Hidden gems: lakes & picnics.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED][ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hundreds of kilometres from the sea, Lake Zurich For the lake and village in the U.S., see . Lake Zurich (Alemannic: Zürisee; German: Zürichsee) is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the town of Zürich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. provides respite from the heat and sun for the sweltering inhabitants of the city and its surroundings. However, the Badis (bathing areas) along its shores are not the only places for a dip or a picnic. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Egelsee The Egelsee offers something for everyone. Curtained by reeds and located on a plateau among clusters of woodland and Alpine foothills The Alpine foothills, or Prealps (German: Voralpen/Alpenvorland; Italian: Prealpi; French: Préalpes , it is home to a nature reserve. The western end of the lake is fenced off to protect the indigenous flora and fauna. Children will find plenty to amuse themselves in the naturally formed, shallow pool that is separated from the main swimming area by lilies-including a zip wire and wooden pirates ship. Bigger kids can swim out to the floating platforms, while parents can relax n the 'quiet area' across the bridge. For hungry tummies, there is a barbecue for public use and picnic benches to enjoy your own food. Alternatively, the self-service cafe and kiosk offers a range of drinks and snacks. Make it happen * Location: Bubikon, Canton Zurich *Getting there: Take bus 880 from Bubikon train station to Wolfhausen Neugut, then walk or bike 800 metres: car Dark available * Eat & drink: Picnic benches, barbecue for public use, self-service cafe and kiosk * Activities: Swimming, beach volleyball For the ball used in this sport, see . Beach volleyball is an Olympic team sport played on sand. Two teams, positioned on either side of a net which divides a rectangular court, hit a volleyball, usually using the hands or arms. table tennis, walking * Prices: Adults/children CHF CHF In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Swiss Franc. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 5/3 (MaySeptember; changing room changing room n (BRIT) → vestuario changing room change n (Brit) (in shop) → salon m d'essayage: (Sport) → and toilets available) www.bubikon.ch Katzensee [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Where the high-rise apartment blocks of Zurich-Affoltern end. the Lower Katzensee hides m a copse of woodland at the start of a rolling, agricultural landscape. Reached by a sun-dappled path through the trees, the family-friendly lake has an 80-metre long sandy beach Sandy Beach (location ) is on the South Shore of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. It is known for its shorebreak for bodyboarding and bodysurfing. The area is also known for its strong current and dangerous shorebreak. and a shallow area for children. The lake is also ideal for Iong-distance swimming. It is only 15 minutes by train from Zurich main station, and this shows in the up to 4,000 people who gather n the spacious sunbathing area during a Sunday afternoon. However. enjoyed in the morning or evening, the Katzensee is peaceful with a pleasant temperature. Taking an hour to walk around the Lower Katzensee to enjoy the views across the neighbouring Upper Katzensee (where swimming is forbidden) is worthwhile--the landscape is dotted with meadows and tumbledown tum·ble·down adj. Being in such bad repair as to seem in danger of collapsing; very dilapidated or rickety: a tumbledown shack. farms. You might see a deer jump across the fields or a kite soar overhead. Make it happen * Location: Zurich-Affoltern, Canton Zurich * Getting there: Take bus 62 from Zurich-Affoltern station to MuhlacKer, then walk for five minutes * Eat & drink: Picnic on the meadows or in the forest, kiosk, barbecue places * Activities: Swimming, boules (game with metal balls), walking * Prices: Free entry (May-September; changing room and toilets available) * Good to know: the nudist area (FKK FKK Freikörper-Kultur (German: free body culture; naturism/nudism) ) is visible from the main area Rumensee [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The waters of the artificially dammed factory reservoir Rumensee once powered a sawmill sawmill, installation or facility in which cut logs are sawed into standard-sized boards and timbers. The saws used in such an installation are generally of three types: the circular saw, which consists of a disk with teeth around its edge; the band saw, which in Zollikon. Nowadays, the take forms part of the pretty nature reserve above Kusnacht on Lake Zurich's 'Gold Coast', Shielded from these densely populated shores by woodland, its ethereal, green waters are walled in by trees of different heights, which form a perfect curve on the horizon and allow in plenty of sunlight. Diverse flora and fauna in and around the lake includes reeds, bulrushes, irises and water lilies, There are lovely picnic spots in the forest, as well as barbecue places. Slightly south is the Schubelweiher, a pond that is passed by the 'Lake Zurich Panorama' path. Make it happen * Location: Kusnacht. Canton Zurich * Getting there: Take bus 916 from Tiefenbrunnen to Kusnacht Buhlstrasse. and then continue on foot * Eat & drink: Restaurant Waldhaus Rumensee. picnic and barbecue soots * Activities: Walk along the 'Lake Zurich Panorama' oath or around the lake: toilets available Greifensee [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pfannenstiel chain of hills separates the Greifensee from Lake Zurich, to which it lies parallel. At six kilometres long, Greifensee is the second largest lake in the Canton. its annual running race, the 'Greifenseelauf', shows off the UNESCO-protected shores. Engulfed by expansive moorland moor·land n. Land consisting of moors. moorland Noun Brit an area of moor Noun 1. and belts of reeds, the lake is only accessible in places. The only town directly on the lake is Greifensee with its renowned 13th century castle and designated bathing areas. The secluded Strandbad Furren clings to the lakeside and, having no kiosk, is ideal for a quiet picnic. Enjoy Seebadi Egg's diving board, table tennis tables and barbecue places--or swim lengths at Strandbad Niederuster, the biggest bathing area on the lake. Take a boat trip to discover Greifensee's smaller towns and round off your day with a picnic on the beach at Strandbad Maur. Make it happen * Location: Glatt Glatt may refer to:
* Getting there: Take bus 727 from Schwerzenbach station to Greifensee Stadtli * Getting around: Walk around the lake or explore by boat * Activities: Swimming, table tennis, walking, boat rides (including a trip onboard Switzerland's oldest steamboat), rowing (Niederuster Schifflande), sightseeing (Greifensee castle) www.sgg-greifensee.ch Halbisel Au [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The peninsula protrudes into Lake Zurich between Horgen and Wadenswil like a setting from a romantic novel. Seamed with abundant woodland, it offers numerous sheltered picnic spots on grassy meadows and on benches overlooking the lake. (It is a conservation area, but there are designated barbecue places.) The path around the peninsula has information boards with history, as well as caves and tunnels to explore. On the western side of Au is 20th-century castle Schloss Au (now a conference centre) in a landscaped garden of pinks, purples and reds. The Ausee, the peninsula's pond nearby, is cloaked in lilies. Look out for red squirrels darting in the treetops. Behind the castle, vineyards climb to the horizon. Here, a wine museum presents tales of the long history of winemaking in the area. On the Lake Zurich shore is a small Badi. Make it happen * Location: Between Horgen and Wadenswil, Canton Zurich * Getting there: Direct trains from Zurich main station to Au, or take a boat (www.zsg.ch) * Eat & drink: Guesthouse guest·house n. 1. A small house or cottage adjacent to a main house, used for lodging guests. 2. A bed-and-breakfast. 'Landgasthof Halbinsel Au picnic benches, barbecue places * Activities: sightseeing (wine museum: Sunday afternoons. April-October), swimming, walking Lutzelsee [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A dark woodland path. lined with the intricate artwork of ancient roots and natural caves winds out of sleepy Hombrechtikon. It gradually opens onto an undulating, green landscape and the translucent waters of the Lutzelsee. Here, a wooden walkway between high, rustling reeds connects to a wide jetty jetty: see coast protection. into the lake, complete with diving board. Water temperature is around 21 [degrees]C. There is a separate paddling pool paddling pool n (BRIT) → piscina para niños paddling pool paddle n → petit bassin paddling pool paddle (Brit) n for children close to the shaded lawn for sunbathing. The swimming area buzzes with the sound of happy families, but peace and quiet can be found along the 2.8 kilometre circular route around the lake. The route is also ideal for nature lovers. The area has been under protection since 1966 and a family of storks reside at the nearby Bauernhof Hasel. Make it happen * Location: Hombrechtikon, Canton Zurich * Getting there: Take bus 880 or 881 from Bubikon train station to Hombrechtikon Tobel: car park available * Eat & drink: Care serving homemade cakes, barbecue area. picnic spots (www.luetzelsee.ch/baenke) * Activities: Walking, boat hire, swimming * Prices: Adults/children CHF 4/2 (dairy, May--mid-September; changing room and toilets available) www.luetzelsee.ch Huttnersee [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The shores of Huttnersee meet a carpet of colourful meadows then reach for the peaks of the rounded green hills of Richterswil. On the horizon is 19th century spa resort Hutten. Cowbells jangle in the air. South of tiny Samstagern, the lake boasts tempting views to the foothills of the Glarus and Appenzell Alps The Appenzell Alps are a mountain range in Switzerland on the northern edge of the Alps. They extend into the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and St. Gallen and are bordered by the Glarus Alps to the west and the Rätikon to the south-east. . At only 0.165 square kilometres, the Huttnersee is small, but it contains a diving board and a floating platform. A wooden jetty beside the paddling pool leads into the water. Play Frisbee and badminton in the games area; then head into the surrounding wilderness for a picnic. You feel you could be a million miles away from Zurich in this glacial landscape, although the city's lake is just over the horizon. Make it happen * Location: Richterswill, Canton Zurich * Getting there: Take bus 160 from Wadenswil to Hutten then walk 20 minutes: car park available * Eat & drink: Kiosk. restaurant. picnic areas * Activities: Swimming, table tennis, four-hour hike from Samstagern along the Huttnersee to Schindellegi * Prices: Adults/children CHF 3/1 (daily, May-September: changing room and toilets) Ufnau Island [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dubbed 'lnsel der Stille' (island of quiet), Switzerland's largest island rises in a flattened kidney-shape from Lake Zurich. A tutu tutu coriariaarborea. of woodland skirts its 1,800-metre perimeter and conceals meadows of cows with jangling jan·gle v. jan·gled, jan·gling, jan·gles v.intr. To make a harsh metallic sound: The spurs jangled noisily. v.tr. 1. bells. Gently sloping vineyards guide the eye to 7th-century St. Martin's Chapel and 12th-century St. Peter and Paul church, a quaint stone building with frescos. The Einsiedeln Monastery has owned Ufnau for over 1,000 years. Home to flora and fauna including the heath spotted orchid and purple lythrum, the island has been a designated conservation area since 1927. Swimming is not permitted, but the path around the island's perimeter--which is wheelchair accessible--is rewarding. It winds beneath woodland canopies and along inlets rustling with reeds. Picnic benches en route are great vantage points for views of Rapperswil's 13th-century castle and Lutzelau, the smaller of the lake's two islands. Make it happen * Location: Hote, Canton Schwyz * Getting there: By boat from Rapperswil, Wadenswil and Zurich (www.zsg.ch) * Eat & drink: Self-service restaurant 'Zu den zwei Raben' * Activities: Walking, sightseeing {St. Peter and Paul Church. open daily) * Good to know: no bathing costumes allowed. no swimming allowed www.ufnau.ch Handy hint Lake Zurich Trail Hiking map with routes in the area. CHF 24.90 (order at www.zuerichsee.ch) |
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