Hasle brings together cultural discoveries and trails that explore different aspects of the forest and landscape. Heiligkreuz, in particular, shapes the municipality’s townscape: here you’ll find a pilgrimage church, historic buildings and several trails with different themes. You can reach Heiligkreuz from Hasle by postbus. Check the timetable before travelling so you can plan your journey.
Cultural History in Heiligkreuz
The nationally protected townscape of Heiligkreuz lies at 1,127 m above sea level. Its ensemble includes a church, a hospice, a farmhouse, a spa hotel and a multipurpose building. For more than half a millennium, Heiligkreuz has been regarded as a spiritual centre of the Entlebuch and remains a lively meeting place for pilgrims, art enthusiasts and tourists. The current pilgrimage church dates from 1593. Here, you can experience both the site’s long-standing spiritual significance and the history of a particular building.
Wooden Bridges with Different Purposes
The Graben Bridge dates from the 17th century and is one of the oldest wooden bridges in the Entlebuch still preserved in its original form. The restored Zwischenwassern Bridge in the Farbschachen area serves a different purpose: it provides a pedestrian crossing over the Entlen to the triple sports hall and the Farbschachen sports facilities. The two bridges thus represent different aspects of local architectural history—one as a historic structure, the other as a pedestrian link.
Forest Trails and Themed Routes
The Seelensteg is 500 m long and slightly elevated. It was built from wood from Storm Lothar and runs through a blueberry and fern forest below Heiligkreuz. The Heiligkreuz Protective Forest Trail, by contrast, focuses on the role of the forest: at eight stations, you can learn how protective forests prevent avalanches from starting, stabilise slopes, slow down falling rocks and regulate the water balance.
At the Oberstole section of the Protective Forest Trail, there is a viewpoint, two fire pits with wood, a fountain and a toilet. As such facilities may change, check the information before your visit. The Heiligkreuz Barefoot Trail is a marked route of approximately 500 m below Heiligkreuz. It follows narrow forest paths to the Biberenbach stream. Fir needles, moss and warm, damp mud are among the different surfaces you can experience there. Another option is the Wurzilla Fairy-Tale Trail, which is especially suited to families with children aged four to ten.
For a hike with a view, try the Heiligkreuz–Farnere–First circular trail: along the route, you can see Schimbrig, Äbnistetteflue and Schafmatt. Each option has a different focus—from the nature experience on the walkway and information about protective forests to the varied surfaces of the barefoot trail.
Getting to Know the Municipality of Hasle
The municipality of Hasle includes the village of Hasle and the localities of Habschwanden and Heiligkreuz. Its rural character is shaped by numerous hamlets, isolated farmsteads and alpine farms. The range in altitude also gives an impression of the area’s geographical diversity: the highest point is Fürstein at 2,040 m, and the lowest is where the Entlen flows into the Kleine Emme at 665 m. In the canton of Lucerne, Hasle borders Doppleschwand, Entlebuch, Flühli, Romoos and Schüpfheim; in the canton of Obwalden, it borders Sarnen. When planning your trip, the different local highlights can help you decide whether to spend your time on the townscape, the bridges or a particular trail.
Discover more destinations: Romoos, SchĂĽpfheim, Escholzmatt, Marbach, Entlebuch, Werthenstein, FlĂĽhli
Back to the main travel guide: Entlebuch.
