Meggen: Castle History, Art and Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Meggen, your travel interests can help guide your choice: options include historic castles and churches, contemporary art, winegrowing and trails through the Meggerwald. The following topics offer some ideas to help you plan your time in Meggen to suit your interests.

Meggenhorn Castle and Historic Architecture

Meggenhorn Castle took its present form between 1868 and 1870, modelled on the Château de Chambord on the Loire. It stands on a peninsula overlooking the Lucerne lake basin and is surrounded by a park. The castle estate has been open to the public since the Municipality of Meggen acquired it in 1974; the park is open to the public year-round. The museum presents the castle’s history and its former residents in private living quarters, through documentary audio recordings and exhibitions. Guided tours of the residential museum offer a glimpse into the lives of the 19th-century nobility and the Frey-Baumann family, who owned the castle.

The Pius Church offers a different architectural accent: it was built between 1964 and 1966 to plans by Swiss architect Franz Füeg. The windowless building is made of Greek marble. Its 888 slabs were cut and polished in Carrara. Villa St. Charles Hall, meanwhile, pairs neo-Baroque architecture dating from 1921 onwards with an extensive park featuring ornate statues. The villa and park are protected as monuments by the canton; public and private events are regularly held at the villa. A tour lasting about 45 minutes explores the estate’s history and its builders and owners.

Churches and historic sites also tell stories of different eras. The Magdalene Church was built in 1776 and 1777 by Austrian master builder Jacob Singer; a fourth bell was added to the peal in 1820. The chapel “Our Lady of the Platten” was built in 1520 on a sandstone slab that gave it its name. Votive paintings recall its former importance as a pilgrimage site. The English Cemetery was established in 1874 by Adolph Brandt as the final resting place for his daughter, who died young. It includes a chapel in the English Gothic Revival style, and the cemetery is protected as a monument of national importance. Check current access conditions before visiting.

Art, Wine and Local Character

Benzeholz regularly hosts contemporary art exhibitions right on Lake Lucerne. Since 1989, the exhibition venue has shown painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and installations, particularly by artists from Central Switzerland. Contemporary art thus adds its own cultural focus alongside the historic buildings.

Winegrowing is also part of Meggen’s local character. A document from 1585 attests to its long tradition here. Today, major vineyards are located in Sitenrain, by Meggenhorn Castle and in Letten. The Sitenrain winery practises organic viticulture across 5.5 hectares and offers tastings featuring specialities from the region and Sicily. Historical connections and present-day wine production thus sit side by side, without needing to be reduced to the same place or period.

Trails Through the Meggerwald and Surroundings

For a brief introduction to nature, the Meggerwald nature trail is a circular route of around 1.7 kilometres showcasing native flora and the forest’s tree species. The Megger Frog Trail follows the grass frog’s habitat and runs mostly through the Meggerwald. It takes about an hour and is suitable for strollers. The route begins at Badhof Restaurant and ends at Felseli; to return, you can walk to Badhof Restaurant or take the bus. The two routes therefore differ both in their focus and in their stated duration.

The nature trail and Frog Trail lead into a forest that extends across a wider region: the Meggerwald stretches across Meggen, Adligenswil, Udligenswil and Küssnacht, and across two cantons. Its trails and views of the Alps and lake are complemented by rich biodiversity. The area includes protected fens and amphibian spawning grounds; the Schwerziried pond provides a habitat for dragonflies, grass snakes, insect larvae and small crustaceans, among other species. The Meggen Discovery Tour, more than 15 kilometres long, links viewpoints, historical insights, ponds, remarkable trees and grand houses around the village.

Getting There and Planning

You can reach Meggenhorn Castle by bicycle, on foot or by boat; parking is limited. Bus number 24 runs from Lucerne railway station to the Lerchenbühl stop. From there, a signposted footpath leads to the castle in about 15 minutes. To reach the nature trail, also take bus number 24, but get off at Tschädigen and follow a signposted footpath for about 10 minutes to the starting information board. If you plan to travel by bus or boat, check the relevant timetable. When choosing a hotel in Meggen, you can weigh up whether castle history, art, wine or forest trails will be the main focus of your stay.

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