Short hike from Eigenthal to Obernau on the North side of Mount Pilatus

Saturday August 19, 2023 -- Having already made all our arrangements for a 3-day trip to Davos from Sunday to Tuesday (two nights' accommodation and three 5-hour hikes!), we were planning to take a break on this Saturday. But the day dawned beautiful, and even though we knew it would be hot, we wanted to do a "short" hike nearby, and try to be back home in the early afternoon.

We chose a route suggested on a hiking website, near Luzern on the North side of Mount Pilatus, a hike that was only about 7 km and just under 2½ hours. And it only took us an hour and a half to get there. We started our walk at 9 a.m., and even though it was already starting to get hot, much of the walk was either in the forest or in the shade of the forest, so in effect not too bad at all.

The highlight of the hike was the pilgrim church of Hergiswald (built 1620-1662), a church unlike any we have yet seen. The main building was built around an existing Loreto Chapel, so in effect it's a church within a church. And the ceiling is composed of 324 wooden panels each depicting a symbol of some kind (animal, plant, etc.).

From the church we descended to Obernau, which had the most convenient bus schedule back to Luzern (an hour to get home). The descent from the church on the hill through the forest along the "Rosary Trail" was composed of over 800 steps!

The one negative of this day was that there is a shooting range nearby, and mostly practices take place on Saturdays, so we had to listen to about two hours of target practice on this particular hike. Not the most pleasant way to enjoy the countryside!

On the bus ride from Malters to Eigenthal, a look to the North across the Luzern Backcountry.

Charming old wooden building. The early morning sunlight is pretty. We got here at 9 a.m.

This is the Maria Chapel in Eigenthal. This is right at the start of the walk, so we had a quick look inside.

Inside the chapel, these coats of arms painted on the walls indicate that the chapel dates from at least 1582, although other sources state 1517.

A look up the Eigen Valley (Eigental) as we start off on our hike. The mountain at the back of the valley is Mount Pilatus, its North side.

This was a relatively short hike for us, just over 7 km and under 2½ hours. We started at 9 a.m. at the Gasthaus in Eigenthal (Fuchsbühl), and caught the bus at 12:30 in Obernau

Heading up the hill called Würzenegg. (Back in October 2021 we did a round tour in the Eigen Valley, heading in the opposite direction from here).

Those sheep are so much smarter than we are. Staying "at home" in the shade.

A look to the West past the rolling hills of the Luzern landscape. Below, slightly hidden in the trees in the center is the hotel Eigenthalerhof, where we started our hike.

Much of our hike was like this, in the shade provided by the trees in the morning sun.

From the summit of Mt. Würzenegg, a lovely look up the Eigental to the Pilatus Massif. We did a hike into this valley in October 2021, those photos are HERE)

Our first glimpse of Lake Luzern (Vierwaldstättersee) and Mount Rigi in the center. Unfortunately, for most of the rest of the hike we had to listen to shooting practice from the small valley below.

Lovely view over Kriens (the city of Luzern is kind of hidden, on the left) as we descend to the church in Hergiswald, which we have just glimpsed in the center.

Another small detour and we reach the church

Even though this building is from the mid-1600's, the origins are from 1489 when a Carthusian Monk from Ittingen established an hermitage here.

We spied a notice on the front door and were really worried that the chapel was closed for viewing. Upon closer look, there was to be a wedding here at 1 p.m, and a baptism at 3 p.m. We got here at 11:15, so plenty of time to admire the inside!

The following photos are all from the inside of this fabulous church!

Behind the altar is the original Loreto chapel, around which the rest of the church was built.

A peek inside the Loreto Chapel. There was someone meditating here, and we didn't want to disturb with a lot of photographing.

The tiny organ at the back of the church made a powerful sound! The organist was practicing the music for the wedding to take place later.

Just one small section of the fantastic ceiling

VIDEO:

Organist practising for the wedding ceremony

So much gold colour

There are over 300 painted panels in the ceiling

Other interesting details

Gasthaus Hergiswald, next to the church. Preparations for the wedding were well underway. We used the bathroom, then continued down the hill through the forest along the Rosary Trail.

The Rosary Trail consists of 20 station depicting the religious tradition of the Catholic beliefs. The 800+ steps were fun to descend!

The next object of interest past the bottom of the steps is the covered wooden bridge built in 1791 by a Josef Ritter -- considered one of the best bridge builders of the 18th Century -- and is part of Switzerland's inventory of protected monuments.

The east side of the Hergiswald bridge

The final leg into the town of Obernau, just over a kilometer to the bus stop (and once again, we reached to bus stop with just minutes to spare)

We witnessed the funnest sight along the road to Obernau. So many people on Mopeds and wearing traditional costumes. We are pretty sure these were all guests of the wedding taking place at the Hergiswald Church later on! Obviously with a fun theme.