Kriens: Family Outings, Nature and Culture

Kriens combines urban life with a pre-Alpine nature experience at the foot of Pilatus. Half of the city’s area is forest; at the same time, Kriens is well connected by public transport, including to Lucerne. Two mountain railways lead to nearby recreational areas. This makes family attractions, walks through the landscape and cultural venues different options for outings during your stay. Kriens is also promoted as a starting point for hikes and trips to Pilatus, Sonnenberg and the city of Lucerne.

Family attractions around Kriens

Pilu Land, an adventure playground where children can climb, slide and swing, is located on Krienseregg. From Kriens, you can reach Krienseregg on the panoramic gondola in around 15 minutes. Pilu Land cannot be reached by car; check the latest access information before your visit. The Pilu rope park is located on Fräkmüntegg. The journey from Kriens on the panoramic gondola takes around 30 minutes. Designed especially for children aged four to seven, the rope park offers two courses with continuous safety lines. Check age requirements and operating conditions in advance. Another option is the leisure pool at Parkbad Kriens, which uses chlorine-free water treatment.

Trails and views on Sonnenberg

Sonnenberg offers a variety of trails, each with its own character. The approximately four-kilometre ComicTrail Sonnenberg combines puzzles with natural highlights and panoramic views. It starts at the Luzern, Obergütsch station and ends at the Sonnenbergbahn mountain station. The Dwarf Trail follows the stations in the children’s book «Der Sonnenzwerg und s blaue Bähnli»: via Kreuzhöhe, past the forest hut, through Wolfsschlucht and back to the mountain station via Otto-Eder-Platz. This circular trail takes just over 60 minutes and is not suitable for strollers.

There are two Helsana Nordic walking trails on Sonnenberg, both starting at Gabeldingen school. The Helsana Swiss Running Walking Trail follows a marked path and is open around the clock all year round; check trail conditions before setting out. There is also a Vitaparcours fitness trail, children’s playgrounds, walking paths and fire pits. The panoramic views stretch across the mountains and Lake Lucerne to Kriens and the greater Lucerne area. From mid-April to 1 November, the easiest way to reach Sonnenberg is on the «blue train» from Kriens. The Sonnenbergbahn was built in 1902 and still runs on its original chassis and rails.

Culture, history and events

The Bellpark Museum combines changing exhibitions and cultural events with themes relating to history and art. Its local history archive documents Kriens’s development from village to suburban municipality; the museum is also building a collection of Swiss drawings. Galerie Kriens presents changing exhibitions by professional contemporary artists and focuses on art from Central Switzerland. Südpol hosts concerts, club nights, and contemporary dance and theatre performances. Südpol Bistro serves fresh lunches made with regional products.

The Industrial and Cultural Trail explores the history of the machine industry during the Second Industrial Revolution and Kriens’s transformation from an agricultural village into an industrial town. GPS data show the way, while the app supplements the route with additional information, including film clips. Those interested in architectural and local history will also find a notable historical landmark at Schauensee Castle: it was first mentioned in official documents in the 13th century in connection with the knight Rudolf von Schauensee. The castle complex acquired its present form in 1750 under the then-owner family Meyer von Schauensee. Today, the castle is used and rented out as a cultural and meeting venue; access to events may vary.

Hergiswald and local discoveries

Consecrated in 1662, Hergiswald Pilgrimage Church is considered a major work of early Baroque sacred art. From there, you can enjoy views of the city, the lake, Pilatus and Rigi. A walking trail leads there from Obernau via the old Hergiswald Bridge and the Prügelweg, which features twenty steles. The postbus runs from Lucerne station or from Kriens towards Eigenthal, stopping at Hergiswald Kirche; check the timetable before travelling. Hergiswald can also be reached by car.

The vineyard on Kriens’s Sonnenberg offers another local perspective: it is open to the public, and a walking path runs right through it. Sonnenberg winery offers group tours and tastings of its organic wines from Kriens; groups should enquire in advance. For longer routes through a variety of landscapes, choose the «Weg um Kriens» (Trail around Kriens), divided into seven stages. It leads through urban neighbourhoods to the foot of Pilatus, through the high forest and over Sonnenberg to Renggloch. This range of outings brings together urban areas, cultural history and trails in the open air, without limiting your stay to just one focus.

Discover more destinations: Lucerne, Littau, Rigi Kaltbad, Greppen, Weggis, Buchrain, Schachen, Horw.

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