimpse into the Alps to the South. On a clear day this would have been quite a superlative walk. |
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| Walking North along the dike toward the Rüss Spitz, where the Lorze River joins the Reuss River. It was altogether 3 km from the bridge to the place where the rivers joined |
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| This is a pretty moor landscape and nature reserve called Maschwander Allmend. It belongs to the "European Network of Most Valuable Wildlife Habitats" |
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| Finally reached the point where the Lorze River (on the right) joins the Reuss River (on the left). Of particular interest is that I am still in Canton Zug, whereas the forest on the left is Canton Aargau, and the park on the right is Canton Zurich |
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| Lots of beaver action is evident here. Not sure what their purpose would have been for chewing down this particular large tree! |
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| The first leaves and blossoms in Spring are always the prettiest, with their various whites and greens |
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| We had to walk back the same way we came, as other older trails in this fragile nature reserve were no longer accessible. |
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| Before heading eastward across the Maschwander Allmend, we had our picnic lunch down at the river. |
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| This map gives an indication of where you are allowed to walk in the nature reserve |
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| We love this kind of moor landscape, but in winter they cut down all the marsh grasses. So we plan on coming back sometime when the marsh grasses have grown and are green. |
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| Crossing the Lorze River from Canton Zug into Canton Zurich. There are other nature reserves to discover on this side, a trip for another day. |
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| The small town of Maschwanden offered some very pretty half-timbered homes to look at. Historical documents from 1189 mention the existence of this town. |
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| Across from the church yard is a newer building in old style, an Italian Restaurant which unfortunately is currently closed |
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The
tiny church in Maschwanden (built in 1505) had a very pretty ceiling, and absolutely the
largest organ I had ever seen in such a tiny church!
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| I was so impressed by the size of this organ, that I just had to add another photo to show the relative size compared to the interior of the church! |
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| The high growth pear trees are just about in full bloom |
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| Always very interesting buildings to look at |
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| Heading eastward, another look down at the village of Maschwanden |
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| Wonderful weather for a leisurely hike through the pastoral landscape in this area close to our home |
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| Final farming community that we passed through before heading to the train station in Mettmenstetten (Hinteruttenberg) |
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| Our 12-km, 3-hour walk from Mühlau across the Maschwander Allmend, to Mettmenstetten, from which it is a 13-minute train ride back to Zug |
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