Flüeli-Ranft: Where History, Spirituality, and Adventure Collide
At the heart of Switzerland,
located between Lucerne and Interlaken and surrounded by rolling hills and graceful mountains, you find everything you ever dreamed of whether traveling alone, with a family, or as a group. The village of Flüeli-Ranft presents a feast for the eyes and a key to enjoyment for both your body and soul. Take a deep breath; yes, this is for real – and places do still exist where you can replenish resources in magnificent countryside, far from the hustle and bustle. Sachseln, ideally situated on the lake, is also known for its excellent cuisine and typical Swiss hospitality that invite you to relax and enjoy. When’s your turn to delight in a special break?
Flüeli-Ranft
is more than just a picturesque village—it’s a place where nature, legend, and spirituality intertwine. Known as the home of Brother Klaus (Niklaus von Flüe), Switzerland’s patron saint, this hidden gem offers a journey through time, breathtaking landscapes, and trails that make you feel like an explorer in a sacred land.
Not far from the village stands the Paxmontana Hotel. The Hotel was built as the Kurhaus Nünalphorn in 1896 by the 31-year-old local hotel pioneer Franz Hess-Michel. In 1898, the veranda was added and in 1906 the building was extended to its current size in Art Nouveau style. The Hotel has 86 Rooms, a 100-seat Veranda,a Hotel Bar-Cafe, a Kiosk, and Baquet facilities for 400 people.
Franz Hess-Michel
ran a self-sufficient farm with cows, horses, pigs, and bees, a dairy, bakery, cider press, and sawmill. He created an extensive network of walking paths and specially made excursion maps of the surrounding area. The hotel’s cricket and tennis courts, a gymnastics field, and the foyer were available to guests for physical exercise.
This past is all too evident: the unique arcade (avenue) to the hotel, the facade with the towers, the olive-colored stucco work with gold leaf on the ceilings, the beech parquet floors with walnut friezes, the neo-Renaissance pictures in the veranda are just a few witnesses to contemporary history.
The unique Art Nouveau Hotel Paxmontana is detached on a hilltop with a magnificent panoramic view of Lake Sarnen and the Obwaldner mountains. The hotel is now a listed building and a protected object of regional importance. Hotel Paxmontana AG has owned the Art Nouveau hotel since 1953. History and culture, peace and relaxation. Walk in the footsteps of the past, through the place of power Flüeli-Ranft, through the Pergola, and our historic Art Nouveau Hotel. Step inside and let yourself be enchanted.
Read about it on WIKIPEDIA here
Walking in the Footsteps of a Saint
I remember my first visit to Flüeli-Ranft—expecting a quiet village with some old chapels, maybe a scenic walk or two. What I found was something else entirely. The story of Brother Klaus is woven into the land itself. Standing outside his childhood home, it was impossible not to imagine the life he left behind—a respected farmer, soldier, and judge who chose silence and solitude over power and wealth.
Descending into the Ranft gorge, the hermitage appears like a scene from another time. The simple wooden dwelling and the tiny chapel beside it carry an undeniable sense of peace. Whether or not you believe in saints and visions, there’s something about this place that makes you stop, breathe, and listen—to the wind, the water, and maybe even your own thoughts.
Hiking Through Sacred Beauty
The best way to experience Flüeli-Ranft is on foot. The Brother Klaus Way takes you through meadows, forests, and dramatic cliffs, following the paths once walked by pilgrims. It’s the kind of trail where every turn offers a new postcard-worthy view—rolling green hills, a shimmering Lake Sarnen in the distance, and the jagged peaks of the Swiss Alps framing it all.
One of my favorite moments was reaching a quiet clearing halfway through the hike. The sun filtered through the trees, birds called out from the valley below, and for a brief moment, everything felt perfectly still. (Except for this farmer clearing his field of leaves with a motor blower,😃) There’s something about being in a place so deeply tied to reflection that makes you slow down, even if just for a minute.
Legends and Mystical Encounters
Locals say the Ranft Gorge has an energy that can’t quite be explained. Some visitors claim to feel an overwhelming sense of calm; others describe an eerie presence, as if history itself lingers here. I won’t lie—there was a moment, standing near the chapel, when the air felt thick with something I couldn’t put into words. Was it the power of belief? The weight of centuries of prayer? Or is it just my imagination running wild? Who knows.
What’s certain is that this is a place where people have sought answers for centuries, whether through faith, nature, or quiet contemplation. Maybe that’s why it feels different from any other Swiss village.
More Than Just a Pilgrimage
Of course, no Swiss adventure is complete without food. During our hike, we reached a Village called St. Nicklausen, with a population of about 2300, there we saw this shop, the sign said “Alp Cheesery and Wood Carvings”, as we entered the shop the smell of fresh mountain cheese hit us, and as we were hungry we decided to purchase a nice piece of Procini-Cheese and a Deer Smoked Sausage! all homemade by the owner of the shop, who attended us. During our descent to Flüeli-Ranft, we found a table and benches right in front of a Chapel, where we enjoyed the delicious countryside specialties. I couldn’t help but wonder what Brother Klaus would think of visitors like us—seeking meaning while enjoying lunch in the same hills he once called home.
Why Visit?
Flüeli-Ranft isn’t just for pilgrims or history buffs—it’s for anyone seeking a journey beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re drawn by adventure, the serenity of nature, or the echoes of the past, this Swiss treasure is bound to leave a lasting impression. And who knows? You might just leave with more than stunning photos—you might leave with a new perspective.
Adress: PAXMONTANA, 6073 Flüeli-Ranft, Obwalden, Switzerland
Tel: +41 41 666 24 00
Your Blogging Friend Ulrich Koepf
February 2025
