A 12-kilometre classic cross-country ski trail, a combined cross-country section and a castle site with visible ditches show the different ways to explore Hittnau. To plan your visit, first decide what you want to focus on: seasonal winter sports, longer trails or local history. Conditions on the trails depend on the snow; check the current situation before including them as a fixed part of your itinerary.
Cross-country skiing in winter
The Stoffel cross-country ski trail in Hittnau offers 12 km of classic skiing. It also includes a 6 km skating trail in DĂĽrstelen. Another section, about 3 km long, combines skating and classic skiing and runs from the SchĂĽtzenhaus to Hasel. You can distinguish the trails by preferred discipline and distance: the classic trail is longer, the skating trail shorter, and the combined section has its own approximate length.
As a seasonal winter offering, the Loipen-Pintli arranges fondue evenings for groups of four to fourteen people at most, by prior arrangement. If you are planning for a group, bear in mind that advance booking is required and group size is limited.
Walking trails and other activities
Hittnau has numerous trails for hikes and walks. One themed route is the 23 km Jakob-Stutz Trail, which passes the most important places in Jakob Stutz’s life. Along the way, fourteen information boards with text and pictures, as well as a QR code, offer insights into his life and work. The route thus combines a specific length with a biographical theme; when choosing, you can take both the distance and this subject matter into account.
Nordic walking in Hittnau is based at the SchĂĽtzenhaus on Nauenstrasse, 8335 Hittnau. DĂĽrstelen is also home to a golf course within the municipality, operated by the Golf and Country Club Hittnau.
Werdegg and Hittnau’s architectural history
The former Werdegg Castle is considered the historic heart of the municipality. Today, only a wooded hill remains; no wall remains are visible there. However, the castle ditches can still be seen in the terrain at the Werdegg castle site. They are part of a medieval castle destroyed by the Swiss Confederates in May 1444. This distinguishes the site’s historical significance from the traces visible today: the castle is considered the former heart of the municipality, while ditches remain rather than visible wall remains.
The grounds of the outer bailey include a public picnic area with a fire pit. As the condition of facilities can change, it is advisable to check before visiting. The castle site is about 300 metres north of the Hittnau, Luppmen bus stop. Check public transport information before travelling.
The surviving buildings also offer a glimpse into different periods: many buildings in Hittnau, mainly Reihenflarze and smallholder houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, have been preserved to this day; many have been renovated in recent years. The present-day Reformed church was built in 1708 and consecrated on 25 November of the same year. Comparing the dates helps distinguish rural buildings from two centuries from a church with a specific construction date as separate historical reference points.
Discover more destinations: Bauma, Wila, Illnau-Effretikon, Weisslingen, Lindau, Pfäffikon, Sternenberg, Fehraltorf.
Back to the main travel guide: Pfäffikon.
