Landenberg Circular Hike

A few steps from the Sarnen station lead to the village square of the main town. At the town hall, a symbol of the centuries-old Swiss independence of the canton of Obwalden, the path turns southward along the left bank of the Sarner Aa to the lake outflow. Here you cross the bridge, follow the lake briefly, and then go through the Goldmatt quarter to Kirchhofen, the oldest district of Sarnen. Here stands the baroque parish church with twin towers built in the mid-18th century, replacing the first valley church established in the 8th century.

Instead of heading to the church, the mountain path runs westwards along the Müligraben quite steeply uphill, crossing Schwanderstrasse into Breitholz and further up to the small bridge over the Müligraben at about 700 m above sea level. From there it goes downhill to the small village of Ramersberg, where the chapel at the most beautiful viewpoint above the Sarneraa valley invites for a short rest. From there a small road leads to the Flue and merges into the oldest walking path of Sarnen, created in 1897 by the local beautification association, descending through the Eiwald forest to Schwanderstrasse.

A short ascent to Landenberg is worthwhile. At this historic site, the Lenzburgers built a castle in the 11th century, of which wall remains still testify today. From 1646 to 1998, the people of Obwalden gathered here each last Sunday in April for the cantonal assembly (Landsgemeinde). From the mid-18th century are the old shooting house – a landmark of Sarnen – and the old armory, from whose enclosing wall the view extends over the market town of Sarnen with its historic buildings. The way back to the station from there is short.