Gersau combines local history and concert offerings with marked hiking trails and lidos. You can choose which of these aspects shapes your stay according to your interests: culture, time in the mountains or a visit to the water.
Museum, chapel and concerts
The Gersau Local Museum opened in 1984. Today, it is housed in several locations, including the town hall built in 1745. Notable features there include paintings and carefully crafted figurative depictions. At the museum, you can also learn about the time Swedish national author August Strindberg spent in Gersau. A dedicated room shows how silk came to Gersau. The local museum therefore offers insights into both local history and the stories of a notable figure and silk in Gersau.
The Maria-Hilf Chapel, also known as the Kindli Chapel, is set in idyllic surroundings and is a popular wedding venue. Every year, it hosts a candlelit concert as part of StradivariFEST. The festival is a tradition and a regular fixture in the last week of July; the specific dates may change. Its concert venues include lakeside locations, a magnificent church, hotel halls, chapels—both inside and outside—viewpoints and boats. The festival thus encompasses a variety of locations and concert settings.
The lakeside stage is also right by the lake. Almost 30 concerts take place there during a four-month concert series. At the Sunday concerts at 10:30 a.m., folk music ensembles take turns with blues, Dixieland or jazz bands; individual performers may vary. If you would like to include a concert in your plans, check the specific event dates.
Hiking trails and scenery
The marked hiking trail network in Gersau covers 30 kilometres, starting at Gersau boat station. Along the discovery trail, information panels share interesting facts about Gersau’s nature, geology and history. The panels connect these topics directly with the route, so you can learn about different aspects of the village as you enjoy the scenery. When planning your route, it is worth checking the latest trail conditions.
Above the village, at 1,550 metres above sea level, stands Gersau’s local mountain, Rigi Burggeist. From there, you can enjoy views of the Alpine panorama and Lake Lucerne. The alpine landscape is accessible on foot or by cable car. Gersau forms a self-contained landscape in a sunny, sheltered hollow on the southern slope of Mount Rigi. Rigi-Hochfluh and Gersauerstock protect it from the north, while Lake Lucerne shields it from cold winds to the south. The particularly mild climate allows even sweet chestnuts to thrive; the region is also known as the Riviera of Lake Lucerne.
Public transport takes visitors conveniently into the mountains or to excursion destinations and back again. For specific journeys, it is helpful to check the current timetable. This makes it possible to plan hikes and excursions without assuming a particular travel time.
Two lidos, different features
On the edge of Gersau, Cholplatz lido offers views of the village and the surrounding mountain panorama. Its family-friendly atmosphere is complemented by a large non-swimmers’ pool with a slide and a sandpit. Kindli lido is idyllically situated on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by pine trees; stand-up paddleboards are available to rent there. The lidos operate seasonally, and their opening hours may change. Be sure to check them before your visit.
The two lidos offer different features: at Cholplatz, pools, a slide and a sandpit are complemented by views of the village and mountains; at Kindli, the lakeside setting, pine trees and SUP rental shape the offering.
Discover more destinations: Gersau
Back to the main travel overview: Gersau.
