Discover Gettnau: hiking, chapel and local history

Gettnau is a locality in the municipality of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne and belongs to the Willisau electoral district. Two different interests come together here for travellers: hiking and buildings with a history of their own. You can plan your stay around whether you want to go on a tour, explore the local cultural heritage or combine the two.

Gettnau has its own stop on the Lucerne–Langenthal railway line. The locality is also on the main road between Wolhusen and Huttwil. You can take these location details into account when planning your journey. The history of the locality offers another perspective: in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, Gettnau was connected with the Habsburgs, the County of Willisau and the city of Lucerne. These connections place the history of the locality within several different historical contexts.

Chapel, parish church and castle site

The Late Gothic chapel in Gettnau was built in 1504 and is a protected monument. A decorative sundial is located on its south side. The chapel therefore combines a clearly dated construction and an art-historical context with a specific detail on the building. The sundial is not a separate attraction, but part of the chapel’s distinctive features.

Gettnau’s parish church was built in 1932/33 by Josef Steiner of Schwyz and is dedicated to Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Together with the Late Gothic chapel, it reflects a different period in the locality’s history: one church dates from the early 16th century, while the other was built more than four centuries later. Their respective dedications also distinguish the two religious buildings.

Another historical trace is the medieval castle site of Stadtägertli in Gettnau. It is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property Protection, as of 1 January 2026. As a castle site, it complements the religious buildings with a different type of historic place. The chapel, parish church and Stadtägertli thus offer different points of interest if you are interested in Gettnau’s architectural and local history.

Hikes with different focuses

The hike from Gettnau to Willisau is also suitable for families. Another option is the 12.77 km circular hike Gettnau–Ohmstal. It runs mostly over hills and fields and offers views in all directions. As a four-season tour, it can also be done in winter. The two routes differ in form: Willisau is the destination of one, while the other is named as the Gettnau–Ohmstal circular hike and focuses on the landscape and panoramic views.

The Gettnau gourmet hike also combines exercise with a theme of its own: this recurring hiking event brings culinary highlights and Swiss specialities together with the hike. The stated route is 7 km; details may vary from one edition to the next. This distinguishes the gourmet hike from the other two routes: here, the culinary experience is explicitly part of the programme alongside the walk.

To the main destination overview: Willisau.