In Meilen, discover local history in the old village centre, while trails on the Pfannenstiel lead through ravines, to viewpoints and historic sites. You can also enjoy views across Lake Zurich and learn about winegrowing. A visit brings together different aspects of the town.
Local History in the Village Centre
The Meilen Local History Museum is located on Kirchgasse in a listed 19th-century townhouse. It collects and archives historically valuable artefacts relating to Meilen and documents the town’s history. Four permanent exhibitions focus on the town’s past, complemented by changing themed exhibitions. Archaeological finds in Meilen attest to a settlement history of more than 4,000 years and are associated, among other things, with the Pfyn, Horgen and Early Bronze Age cultures.
The museum is about a five-minute walk from the railway station. Meilen is served by the S7 and S6, with the S20 running additionally at peak times. Important for your visit: the exhibition rooms are accessible only by stairs; there is no lift. The local history museum is therefore not wheelchair accessible.
Trails Between Ravines, Viewpoints and History
The Pfannenstiel Trail runs from Forch to Meilen, is 10.6 kilometres long and is rated easy. It descends into the Meilen ravine, winds past numerous erratic boulders and, after a large waterfall, reaches Friedberg Castle ruins on the left side of the ravine. The route is publicly accessible throughout; check its length and difficulty rating before setting out.
On the hike from Forch via the Pfannenstiel to Meilen, the trail also leads to the Hochwacht. The observation tower offers panoramic views above the treetops. You can return by boat or S-Bahn. Friedberg Castle ruins were originally built around 1200. The castle’s name and the coat of arms of the municipality of Meilen trace back to the medieval «von Friedberg» knightly family.
The Panorama Trail along the Pfannenstiel offers a longer route: it is around 27 kilometres long and runs from Rehalp in Zurich to Feldbach. Numerous viewpoints offer views of Lake Zurich and the Alps; the trail also passes ravines with diverse flora and fauna, as well as historic ruins. At Hohenegg in Meilen, a viewpoint with panoramic views is marked along the Panorama Trail. Its length and start and end points clearly distinguish this trail from the Pfannenstiel Trail between Forch and Meilen.
The lakeside promenade is ideal for a stroll. It is right next to the landing stage for the Horgen–Meilen Lake Zurich ferry. From there, the view stretches across Lake Zurich from the Albis range to the Glarus Alps.
Winegrowing and Local Produce
A 90- to 120-minute tasting at Schwarzenbach Weinbau traces the journey of the grapes from the vineyard through the cellar to the glass, accompanied by a team member. Cellar tours and wine tastings are available for groups of up to ten people by prior arrangement. The Schwarzenbach family has cultivated a ten-hectare vineyard near Meilen on Lake Zurich for five generations.
Meilen’s Wuchemärt market offers fresh produce such as fish, bread, fruit, vegetables and wine. Individual vendors may change, so the selection can vary from stall to stall.
More Experiences in Meilen
The app-based adventure trail in Meilen is designed for children aged 7 to 12. The circular route starts at Meilen railway station, is about 5 to 7 kilometres long and takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. It is not suitable for pushchairs.
During slowUp Lake Zurich, the route is open from 10 am to 5 pm to cyclists, inline skaters and other non-motorised visitors. The nearly 42-kilometre route runs between Zurich, Meilen, Rapperswil-Jona and Schmerikon. In Meilen, there are food stalls, bars and other attractions along the route. Check the event dates and programme before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Küsnacht, Obermeilen, Hombrechtikon, Zumikon, Meilen, Männedorf, Herrliberg, Stäfa, Zollikon.
Go to the main travel overview: Zurich.
