Returning to the Pastoral Landscape of Luzern: Ruswil to Werthenstein

Wednesday December 28, 2022 -- With this warm spell and all the snow melted in the lowlands, we can do some walking in the agricultural landscapes in our own neighbourhood. 

A very pretty region to walk in is the Luzern Backcountry, where we recently almost completed the second half of the Themed "Luzern Chapel Trail" (photos are HERE), having missed only one chapel of the 17 chapels highlighted on this trail. Also at that time, the mountains were obscured by clouds, so this being a good visibility day, we returned to the area.

As luck would have it, the final chapel in Rüediswil was closed for restoration! Nevertheless, we had good views of the mountains, walked around a lake (Soppisee), and found an even more interesting chapel (probably privately-owned, belonging to a family farm) in a tiny village called Buholz. Our 10-km walk was on relatively level ground and would have been more enjoyable if the recent rains hadn't made the pasture trails all muddy

As I had recently had surgery, we walked much slower than usual. And originally we had planned to visit the former monastery at Werthenstein at the end of the hike, but I was too tired for that. Also, it was quite a cold day, but we had lots of sunshine!

Heading toward Luzern by train, this is a familiar sight on a clear day across from our lake, Lake Zug. Those are the Bernese Alps. 

A couple of the towers on the old Luzern City Wall, as we leave the city by bus heading toward Ruswil

Farm buildings along the way. 

We started our hike in Ruediswil where we ended the previous time, hoping to have a look at the final chapel on the "Luzern Chapel Trail". From there we walked around Lake Soppisee and joined the St.James Trail (No.4) to Werthenstein. Of particular interest was the private chapel in Buholz. 

St. Jost & Wendelin chapel in Rüediswil, built in 1639, apparently has some nice paintings inside, but the chapel is currently undergoing renovations. This was the final chapel on the official "Luzern Chapel Trail" which we still wanted to look at. We started our hike here. 

On this day we really did have a very nice view into the Alps!

South of us is Mt. Pilatus. There were very many sheep in the pastures here. 

This looks like a very specific breed of sheep. I'd have to look it up. 

How cute is this!

Next part of the trail goes around Lake Soppi (or Soppisee). On the other side of the lake, the trail was very muddy. 

With less foliage on the trees, we actually saw more of the lake!

Far to the East a close-up look of St.Ottilien, one of the more interesting chapels on the "Luzern Chapel Trail"

Heading slightly uphill on the west side of Lake Soppisee

Urs and Lake Soppisee

It's always kind of fun when we pass such gardens, whose claim it is to produce herbs for the world-famous Ricola Candies!

Another look south across the beautiful pastures to the snow-covered Alps

Maple or Linden?

There were quite a few interesting things to see in the tiny village called Buholz. 

An old storage barn in Buholz

Of paticular interest was this chapel in Buholz. We think this might have been a private chapel for an old established family from the area

For such a small chapel, there was a lot going on in terms of decoration inside this church. On the lower part of the right and left altar pieces, there were skulls on display, something we had never seen before. 

Details inside the Buholz chapel, including two skulls on display, and a gravestone for a couple with the name of Amrhyn-Faller, probably the forefathers of the people currently living on the farm next to the chapel 

Further along the trail near Buholz was another tiny chapel, with an unusually low door!

For a little over a kilometer we followed this path, which would have been enjoyable if it hadn't been so muddy!

Heading south, with Mt. Pilatus ahead of us

We passed this farm with loads of newly-born lambs, they can't have been more than a day or so old!

Lots of new-born lambs here, the bleating was so loud!

Many interesting old farm houses along the way

Final approach to the town of Werthenstein with the former Monastery high on the hill. By the time we got to valley level, I was too tired to want to go look at the church on the hill.  

The village of Werthenstein. Before catching the train back to Luzern, we had time to go have a closer look at the covered wooden bridge. 

Crossing the covered wooden bridge in Werthenstein. 

Some interesting painted detail. 

It's 3 p.m. now and time to head back home (we started the hike at 11 a.m. in Rüediswil). The river here is the Kleine Emme (Small Emme) River. 

The part of the Luzern Chapel Trail east of Ruswil we did in November, and the northwestern section a year ago. This time we walked to Werthenstein via Lake Soppisee and Buholz, about 9 kilometers. 

Two weeks earlier, on December 13th, we passed through Werthenstein on our way to the Kambly Cookie factory. This is what the monastery looks like from below on a snowy day!

Passing the Werthenstein Monastery on a snowy day in December!

Also, in May 2021 we did another hike starting here in Werthenstein. There are some nice photos of the village from a different angle in my Blog Album from that hike. Those photos are HERE.