At the foot of the Pilatus range, Malters combines cultural heritage with trails through the landscape. Highlights range from historic churches and a protected villa to the chess museum, with more than 32,000 exhibits. The trails along the Kleine Emme and the rail connection to Lucerne are also useful when planning your visit.
Exploring the countryside and getting around by train
Malters is set in beautiful countryside dotted with well-kept farms, and the municipality has numerous walking and hiking trails. The Energy Source route along the Kleine Emme follows good paths through marshy plains and woodland. A pleasant trail continues to Malters railway station. Check the current route and trail conditions before setting out. The banks of the Kleine Emme near Malters are also a lovely place for an outing.
From Malters, cyclists can take national or cantonal cycling routes to explore the surrounding area and, among other destinations, ride to Sursee. For getting there, Malters is on the Lucerne–Bern railway line; Lucerne is about 12 minutes away by train. A postbus runs from Malters to Schwarzenberg. By car, the H10 provides direct access to the A2 motorway. Check timetables and connections for your travel date, especially if you are arriving by train or postbus.
Churches, architectural history and memorials
St. Jost’s Church in Blatten was built as a chapel in 1391 and enlarged several times between the 15th and 18th centuries. It is protected as a Swiss heritage site and remains a popular venue for weddings and pilgrimages. St. Martin’s Church in Malters was consecrated in 1839. Its early Neoclassical character is evident in decorative forms that depart from late Baroque patterns; the tower was rebuilt in 1935.
The Evangelical Reformed Mirjam Church was built in 1914 with considerable volunteer labor by worshippers living in Malters. It has had a new organ since 1974 and two bells of its own since 1986, tuned to the bells of the Catholic parish church. Villa All’Aria was built in the Neoclassical style and features sgraffito elements on its façades. The villa and garden are protected and listed in the cantonal heritage register. Since the retirement home opened in 1988, the garden has been open to the public; today it serves as a park for the retirement home’s residents and the local community.
The Chapel of St. Ida in Malters was built in 1642 in honor of Saints Ida and Anna and consecrated by Bishop Jost Knab in 1657. The simple rubble-stone building has a roof turret topped by a gilded stag crowning the cross. The chapel was once a popular pilgrimage site, visited especially by people who were ill before major operations and by expectant mothers. The publicly accessible Tscholin Chapel in Malters is decorated with legendary scenes from the life of Wendelin and the life of Mary; it invites visitors to pray and reflect.
The Freischaren memorial stone commemorates the Freischaren who fell in 1845. Twenty-eight Freischaren fell in the skirmish outside the Klösterli inn and were buried in the cemetery. For some visitors, the labyrinth by the rectory garden is a destination for an outing in spring, summer and autumn.
Chess museum and cultural program
The chess museum houses more than 32,000 exhibits in 60 display cases across 260 m². Visitors can also play a game of chess there. The museum is a destination in its own right alongside Malters’ churches and architectural history.
Kulturschiene Malters presents music in a range of styles and small-scale performances on its intimate stage; its program also includes an annual Jass tournament. Kulturschiene generally schedules one event per month, usually on the first Friday of the month. If you have a particular date in mind, check the current program.
Discover more destinations: Horw, Vitznau, Adligenswil, Dierikon, Greppen, Meierskappel, Schwarzenberg, Ebikon
For the main travel guide: Lucerne.
