Discover Escholzmatt

When planning your trip, it helps to consider whether you are more interested in local history and sacred architecture, scenic walks or geological features in Escholzmatt. Its attractions range from the neo-Gothic church to the landforms along the Geo Trail, offering different ways to shape your stay.

Church and local history

St. James Church was built between 1892 and 1894 as a neo-Gothic hall church, based on plans by the architect August Hardegger from St. Gallen. Its brightly painted stained-glass windows depict the Ten Commandments. Another architectural feature of Escholzmatt’s parish church is the crypt beneath the choir: it is shaped like an incomplete octagon. The construction period, architectural style and design offer specific points of reference if you are interested in sacred architecture.

The Alte Schmitte also tells the story of the village. The Neoclassical building dates from 1834; its ground floor housed a smithy for many years. It is of national significance to the townscape of Escholzmatt. The building was renovated between 2022 and 2024. A monument in the village square commemorates Christian Schybi and his fellow campaigner Hans Emmenegger. Another monument stands on the watershed between the Kleine Emme and Grosse Emme rivers. It preserves the memory of Franz Joseph Stalder, a former pastor of Escholzmatt and a figure in Swiss cultural history.

Political history also helps explain the place name: Escholzmatt is a locality in the municipality of Escholzmatt-Marbach in the canton of Lucerne. Until 31 December 2012, Escholzmatt was an independent municipality. On 1 January 2013, it merged with Marbach to form the municipality of Escholzmatt-Marbach.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The Escholzmatt–Turner circular trail leads past the small St. Anna Chapel on Schwendelberg. Its highest point is the Bock, which offers impressive panoramic views. The chapel and viewpoint mark different highlights along the same circular trail, so you can choose your route based on both the trail itself and the views.

The Escholzmatt–Wiggen–Marbach hiking trail starts at Escholzmatt station. It is suitable for pushchairs and has comfortable, varied rest areas. This makes it different from the Escholzmatt–Turner circular trail, whose main highlights are St. Anna Chapel and the high point at the Bock. If you want to hike with a pushchair, the route to Wiggen and Marbach is the specific option mentioned here.

The Geo Trail Escholzmatt focuses on geology. Four information boards explain the folding of the Alps, geology, the Molasse, the Ice Ages and landforms. The trail passes over roches moutonnées, through a meltwater channel and across a levelled area. The information boards and route thus combine explanations of geological topics with named landscape features.

Water landscapes and getting around

Escholzmatt lies on the watershed between Bern and Lucerne. The streams around Escholzmatt also flow in different directions: some flow into the Ilfis and onward to the Emme in the Emmental. Others flow into the Weissemme, which joins the Kleine Emme. These connections add a view of the water landscape to the area’s hiking and local history.

Escholzmatt can be reached by public transport on the Bern–Lucerne railway line. The Biosphärenshop Escholzmatt is located at the station. It sells local products such as Schintbühl ice cream, Fidirulla pasta and Zyberliland products, as well as tea, honey, cheese, dried meat and spirits from Distillerie Studer. The range may change; if you are looking for a specific product, check its current availability before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Entlebuch, Marbach, Werthenstein, Flühli, Schüpfheim, Hasle, Romoos

Go to the main travel overview: Entlebuch.