May 4 Part II: Birth Place of Patron Saint of Switzerland, Nicholas von Flüe

(This post published on Aug.5, 2023)

Thursday May 4, 2023 -- After a 2.5-hour hike along the west side of Lake Sarnen on this beautiful early May Day (those photos are HERE), I wanted to continue walking, so at short-notice decided to take the bus from near Sachseln (on the east side of Lake Sarnen) up to the village of Flüeli-Ranft, which is the birthplace of the famous Nicholas von Flüe, Patron Saint of Switzerland (also known as Bruder Klaus). From there I walked another hour downhill along the St.James Trail (Camino de Santiago, Switzerland section), a stretch we had not yet done, and what turned out to be a much nicer trail than expected. (The St.James Trail is mostly on paved roads, the idea being to pass as many towns with pilgrim churches as possible).

Before walking down the hill, I had a quick look inside both the house where he was born in 1417 to a wealthy farming family, and the house where he was married and raised his 10 children from 1445 to 1467, at which point, with the support of his family (!!!) he chose a life of solitude in a small abode in the nearby Ranft Ravine. (At that point his oldest son was 20 and would have been able to help run the farm). In spite of his desire for solitude and to pray, he was much sought after for his political wisdom and ability to negotiate disputes. 

On this trip I did not visit the historical site of his hermitage, having visited there in 2014 (those photos are HERE). Instead, I had a quick look at the village church in Flüeli, before descending to Sachseln to admire the fabulous cathedral which was built around his burial place (he died in 1487).

In all I ended up walking for almost four hours and 14 kilometers on this day.

Riding the bus up to Flüeli-Ranft from Sachseln on the east side of Lake Sarnen. Across the valley is the hillside I walked along earlier in the morning. 

Approaching the village of Flüeli-Ranft, with the prominent church on the hill. 

Village center where the bus stops. What a gorgeous flowering tree! The sign tells me it is just over an hour to walk down to Sachseln, along the St.James Trail, National Trail no.4. I got here shortly after 2 p.m. 

This is the family home of Nicholas von Flüe, after he got married and raised 10 children here. (From 1445 onward)

This is what the rooms in the house might have looked like

Main village square. Next stop is the church on the hill

A look across the rooftops of Flüeli village and into the Melch Valley

To the north of the village is the Paxmontana Hotel. The main mountain in the back is Mount Stanserhorn. 

The view down to the farms below the church to the west. 

The Flüeli Chapel was built in 1614-1618. It has a magnificent wood-paneled ceiling. 

The embedded paintings show scenes of Brother Niklaus' life.

Looking down from the church terrace to the old house in the middle of the green meadow, which dates from about 1425 in its form, but it is assumed Niklaus von Flüe was born there in 1417. 

A look up to the Flüeli Chapel before taking a look into the birth house. 

In 1925 the house was "reconstructed" with aged wood to what one thought it might have originally looked like. 

Information about Niklaus von Flüe's birth house. Original foundations dating back to 1300 were found below the house.

What the interior of such an old residence would have looked like. 

Some lovely tulips

One more look at the old house before I start down the hill on my second hike of the day. 

This trail is part of both No.4: St.James Trail, and no.2: Trans-Swiss Trail as well as a couple of local trails including a trail dedicated to Brother Klaus. 

A view of Lake Sarnen on my way down the mountain. 

The trail was much nicer than I expected. 

I was so pleased to see large trees in full bloom! This is the nicest sight in springtime!

Impressive farm houses

Far across on the north side of the lake is the large Baroque church of St. Peter and Paul, a church we visited when we did the other hike on the west side of Lake Sarnen. (Photos HERE) 

Above me on the hillside are several farms and lots of blossoming trees!

Another very nice farmhouse, and a welcome fountain to fill up my water bottle at!

This was very cute!

More and more and lots of blossoming fruit trees!

It is hard work to be a mountain farmer, harvesting mountain hay. 

I can't get enough of these high-growth fruit trees in full bloom!

Down below is the town of Sachseln

A close-up look at the pilgrims's church in Sachseln, where Nicholas von Flüe is buried. 

An unusual sculpture along the trail on my way down the moutain. 

Sachseln Parish church and pilgrim church (1672-84), the burial place of Nicholas von Flüe, Switzerland's Patron Saint. The little building on the right is the burial chapel, it was built around the grave of Nicholas von Flüe. 

The burial place of Nicholas von Flüe, who died in 1487. There are other burials here, the stone on the floor has a date of 1763. The cross has historical value, it is a Gothic cross from the middle of the 14th Century. 

The front entrance of the large church, it has a beautifully carved door

The interior of the church was quite spectacular, with its black marble columns and arches. 

I was not able to get close to the altar, as there was a small private mass for about a dozen youth going on there.

Details of the parish church in Sachseln. 

Across from the front of the church where I waited for a while in the hopes that the mass would end soon and I could get close to the altar, but that was unfortunately not the case. 

A look behind me at the church as I head to the train station. 

Obviously there are monuments to St. Nicholas (Bruder Klaus)

All the hikes we have done in the region of Sarnen. 

My two hikes on this day!

May 4 Part I: Walk above the West Side of Lake Sarnen (Sarnersee)

Thursday May 4, 2013 -- It was such a nice day that I decided on short-notice to go hiking on my own. Because it wasn't planned ahead of time, it had to be "close by" so I opted for a hike on the west side of Lake Sarnen, which is just south of Luzern. (We had passed through the area the day before on our trip home from the Interlaken Region, photos HERE). 

I started at the final bus stop (for this time of year...) in a small village called Stalden, and walked northwards to the end of the lake, then down into the town of Sarnen. From there I walked along the canal and the lakeshore toward Sachseln, which is a town on the east side of the lake. Since the hike on the west side was relatively short, I had made another quick decision to take a bus from Sachseln up to Flüeli-Ranft, the birthplace of Switzerland's patron saint Brother Klaus (1417) and walk another hour back down to the lake again, this time along the official St. James Trail.

Altogether this was about 14 km and almost four hours of walking. The Spring day was so ideal for hiking and there were so many trees in blossom, especially the high-growth trees which are so spectacular in spring. 

There was so much to see and to photograph (snow-covered mountains, lakes, many many farms and churches of course, plus the lovely village of Flüeli Ranft) that I decided to make two blog entries out of this day. 

This first part is the walk from Stalden to Sarnen and toward Sachseln, which I actually did reach, but caught a bus on the road just before that village.

From the train station at Sarnen you can see the St.Wenderlin's Chapel on the hill in Ramersberg, a chapel we have often seen on our trips through here to the Brünig Pass

On the bus ride from Sarnen to the end stop at Stalden, we pass the large parish church called St.Peter&St.Paul, a beautiful church we visited in March 2020 when we also hiked along the west side of Lake Sarnen, but lower down. Those photos are HERE

I started south of Stalden at the final bus stop near a school at 10:40, then walked north to the chapel at Ramersberg, an then down to Sarnen, along the canal and part of the lakeshore. The plan was to walk all the way to Sachseln, but I caught a bus shortly before that town instead, as the rest of the trail was flat and paved. I thought this was a "short" section, but it was almost 10 km!

A small section of forest next to a stream before reaching Stalden

I could have started here as well, as the bus stopped in Stalden proper, but I wanted to add the 10-minute section along the stream. The church ahead looks unusual: New or old? Apparently the cornerstone for the original church was laid in 1702, and as recently as 1976 the newer addition was built.

I had never seen a church like this one. Apparently, a wall was removed from the old original church, and a very modern large addition made. You can walk through the modern part right into the older section through those arches upper right. This is considered one of the best examples of harmony between old and new architecture.

The cemetery in Stalden

A very pretty wooden house next to the church in Stalden. Look at the beautiful carved sliding window shutters!

Heading up the hill now on my way north. A wonderful day for this walk!

The old church tower, from the early 1700's

Climbing higher, I now have a very nice view over the village of Stalden. More and more of the snow-covered mountains are coming into view to the south

Way to the south and past the Brünig Pass are the snow-covered peaks of the Bernese Alps. 

The first glimpse of Sarnen Lake. Across the lake is the entrance to the Melchtal (Melch Valley) and the location of the village of Flüeli-Ranft, which I visited later in the day. 

A whole hillside of grass being mowed and dried. View is to the Bernese Alps to the south

Trying out some self-timed photos with my tripod, so that I can be on some of the photos!

A view of the city of Sarnen at the north end of Lake Sarnen

A good view of Lake Sarnen and the Melch Valley on the left. 

Heading into Ramersberg to the little chapel on the hill. The mountain straight ahead is Mount Stanserhorn

Finally some colour in the countryside!

So many pretty houses in Ramersberg

Past the blossoming trees to St.Wendelin's chapel, where I am going to have my picnic lunch. The chapel was built in 1692/93

View south from the chapel. I was happy that there was a bench!

VIDEO:

Noon Bells at the small chapel, and the views all around:

Some more fun with self-timed photos

View north to Mt. Stanserhorn

Cats are fun!

A look at the hillside to the west as I now make my way down the mountain toward the Saarner Aa River which flows out of the lake heading north to (eventually) Lake Luzern

What a pleasure to finally see the blossoming trees, especially the high-growth trees!

The north end of the city. After reaching the river, I followed it southward to the lake. 

There was a castle along the way, on a hill with vineyards, and I would have liked to have a look, but the road didn't reach it from below (I would have had to come from above). It looks like it's shut pretty tight anyway

The Saarner Aa River flows through a canal here, through the city on its way north

In the main square in the old part of town

Continuing along the river toward the lake. This was a long stretch, and it got quite warm!

Another look up at the Ramersberg chapel 

A closer look at St.Wendelin's Chapel on the hillside in Ramersberg

Finally, reached the lakeside at 13:20! (Looking South)

For chartered boat rides on Lake Sarnen

On such a nice day, after so many not-so-nice days, there were a lot of people in the park at the lake-front and the restaurant there. 

Crossing the "Grosse Melchaa" River which flows down from the Melch Valley and enters Lake Sarnen here on the east side. 

Following the east shore of Lake Sarnen in the direction of Sachseln, a look to the hillside on the west. You can still see that chapel! And on the right is the long drawn-out section of the Mt. Pilatus range. 

The east side of Lake Sarnen, looking south. I caught a bus on the main road near here at 13:58. The bus was on its way to Flüeli-Ranft anyway, via Sachseln. So it was good timing. The rest of the path along the lake is boring anyway. 

What both my hikes this day look like on Google Satellite Maps. The first one, 10 km from Stalden to just past Sarnen is on the left. Then I took the bus to Flüeli-Ranft and walked down to Sachseln. Those photos to follow