Discover Malters

Malters lies at the foot of the Pilatus range and combines a landscape shaped by well-kept farms with a diverse cultural heritage. Churches from different periods, chapels, a museum and trails through the surrounding area offer a variety of ways to make the most of your stay.

Landscape, trails and getting here

There are numerous walking and hiking trails in the municipality. One way to experience the landscape is the Energiequelle route along the Kleine Emme: it follows well-maintained paths through boggy lowlands and forest. A gentle trail continues as far as Malters railway station. The banks of the Kleine Emme near Malters are also a lovely place to visit.

For cycling tours, you can set off from Malters on national or cantonal cycle routes to explore the surrounding area; Sursee is among the destinations mentioned. This gives you different options for planning your trip, whether on foot or by bike, without every route offering the same scenery.

Malters is on the Lucerne–Bern railway line; Lucerne is about 12 minutes away by train. A postbus service runs from Malters to Schwarzenberg. If you are travelling by car, the H10 road provides direct access from Malters to the A2 motorway. The best connection for your stay therefore also depends on whether you are travelling by train, postbus or car.

Churches and architectural history

The Church of St. Jost in Blatten was built as a chapel in 1391 and was extended several times between the 15th and 18th centuries. It is protected under federal heritage legislation and remains a popular venue for weddings and pilgrimages. Its long history of construction sets it apart from the churches in the village, whose features reflect other periods.

The Protestant Reformed Mirjam Church was built in 1914 with extensive compulsory labour by the faithful living in Malters. It has had a new organ since 1974, and since 1986 it has also had two bells of its own, tuned to harmonise with the bells of the Catholic parish church. The church’s construction and later additions thus tell different chapters of its story.

St. Martin’s Church was consecrated in 1839. Its early Neoclassical features and decorative forms differ from late Baroque designs; the tower was rebuilt in 1935. Local 19th-century history is also commemorated here: the Freischar memorial stone honours the Freischaren who fell in 1845. In the skirmish outside the Klösterli inn, 28 Freischaren fell and were buried in the cemetery.

Villa All’Aria is a Neoclassical building with sgraffito elements on its façades. The villa and garden are protected and listed in the cantonal heritage register. Since the retirement home opened in 1988, the garden has been open to the public and is now a park for the residents of the retirement home as well as the wider community. Its architecture, façade design and use as a park give the site a range of historical and contemporary associations.

Chapels and places for quiet reflection

The Chapel of St. Ida was built in 1642 in honour of Saints Ida and Anna and consecrated in 1657 by Bishop Jost Knab. The simple rubble-stone building has a distinctive feature on its roof turret: a gilded stag crowns the cross. The chapel was once a popular pilgrimage site, visited mainly by people who were ill before major operations and by expectant mothers.

Tscholin Chapel is open to the public and invites visitors to pray and reflect. Its furnishings depict legendary scenes from the life of Wendelin and the life of Mary. For some visitors, the labyrinth by the rectory garden is also a destination in spring, summer and autumn.

Chess and cultural events

The chess museum displays more than 32,000 exhibits across 260 m² and in 60 display cases. Visitors can also play a game of chess themselves. The scale of the exhibition and the opportunity to play offer two different ways to engage with the subject: you can explore the exhibits or try the game for yourself.

Kulturschiene Malters presents music in a range of styles, cabaret and a yearly Jass tournament on its small stage. It usually plans one event per month, generally on the first Friday of the month. If an event is important to your stay, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Root, Schachen, Ebikon, Vitznau, Gisikon, Horw, Meierskappel, Meggen.

Return to the main travel overview: Lucerne.