Büren is a hamlet in the municipality of Oberdorf in the canton of Nidwalden; the church and schoolhouse form its centre. Two topics stand out when orienting yourself during a stay: the Nidwalden Central Trail passes through Büren, and the church and chapels offer a glimpse into various historical periods. This makes it possible to combine a hike with the history of the church and chapels.

Hiking and the surrounding landscape

The Nidwalden Central Trail is route number 570 and is marked with yellow signposts. It runs from Stans via Oberdorf and Büren to Niederrickenbach, then continues to Buochserhorn and Buochs. Büren is therefore a named section of a route that extends well beyond the hamlet. The number and signposts provide clear directions; the sequence of places shows that the trail is not limited to the village centre. If you are planning your stay around hiking, you can think of Büren as one section of the described route.

In the wider area around Büren, the municipality of Oberdorf lies at the entrance to the Engelberg Valley. At the municipal level, the landscape extends from the fertile plain of the Stanser Boden to the high-alpine pastures and alps on Brisen. The surroundings can therefore be viewed on two scales: the centre of Büren, with its church and schoolhouse, and the larger municipal area, with landscapes extending from the Stanser Boden to Brisen.

One named destination outside the village centre is the remote Alp Arhölzli, which can be reached via Büren. The route from Büren is also accessible with a pushchair or mountain bike. These two options offer practical guidance when planning to include the alp as a destination during your stay.

Experiences and culture

During the alpaca experience, guests learn about the animals, their origins, care and gentle nature; they can also touch their fleece. The experience includes coffee and cake, as well as information about processing alpaca wool. Afterwards, a short walk leads away from the road through the forest and beautiful hilly landscape, with views of the Engelberg Valley. Booking is required to take part. The experience combines an encounter with the animals, insights into wool processing and a walk. This sets it apart from the signposted Central Trail: the focus here is on the animals and their care, while the trail passes through several places.

The present-day Church of Brother Klaus was consecrated on 18 August 1968 by Abbot Leonhard Bösch of Engelberg. The exact date and the name of the person who consecrated it provide a specific historical reference point for the church.

A historic chapel in Büren was renovated and enlarged from 1593 with the approval of the Landrat; it was consecrated in 1596. At Brügglikapelle, the Madonna restored by Walter Scheuber has been returned to its place. The chapel was renovated through unpaid communal labour. These details link a dated building history with restoration and renovation work.

Discover more destinations: Stansstad, Dallenwil, Buochs, Hergiswil, Ennetmoos, Wolfenschiessen, Ennetbürgen, Beckenried.

For the main travel overview: Nidwalden.