Gossau combines a hilly landscape dotted with drumlins with paths through a rural setting and several specific sites of cultural history. The municipality is in the Hinwil district in the upper Glatt Valley between Wetzikon and Forch and comprises the localities of Gossau-Dorf, Bertschikon, Grüt, Herschmettlen, and Ottikon. Around 66 percent of the municipality’s area is used for agriculture, while 14 percent is forest. This gives you a clear choice when planning your trip between nature trails and cultural stops, which you can weigh differently during your stay.
Drumlin Landscape and Trails
The Drumlin Landscape of the Zurich Oberland also extends across Gossau; the municipality is listed in the cantonal protection ordinance for this landscape. A dense network of paths is used by walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Hiking and cycling routes cross the hilly Zurich Oberland, passing forests, ponds, and farms. For time outdoors, you can focus on the landscape and its network of paths, or combine a hike with a named destination: from Gossau, you can hike to Aaspitz, where the Aa flows into Lake Greifensee.
Six audio walks take visitors along historic paths through the municipality. These bring the local history to the fore along the routes; the hike to Aaspitz, by contrast, is centered on a geographical destination.
Churches with Different Histories
The churches reveal the broad timespan of local history. The completed Reformed Church of Gossau was consecrated on August 19, 1821. The Church of Maria Krönung was designed by Zurich architect Fritz Metzger and consecrated in 1959. Maria Krönung has a freestanding bell tower that is visible from afar. The consecration dates show that the two churches belong to different periods; the separate tower is a distinctive feature of Maria Krönung. A prayer chapel on the mountain near Gossau is first mentioned in the year 777. The Church of Maria Krönung is also open during the day outside service times and is wheelchair-accessible. Confirm these visitor and access details with the parish before your trip.
Local History at DĂĽrstelerhaus
The Gossau Local Museum is housed in Dürstelerhaus, a timber-frame building dating from the 16th century with painted façades. The museum displays a furnished kitchen, a tiled stove, and objects from agriculture, school, and public service. There is also a collection of photographs and slides from the village. The exhibition thus spans domestic life, agriculture, and school through to public service; the photographs and slides complement the objects with images from the village. The museum offers a different perspective on Gossau than the architectural history of its churches.
Getting There by Public Transport
You can also factor your journey into your plans. Gossau is well connected by public transport: the railway station offers direct services to Zurich, Uster, and Rapperswil, while regional bus routes improve access to neighboring municipalities. Check the timetable for your travel date to make sure the connections suit your planned activities.
Discover more destinations: Wetzikon, Dürnten, Bubikon, Grüningen, Hinwil, Fischenthal, Wald, Bäretswil
Back to the main travel overview: Hinwil.
