Discover Brunnen on Lake Lucerne

Brunnen is a locality in the political municipality of Ingenbohl in the district and canton of Schwyz. When looking for a hotel, your travel interests are a good place to start: boat trips and lakeside scenery, trails with lake and mountain views, local culture or the Urmiberg each offer a different focus. This lets you plan your stay around the places and experiences that interest you most.

The lake, boat trips and trails

Lake Lucerne also shapes Brunnen through its landscape. The stretch of lake between Brunnen and Flüelen is characterized by steep shores and striking rock formations; the scenery has a fjord-like quality and is closely connected with Swiss history. Föhnhafen offers another perspective on boat travel: during Föhn storms, it serves as a safe harbor and landing place for licensed boat services. It is also used by pleasure boats and for regattas.

A round trip on the Swiss Path combines a boat trip to the Rütli landing stage, a hike via Seelisberg and Bauen, and the return journey by boat to Brunnen. The route brings together sections on the lake and on foot. Boat tickets for Lake Lucerne are available in Brunnen from spring to autumn. Check the current departure times when planning your trip.

If you would like to explore Brunnen on foot, the village walk offers a different perspective: the route leads through and around the village, along the lakeshore, the Leewasser and the Muota. Along the way, there are views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains. From the Lake Lucerne photo spot, you can see the Rütli, the Urirotstock and the village of Seelisberg.

Local history and culture

Brunnen originated in the High Middle Ages as a lakeside settlement on Lake Lucerne. Fishermen and boatmen lived in the village, whose importance grew with the Gotthard route. Brunnen became the port of the canton of Schwyz and a shipping point for the cattle trade with Ticino and Italy. This development links the village's name with the lake and the region's transport routes.

The Little Cultural Trail includes stops at the Federal Chapel, the Old Harbor Facilities, Auslandschweizerplatz and Föhnhafen. The Federal Chapel was built between 1632 and 1635 after the village fire of 1620. Inside are white-painted wooden figures of Saint Henry and Saint Helena. Various events take place at Auslandschweizerplatz; no specific dates are given. The cultural trail offers a way to take in these different stops together.

The Church of St. Leonhard in Ingenbohl is also part of the local architectural history: it was built between 1658 and 1661 to replace a chapel dating from the late 15th century. The church is in Ingenbohl, making it a separate point of interest alongside the stops on the Little Cultural Trail in Brunnen.

Urmiberg and Rigi

As an alternative to the lakeshore and village trails, the Brunnen–Urmiberg cable car takes you to the eastern foothills of the Rigi. It climbs 702 metres; at 1,135 metres above sea level, the Urmiberg offers panoramic views. The Urmiberg is also a starting or finishing point for hikes on the Rigi. This gives you a viewpoint and a reference point for hikes to consider alongside the options by the lake when planning your trip.

A unique experience at the Victorinox Store

The Victorinox Store in Brunnen has a large personalization station for Victorinox products. With guidance on site, visitors can assemble their own Swiss Army Knife. Please contact the store in advance by phone or email to reserve an appointment. If this experience is part of your plans, remember to get in touch beforehand.

Discover more destinations: Rothenthurm, Unteriberg, Arth, Morschach, Lauerz, Alpthal, Schwyz, Riemenstalden.

Go to the main travel overview: Schwyz.