Brütten: Plateau, history and duck pond

Brütten lies in the centre of the Canton of Zurich, 640 metres above sea level. A plateau with wide-ranging Alpine views, the duck pond, a self-sufficient apartment building that can be visited, and historic sites give your stay several points of interest. Depending on whether you are looking for landscapes, architecture or local history, different aspects of the town come to the fore.

Plateau and views

From the plateau, the sweeping view stretches from Säntis to the Bernese Alps. The Franzosenbrunnen offers a view of Winterthur. These are two distinct landscape perspectives: a panorama spanning the Alps and a view of a named city. If you take viewpoints into account when planning your trip, these different views can help you place Brütten in context.

The duck pond: origins and present-day role

The duck pond was formed during the Ice Age. Today, it is a recreational area for people and a protected place for fauna and flora. The municipality maintains the duck pond grounds as a municipal nature reserve. This brings its geological origins alongside its present-day recreational and protective functions: the Ice Age explains its origins, while its protected status and municipal maintenance define its role today.

Architecture in town

The energy-self-sufficient apartment building in Brütten is the first apartment building in the world to operate without external connections for electricity, oil or natural gas. The original building can be visited in Brütten. For those interested in architecture and building technology, it offers a clearly defined technical subject alongside the opportunity to visit the original.

The church in Brütten was built from Lägern limestone in 1907/08 and has an imposing tower. Inside, Art Nouveau influences can be seen, including in the baptismal font and windows. Different features stand out inside and out: limestone and the tower define the building, while Art Nouveau influences appear in specific elements of the interior design. If you are weighing up the architectural highlights, energy self-sufficiency is central to the apartment building, while the church stands out for its construction period, materials and interior design.

Local history at the Franzosenbrunnen

The Franzosenbrunnen is on the eastern edge of the municipality, in Huebacher, near a barbecue area. It commemorates the Battle of Winterthur on 27 May 1799 and the French retreat from Brütten the following day. The sequence of events is part of the commemoration: the retreat from Brütten followed the battle. The fountain also offers a view of Winterthur; historical remembrance and a city view come together at this named location.

The Brütter Steig is one of the nationally significant transport routes. This historic route adds another dimension to local history alongside the commemoration of an event.

Brütten on the Winterthur Circular Trail

On the second stage of the Winterthur Circular Trail, Brütten lies between Kempttal and Winterthur-Wülflingen. The stage description places the town as a stop along a specific route. If you include the circular trail in your trip plans, this gives you a point of reference alongside the individual themes of architecture, landscape and history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hofstetten, Winterthur, Neftenbach, Elsau, Rickenbach, Altikon, Dinhard, Turbenthal.

Back to the main travel overview: Winterthur.