Château Gütsch and the Gütschbahn Funicular

Château Gütsch is a castle-style building at Kanonenstrasse 1 on the Gütsch hill, west of the centre of Lucerne, Switzerland. It was put up as a hotel in 1888 and gives the hill a fairy-tale silhouette above the city. The main appeal for visitors is the viewpoint, which looks over the Old Town, the Reuss river, Lake Lucerne and, on clear days, the surrounding mountains. The Gütschbahn, a short funicular, climbs the slope from a base station, and visitors can also walk up on foot. A path through the Gütschwald leads onward toward the Sonnenberg for those who want a longer outing in the forest. The viewpoint is open at all times, while the funicular runs during the operating day, and the fare is shown at the base-station ticket machine. A typical visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes including the ride and time at the top. Evening is the most rewarding time, because the lights of the city and the lake appear below, and sunset photography is popular. Daytime visits suit those who want a clear view of the mountains. The base station lies about 15 minutes on foot west of Bahnhof Luzern. The site is much quieter than the Old Town, with few tour groups, and weekday mornings are especially calm. Conditions on the hill can be cool and breezy after dark, and paths in the woods may be damp after rain. Visitors should check the status of the hotel and its facilities before planning a meal or stay, since access to the building itself depends on current operation.