Discover Fällanden: Jörentobel, Lake Greifensee and Glatt Weir

Discover Fällanden through several distinct themes: the geologically striking Jörentobel, paths and views of Lake Greifensee, and events at the Zwicky Factory. When planning, you can weigh up the landscape, route length, views and cultural programme. The town centre lies at the foot of the hills at an elevation of 453 m; from there, the town has expanded into the flat Glatt Valley and up the slopes.

Jörentobel and the landscape

Jörentobel is listed as BLN site 1408 in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. The part within Fällanden covers 6.4 ha. Erosion by the Jören stream has exposed hundreds of erratic boulders. These include the Verrucano block known as «Blitzstein», which is split in two.

The wooded ravine forms an important wildlife corridor and provides suitable habitat for the endangered yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata). The Stocklen area also offers a distinctive view of habitats: diverse habitats for endangered plants and animals have recently been created around the ponds.

Lake Greifensee and Glatt Weir

The historic Glatt Weir, a protected monument, lies at the outflow of Lake Greifensee, between Fällanden and Schwerzenbach. Power station operators built it in 1891 to keep the level of the Glatt as constant as possible. Today, the weir regulates the outflow from Lake Greifensee. In dry periods, it helps maintain higher lake levels and a more reliable water supply for the Glatt.

Swimming and bathing are not permitted in the nature reserve on Lake Greifensee, in order to protect the valuable flora and fauna along the shore. The approximately 18 km circular route around the lake passes through the nature reserve and along reed meadows, offering a much longer circuit alongside Fällanden’s shorter paths.

Trails and viewpoints

The Gschichtli Trail, described in April 2025, is a 2.5 km circular route. It starts on Schulhausstrasse, behind Lätten School, passes the Fröschbach playground and the Stocklen observation tower, and continues to the shore of Lake Greifensee. There are ten QR-code stations along the trail: when activated with a smartphone camera, audio files tell stories. The description at the time stated that the entire circular route was suitable for pushchairs.

The viewing platform of the Stocklen Tower is accessible via a spiral staircase; from the top, you can look out over the nature reserve and Lake Greifensee. The Loorenkopf Trail offers a different view: it starts at the Fällanden parish hall and leads through Jörentobel. The Loorenkopf observation tower is located on the trail and offers panoramic views of the city and the Alps. As route details may change, it is worth checking the current route before setting out.

Route J runs through the Maur/Fällanden area from Herrenweid to Stuelen. It follows roads as well as forest, field and meadow paths to the hamlet, then descends back to Lake Greifensee. The Gschichtli Trail is listed as 2.5 km, and the circular route around the lake as approximately 18 km.

Culture and historical traces

The Zwicky Factory hosts theatre, concerts and cabaret. A major exhibition is organised there every two years; «Art at the Zwicky» takes place every four years. Individual editions may vary. On a few occasions, a sculpture trail was also held, which visitors could explore for six months. If an event is the reason for your trip, check the relevant dates.

The town’s history goes back a long way: Fällanden was first mentioned around 820 under the name Fenichlanda. In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Fraumünster Abbey owned extensive estates in Fällanden, while large parts of the tithe went to the Grossmünster.

Discover more destinations: Maur, Schwerzenbach, Uster, Egg, Mönchaltorf, Greifensee, Volketswil, Dübendorf.

Return to the main travel overview: Uster.