Daytrips from Zurich: the lake cruise

 

Lake cruises are one of the most delightful ways of experiencing the area around Lake Zurich. A 1 1/2 hour trip is available but for the full experience take the 4 hour Long Round Trip.

It makes stops along both sides of the lake as it runs between Zurich’s Bürkliplatz and the medieval town center of  Rapperswil.

Rapperswil is  known as “Town of Roses” for its many gardens. Its 12th century castle, which now houses the Poland Museum, looms above a variety of attractions, including a vineyard, Capuchin monastery, and garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circus Knie, Switzerland’s largest circus, has a children’s zoo on the site of its winter quarters, a circus museum and circus-themed statuary throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapperswil also has a 2700’ long pedestrians bridge across the lake to the village of Hurden. It is the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland.

The cruise brochure offered helpful information about sights along the way and noted stops that had lakeside restaurants, public beaches, children’s playgrounds, museums and campgrounds.

We noted that we would be able to see the Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate factory in Kilchberg from the lake. We learned that there are restaurants and shops in the preserved historic village center of Richterswil. In the 19th century it had a textile mill, brewery, and a brick factory. At noon on Sundays, the highest gravity-powered fountain in the world, built by a mill owner, gushes to a height of 331’.

A chapel and the Old Knight’s buildings are right by the pier in Uerikon. The knight’s house from 1531 is a national landmark.

Vineyards in Meilen date back to the 14th century.

The well-to-do built lakefront country estates like the 17th and 18th century Schipfgut, in Herrliberg. It was the summer home of a family who made a fortune in the silk trade. Goethe and Winston Churchill stayed there.

We also passed the turreted Traubenberg, “Grape Hill,” built in Zollikon for Hans Caspar Escher. He was the 17th century mayor of the city and Republic of Zurich.

There are lakeside cafés to enjoy and villages to explore.

As the afternoon progressed, there were more and more people outdoors, on boats, at the beaches, and paddle boarding.