Wealth and water define this compact powerhouse that is the Zug canton. The sleek glass offices of Crypto Valley sit steps away from a perfectly preserved medieval old town. The scenery is dominated by the Zugersee, a lake famous for the most theatrical orange and pink sunsets in the country. While the city feels high tech, the surrounding hills remain a stronghold of tradition covered in 40,000 cherry trees that turn the landscape white every spring. This is the home of the legendary Zuger Kirschtorte, a cherry brandy cake.
Taking the road up to the Zugerberg plateau changes the perspective, trading global finance energy for wide open moorlands and quiet hiking trails. From these heights, views stretch across to the Rigi and the distant peaks of Central Switzerland. Beneath the surface, the region hides the Hollgrotten, a series of limestone caves filled with bizarre mushroom shaped formations and underground lakes. It is a land where the digital future and the prehistoric past exist in harmony.
You might see a world class rower training on the glassy lake surface while a farmer just a few miles away prepares for the traditional Zuger Stierenmarkt cattle fair. The historic Zytturm clock tower, with its distinctive blue and white tiled roof, remains the geographical anchor of the region. The Zug canton is a place of quiet luxury where a global business hub meets the soul of an ancient countryside.
Zug (canton) highlights
- Zugerberg Take the funicular or the road to the plateau for a quiet landscape of protected wetlands and pine groves. It is the best spot for sunset views over the lake.
- Höllgrotten Caves Explore these unique limestone caves with mushroom shaped stalactites and glowing underground lakes. The caves are located in a deep forest gorge.
- Zytturm Climb the clock tower with its distinctive blue and white roof for a view of the medieval city. It has served as the gateway and prison for centuries.
- Aegeri Lake Loop Drive around this quiet mountain lake where the first battle for Swiss independence took place. The water is clean and perfect for a quick summer swim.
- Morgarten Monument Visit the site of the famous 1315 battle where local peasants defeated a massive Habsburg army. The stone monument overlooks the lake and the hills.
- Gubel Monastery Lookout Follow the winding road to this hilltop convent for a view that covers the entire central region. It is a quiet spot far from the busy tech hubs.
- Sihlbrugg River Trails Discover the wild side of the canton where the Sihl river has carved a canyon through the woods. It is a prime area for mountain biking and hiking.
- Baar Beer Brewery Visit the local brewery that has been producing beer since the 1800s using local spring water. The historic brick buildings are a landmark of the region.
- Oberwil Lakeside Parks Stop at these quiet grassy areas just outside the city for public access to the water. The sunset colors here are famously orange and pink.
- Cherry Blossom Route Drive the backroads in April to see over forty thousand cherry trees in bloom. The blossoms create a white canopy over the rolling green pastures.
The local Four
History of Zug (canton)
The Zug canton is a story of a massive transformation from a humble fishing village to the wealthiest pocket of land in the country. In the Middle Ages the town was a minor strategic post for the Habsburgs but it joined the Swiss Confederation in 1352 to escape heavy taxes. For centuries the region was known for its quiet lakeside life its cherry orchards and a catastrophic event in 1887 when a large section of the lakeshore literally slid into the water reshaping the city map.
The sweet side of local history is found in the cherry blossom. In the 19th century the region became the center of the Swiss cherry trade leading to the creation of the famous Zuger Kirschtorte and the production of cherry brandy. This agricultural root gave the canton a sense of traditional rural charm that lasted well into the industrial age. The people here were proud of their cherry culture which still defines the hillsides today with over forty thousand trees.
The most recent chapter of the canton history began in the 1950s when a radical change in tax laws turned the region into a global magnet for business. This led to the birth of Crypto Valley where medieval towers now stand next to the world leading blockchain and tech firms. The Zug canton is a story of incredible adaptation as a place that managed to keep its medieval soul and its cherry orchards while becoming the high tech engine of the modern Swiss economy.