Knonau: Discover the castle’s history and walking trails

Knonau is in the Affoltern district of the Canton of Zurich. The castle, church and other historic traces make the village a focal point for stays with an interest in local history; walking and cycling routes offer other ways to explore. Knonau is approximately 23 kilometres from Zurich and 7 kilometres from Zug as the crow flies.

Castle, church and the village’s early history

Knonau is documented in writing from 1045. The relevant deed names Knonau Church and the associated manor farm as property of Schänis Abbey. Today’s Knonau Castle was built around 1525 as a late Gothic cuboid structure with a stepped gable. Between 1534 and 1540, it was fortified with a high wall, a moat fed by the Wattbach and a drawbridge. These terms describe different features: “cuboid” refers to the compact building form, while “stepped gable” describes its stair-like outline. The fortifications add a later, clearly dated phase to the building’s history.

Knonau Church was dedicated to Saints Gertrude and Sebastian in 1519. It has been under the protection of the Swiss Confederation since 1961; in 1979, it was listed as a monument of cantonal importance in the inventory of protected sites of regional significance. The Zurich authorities deliberately furnished the church beautifully and relatively lavishly for a Reformed church. Its dedication, furnishings and protected status offer different perspectives on its history.

Baaregg is also home to an important example of local architectural history: the oldest surviving farmhouse in Knonau. According to oral tradition, it dates to 1512; it is a well-preserved timber-frame building with plank walls. This building type combines planks with a post-and-beam frame, making the construction method itself part of its historic interest.

Roman history includes a military road from Turicum (Zurich) to Lucerna (Lucerne). It crossed the Albis and passed through Unter-Rifferswil and Weissenbach, then through Knonau past the Bollet. Remains of a Roman house were found on the Bollet. A historic route through Knonau and an archaeological find at the Bollet are thus part of the same story.

Hiking, cycling and getting here

There are many walks for exploring the surrounding area. The one-hour section of the Reuss Riverside Trail to Knonau climbs through the idyllic, peaceful Haselbach Valley. The route from Obfelden to Knonau forms part of the blue-marked Ämtler Trail. The two routes offer different points of reference: the Reuss Riverside Trail has a stated duration, while the Ämtler Trail section is described by its route and blue markings. Check the trail markers and conditions before setting out.

Knonau is also a starting point for cycling tours of varying difficulty. Check the conditions on your chosen route beforehand, as they may change. Knonau has its own S-Bahn station and bus connections. Check the latest timetables before travelling.

Notable features in the village

Two plane trees in the courtyard of Knonau Castle were planted in 1786 and are now considered the largest trees of their kind in Switzerland. They were planted well after the castle’s construction and fortification in the 16th century. A distinctive erratic boulder is clearly visible from Knonau railway station and is known among bouldering enthusiasts as the “8B Traverse”.

Discover more destinations: Ottenbach, Aeugst am Albis, Hausen am Albis, Kappel am Albis, Uetliberg, Bonstetten, Aeugstertal, Affoltern am Albis

For the broader travel overview: Affoltern.