At 2,128 meters above sea level, and overlooking the spectacular Lake Lucerne, the legendary Mount Pilatus (or “Pilatus Kulm”) is part of the Swiss Alps. Many legends are behind the name of “Mount Pilatus” – formerly called “the broken mountain” – and many of them imply the existence of dragons who would have populated these mountains. Among them, a legend tells that in 1421, a dragon flew to Pilatus. He was seen by a farmer who, not believing his eyes, lost consciousness. When he awoke, he found as the one and only proof of the passage of the dragon, a piece of coagulated blood and a stone with extraordinary healing properties, later called “dragon stone”. Another legend says that its name is due to a Roman emperor, Pontius Pilatus, who would have ordered the death of Jesus Christ and that the devil would have punished him by throwing his body in one of the lakes bordering the mountain.

Today, Mont Pilatus is a renowned excursion site that welcomes visitors from all over the world each year, for an experience closer to nature, totally suitable for a trip with children. The “Golden Circuit” formula around Mont Pilatus can be done from Lucerne, and it will take you about a day to fully enjoy this extremely diverse trip. Boat, rack railway, gondola and cable car “Dragon-Ride”: embark on a memorable family adventure, through breathtaking landscapes.

THE MAP

ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Golden Tour packages include a boat trip from Lucerne to Alpnachstad through the impressive Lake Lucerne, which offers a breathtaking panorama of the alpine landscape. From Alpnachstad to Pilatus Klum, take the famous cogwheel train invented by engineer Eduard Locher and put it into service in 1889. Regarded as the world’s fastest cogwheel train, this daring electric train (since 1937) moves on an area with a gradient of 48%. It takes 30 minutes to get from  Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm.

A trip during which you can admire impressive landscapes composed of rock formations, forests and wild meadows. Arrived at the summit thanks to the “Dragon Ride”, the famous and vertiginous cable car of Mount Pilatus, a panoramic view of exception will allow you to admire no less than 73 alpine peaks, as well as lakes and surrounding villages. You can descend from Pilatus Kulm in Lucerne in the famous “Dragon-Ride” (cable car) and thanks to the panoramic gondola that will allow you here again to appreciate the wild beauty of this exceptional natural site.

                  View on the Lake Lucerne from Fräkmüntegg

FRÄKMÜNDEGG – ADVENTURE & SPORT & FUN

The Golden Tour of Mount Pilatus promises great family moments thanks to the activities specially set up for the delight of the children. In addition to the Pilatus Dragon Trail, with legends and other fantastic myths about the history of this mountain, you can enjoy the PILU LAND adventure park on the Krienseregg. The nice Red Dragon welcomes young and old in his castle and his forest for a moment with a happy and playful family. 

On Pilatus Kulm, discover the fascinating “Dragon World” exhibition, a veritable interactive saga. Finally, on the flank of Mount Pilatus, the famous summer toboggan run in Switzerland, located in Fräkmüntegg promises thrills and unforgettable moments for the whole family.

PILATUS TRAIN – WORLD’S STEEPEST RAILWAY

   View from Pilatus Kulm

On the way, many restaurants welcome you, offering breathtaking views and offering à la carte typical Swiss dishes. If you want to extend your stay, you will also be able to sleep at the top of Mount Pilatus or in an unusual accommodation located in the trees in Fräkmüntegg, and go down the next day. Excursions on the “Golden Circuit” formula are generally possible from the beginning of May to mid-October or the end of November depending on the agency, and you will need to pay around 100 euros for an adult and 50 euros for a child. Mount Pilatus is a very popular tourist place, think, as far as possible, to book your tickets in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

BACK TO LUCERNE WITH THE STEAMSHP

                                                                                                                                                                                          Back to Lucerne with the boat (80 minutes)

Discovering Mount Pilatus with kids is one of the top listed things to do in Switzerland. The many activities for young and old, the possibility of having a picnic with a great view or sleep under the trees in the forest makes this place an exceptional stay for the whole family.

We hope you will enjoy your trip to Mount Pilatus. 

See you soon for new adventures!

Since the New York Times listed Lucerne as one of “52 Places to Go in 2018”, the charming little town on Lake Lucerne is officially no longer a secret. The tourist crowds have been getting bigger every year, especially during the summer months the city centre is flooded with big travel cars. The visitors mainly stop for some pictures are then guided in one of the expensive Swiss watch stores. For most tourists Lucerne remains only a stopover. Then they continue across Switzerland towards the famous Matterhorn or Jungfraujoch.

Lucerne is a very peaceful and picturesque destinations and a longer visit is definitely worth it. Lucerne and its region are excellent destinations for families in all seasons. The nearest ski resort, Engelberg, is only 30 minutes away and easily accessible by train or car. In summer, the region offers a large variety of activities for families. The nearby Alp offers uncountable hiking possibilities and the Lake Lucerne and the many rivers and other lakes in the region have great swimming spot.

Of course, I am not quite objective, since I grew up in Lucerne and carry the city in my heart. But as an insider, I would like to share with you some of my favorite places in Lucerne and the close region. I will be happy to show you some hidden spots and top addresses you wan’t find in any of the usual city guides.

Lucerne is the gateway to the Alps and lies on Lake Lucerne, the 4th largest lake in Switzerland. The river Reuss divides the city into two parts, the Old and New Town. As the name says, the old town is the medieval part of Lucerne with the imposing old town wall, the Museggmauer, in the back part.

We begin our Lucerne walk by crossing the oldest wooden bridge in Europe, the Kappelbrücke. From here you have a beautiful view of the old bourgeois townhouses. Every Tuesday and Saturday morning, the weekly market takes place on the banks of the Reuss where you can buy delicious local specialties. On the other side of the  bridge we enter the into the old part of Lucerne. This historic part of Lucerne makes you feel as if you are taking a step back in time. The town hall dating from 1604, the picturesque squares such as the Kornmarkt, Weinmarkt or Hirschenplatz are all surrounded by beautifully decorated old bourgeois houses.

In the northern part of the old town stands the well-preserved town wall “Museggmauer”. The first part of the city wall was built in the 13th century and improved over centuries. The wall with its 9 towers are in amazing condition and 4 of the 9 towers are open for visits during the summer months.

A great address is the Bio farm “Kulturhof” Hinter Musegg (directly behind the Musegg Wall). Children can feed highland cattle, alpacas, mini pigs and pygmy goats and learn about the animals as well as ecological issues.

Kulturhof Hinter Musegg | Diebold-Schilling-Strasse 13 | 6004 Luzern | Switzerland

Museggmauer: more info

Kappelbrücke: more info

Duration: The walk takes about 2-3 hours, depending on how long you stay in the different places. 

Another nice walk is the lake promenade along the Lucerne Quai to the Lidowiese (large green park). In Summer it’s the perfect place to spread out a blanket and have a picnic and a swim in Lake Lucerne. Just behind you have the famous Museum of Transport. It is the most visited museum in Switzerland and you need at least one day to see all collections of cars, trains and airplanes. One of our top attraction is the interactive car theater. You can choose your favourite car with the help of a dial button. The car with the majority vote is then theatrically presented to the public together with interesting details and facts. The kids can try out flight simulators, climb into an old Swissair or experiment with a range of different medias … a real try-out paradise!

Duration: The walk takes about 30 – 40 minutes

To get back to the city centre you can take the bus nr. 6 or boat at the station Lido (way back: 20 minutes). You can check the time table  here.

Tip:

If you plan to visit Lucerne in February / March you should definitely schedule your trip during the Lucerne Carnival. It is one of the largest carnival in Switzerland and a great experience for children. People celebrate, laugh and enjoy a wide variety of traditions for a full six days. The dates change every year, so better check the official carnival website

Check out our other tips (restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops…) in the map below:

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