Lieli is a district of the municipality of Hohenrain in the Hochdorf district of the canton of Lucerne. The Nünegg Castle ruins and St. Wendelin Chapel give the village two distinct cultural and historical focal points; hiking and cycling routes also pass through Lieli as a destination or stop along the way. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay in Lieli, you can first decide whether to focus on the historic sites or on a specific hiking or e-bike route.

Nünegg Castle Ruins and Their History

The Nünegg Castle ruins in Lieli are the second-largest castle ruins in the canton of Lucerne, after Kastelen Castle near Alberswil. They were extensively restored from 2014 to 2016 and are protected by the federal government and the canton. The viewing platform offers a view over the Seetal valley and the ruins. It is accessible only during the day, so this viewpoint should be included in your daytime plans.

At the castle site, participants can also follow Johann, Elisabeth or Burkhard and help find the missing seal. Alongside the history of the castle’s construction and restoration, the Nünegg experience therefore also centres on characters and a specific storyline as part of its cultural interpretation.

St. Wendelin Chapel and the Landscape

St. Wendelin Chapel was built around 1590 and dedicated to St. Wendelin, patron saint of farmers. It was intended to protect people and animals from the plague and other epidemics. Inside is a cycle of paintings depicting Wendelin, painted on twelve large wooden panels. The dedication and panels provide a historical focus distinct from the Nünegg’s fortification history.

The Hubel near Lieli is also part of the landscape: it is a typical rounded hill formed by a glacier. Sandstone also reaches the surface in places above Lieli. These geological features complement the cultural and historical themes with the terrain shaped by the glacier and the local rock.

Hikes and Pilgrim Routes

A dedicated pilgrim route leads to the “Maria zum Schnee” Chapel: one of three routes there runs from Lieli via Stelen. On a regional hike, Lieli is a stop on the route from Hochdorf railway station via Hohenrain. The Nünegg ruins are recommended as a stop along the way; the route then continues to Gelfingen. For this hike, the suggested outward journey is on the S9 to Hochdorf railway station, with the return journey from Gelfingen railway station.

A circular hike runs from Hitzkirch via Müswangen and the Horben mountain inn to Lieli, then back to Hitzkirch via Heidegg Castle. It can be reached by taking the S9 to Hitzkirch railway station; the S9 is also listed for the return journey. Another hiking option is the “Schongau–Hohenrain Panorama” route, which reaches the Nünegg Castle ruins after a detour in the direction of Horben.

The routes differ in format: the hike from Hochdorf to Gelfingen starts and ends at different railway stations, while the circular hike returns to Hitzkirch. For an e-bike ride, the eastern section of the “Herzschlaufe Seetal”, SwitzerlandMobility Route 599, runs from Eschenbach via Hohenrain, Lieli and Horben to Lenzburg. This allows you to choose between hikes with different starting and ending points, a circular route and a longer e-bike route when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Schongau, Gelfingen, Ermensee, Hochdorf, Rain, Hämikon, Eschenbach Lu, Ballwil.

Go to the main travel overview: Hochdorf.