Steinhausen: Forest, Carnival and Chilematt

Steinhausen is a small, modern municipality in the canton of Zug. Specific reasons to visit include Steinhauser Forest, the annual waldstock festival and Steinhausen’s carnival. The history of the Chilematt centre is also part of the local cultural scene. When planning your stay, you can choose between nature, a festival date and local history.

Steinhauser Forest: Nature and outdoor activities

Steinhauser Forest covers 70 hectares, or almost one seventh of Steinhausen’s area. According to the cantonal forest development plan, it is classified as a recreational forest. It is also an important local recreation area. The forest makes up a distinctive part of the municipality and offers several ways to enjoy your stay.

The Steinhauserwald soil trail offers Switzerland’s largest outdoor environmental education programme on the subject of soil. This gives a visit to the forest a clear focus if you are interested in soil and environmental education. Steinhauser Forest also has fire pits and a Vita Parcours fitness trail. There is a playground by the forest lake. The walk through Steinhauserwald is suitable for the whole family and is also accessible with a pushchair. The soil trail, walk and other facilities cater to a range of interests.

Festival and carnival

The waldstock - open air spektakel takes place every year over three days on a meadow at the edge of Steinhauser Forest. The festival combines music, film, circus arts and parties. If you want to plan your stay around the event, check the exact dates in advance.

Steinhausen’s carnival has its own history. In the 1970s, the school and its teachers revived Steinhausen’s street carnival, which had previously fallen into decline. The Steigrind was created in this context. A leader is elected for the carnival, known as the “Steivater” or “Steimutter”. This person leads the carnival for one year. The first to do so was Jakob Fähndrich in 1985. The revival of the street carnival and the year-long leadership of an elected figure are distinct aspects of the tradition.

Local history and Chilematt

A church in Steinhausen is first documented in a deed from 1173 as the property of St. Blasien Abbey in the Black Forest. A much more recent chapter in local history is the Chilematt centre, built between 1978 and 1981 as a pioneering project by Ernst Gisel.

The Chilematt garden is another local point of interest. It provides a place for people of different generations to meet, and is free to use. If you plan to use it, check the applicable reservation arrangements in advance.

Location and getting there

Steinhausen borders Zug to the south, Baar to the east and Cham to the west. The canton of Zurich borders it to the north, where the neighbouring municipalities are Knonau and Kappel am Albis. The lowest point is at 417 m above sea level in the southern tip, about 500 m from Lake Zug. The highest point is at 529 m above sea level at Dreimarchen in the northernmost part.

Steinhausen is connected to Zurich HB and Zug by an S-Bahn service running every 30 minutes; there are also good bus connections. If you are factoring these connections into your travel plans, check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Cham, Risch, Zug, Neuheim, Oberägeri, Baar, Menzingen, Unterägeri

Back to the main travel overview: Zug.