Discover Ennetmoos

Ennetmoos between Stans and Stanserhorn

Ennetmoos lies at a slightly elevated position above Stans, between Stanserhorn and Lake Lucerne. The municipality includes parts of the northern and western slopes of Stanserhorn, as well as sections of Lake Lucerne. When searching for hotels in Ennetmoos, your travel interests can provide a starting point: religious buildings and memorial sites are just as central here as hiking destinations, nature and local products.

Chapels and history

St. Jakob Chapel was probably built as a pilgrim chapel on the Way of St. James and is one of the oldest places of worship in the canton of Nidwalden. On 15 January 1618, Nidwalden and Obwalden concluded the so-called “Capuchin Peace” in the chapel to settle various disputes between the two cantons. St. Jakob thus connects the history of a presumed pilgrimage route with a specific political agreement.

The historic religious buildings in Ennetmoos also include the chapels of St. Leonhard and St. Magnus. The chapels were destroyed in 1798; the churches were rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century. St. Leonhard was built in 1616 and 1717, and St. Magnus in 1672. These construction dates add early points in time to the history of the chapels, while their destruction and reconstruction make the upheavals around and after 1798 visible.

In 1798, Ennetmoos was a battlefield in the French army’s war against Nidwalden. The battle ended in a French victory at the beginning of the Rotzberg, in the district of Allweg. Erected 100 years later, the Allweg monument commemorates the fighters and is free to visit today. Allweg is therefore a distinct historical point of interest, alongside the religious buildings and St. Jakob Chapel.

Legends, guided tours and hiking destinations

A local dragon legend is associated with the legendary Drachenried. Guided tours are offered both in Drachenried and in historic Allweg. The “Chärwaldräuber” adventure trail presents interesting facts about history and legends at twelve stations. Along the way, it passes, among other places, Lake Gerzensee, Hexenstein and a picnic area. The trail thus offers a distinctive connection between local stories and named stops.

The “Zingel Ennetmoos” hike is 8.28 kilometres long, rated moderate, and runs from Ennetmoos, Morgenstern, to St. Jakob in Ennetmoos. The starting point is the Ennetmoos, Morgenstern bus stop; parking for the hike is available at the municipal building. The route offers beautiful views of Lake Lucerne, Lake Alpnach and the surrounding mountains. As trail conditions can vary with the weather, it is advisable to check them before setting out.

There are also hikes on and around Stanserhorn with different time requirements: options range from a 30-minute summit loop to a four-hour hike from Stans to Stanserhorn. For planning your day, this means a clear difference between a short loop at the summit and a hike lasting several hours from Stans up to Stanserhorn. Mueterschwandenberg above St. Jakob can be reached on foot or by bicycle; its summit has a viewpoint and a modern fire pit.

Nature and local products

In 2004, Pro Natura Unterwalden acquired a plot in Drachenried containing a former tank obstacle. Since then, targeted ecological improvements have been made to develop it into a nature reserve rich in species. The development of the area is therefore a distinct part of Ennetmoos’s natural heritage. The Drachenried-Lädeli sells homemade syrup, egg liqueur, ostrich meat and other products. Its selection offers an additional local connection for anyone who wants to complement their stay with regional produce.

Discover more destinations: Dallenwil, Emmetten, Oberdorf, Stans, Wolfenschiessen, Büren, Ennetbürgen, Bürgenstock.

Back to the main travel overview: Nidwalden.