Surroundings

Flüeli-Ranft

Our house is located within a 30-minute walking distance of Flüeli-Ranft, where Brother Klaus (1417–1487) lived as a hermit. In this natural gorge, there are two chapels and a shop. On the plateau lies the village of Flüeli-Ranft, where you can visit Brother Klaus’s birthplace.

Nature and Cities

  • Hiking [Obwalden]: From our house, there are various paths where you can explore the surroundings of St. Niklausen. Other hiking trails run through Obwalden and its beautiful landscape, including Lake Sarnen: www.wanderland.chwww.wanderland.ch
  • Geographic Center of Switzerland – Sachseln [Obwalden] (40 min / 17.5 km): Discover the geographic center of Switzerland on the Älggialp, located at around 1650 m above sea level.
  • Pilatus [Obwalden]: Viewpoint at the summit of the mountain. Access by cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (20 min / 13 km) or from Kriens / Lucerne (30 min / 25 km): www.pilatus.ch/
  • Stanserhorn [Nidwalden]: Ride to the mountain summit with the cable car from Stans (20 min / 15 km): www.stanserhorn.ch
  • Melchsee-Frutt [Obwalden] (15-20min/10,5km): Ski area in winter, beautiful mountain landscape all year round: www.melchsee-frutt.ch
  • Titlis, Engelberg [Obwalden] (45min/35km): At 3,238 m above sea level, offering many activities in winter (ski area) and in summer, including the highest suspension bridge in Europe: www.titlis.ch
  • Vierwaldstättersee (30min/25km): Around Lake Lucerne there are various landscapes to discover, just 20 minutes from St. Niklausen. Cruises and round trips are offered, especially from Lucerne: www.lakelucerne.ch
  • Luzern (30min/25 km): The capital of the canton of the same name is full of treasures and is famous for its many historic bridges with chapels, fortifications to the north, the Jesuit church, the dying Lion of Lucerne (a memorial to the death of Swiss mercenaries in the service of French King Louis XVI), museums, and more.
  • UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch [Canton Lucerne] (1h30/79km): The country’s first biosphere reserve offers wonderful moor and mountain landscapes: www.myswitzerland.com/
  • Interlaken, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz Region [Canton Bern] (50min/50km): Between mountains and lakes you can make numerous discoveries: www.interlaken.ch

Sport and Relaxation

  • Aquacenter Kerns (10min/5km): Swimming pool with wellness area: www.aquacenter-obwalden.ch

  • Ski Areas in Obwalden: Melchsee-Frutt (15-20min/10,5km): 

    In winter: several ski and snowboard slopes, sledding (including night sledding), cross-country skiing, ice fishing, hiking, etc. In summer: various outdoor activities: www.melchsee-frutt.ch
  • Langis-Glaubenberg (30min/19km): Cross-country skiing, hiking, and more: www.langis-glaubenberg.ch
person holding snow ski blades while walking on snowy mountain during daytime

Museums

(Note: some are closed in winter)

  • Museum Bruderklaus [Sachseln] (15min/14km): www.museumbruderklaus.ch
  • Historisches Museum Obwalden [Sarnen] (15min/7,5km): www.museum-obwalden.ch
  • Glasbläserei [Hergiswil] (22min/19,5km) : Glasi Hergiswil is the only glassworks in Switzerland where glass is still mouth-blown and handcrafted. You can watch the glassmakers at work, buy their creations in the shop, and visit the “Shaped by Fire” museum: www.glasi.ch
  • Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg (35min/37km) : Since the 1970s, old farmhouses, barns, bakehouses, and sheds in Switzerland have not been demolished when replaced by modern buildings, but dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt in the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum: www.ballenberg.ch

Canton of Lucerne:

  • Art Museum, Historical Museum, Natural History Museum, Richard Wagner Museum, and more. www.museen-luzern.ch

 Transport