Emmenuferweg stage 4: Wolhusen-Emmenbrücke

UNESCO Biosphäre Entlebuch - At the beginning of the stage, you can see the monastery towering above Werthenstein. From here, the hike leads largely flat along the shady bank of the Kleine Emme and slowly approaches the agglomeration of the city of Lucerne.

The fourth and final stage of the Emmenuferweg is perfect for hot days: From Wolhusen, it goes along the shady banks of the Kleine Emme via Schachen, Malters and Littau to Emmenbrücke. Numerous bathing spots invite you to cool off along the way.

Shortly after starting the hike in Wolhusen, you can already see the monastery towering over Werthenstein. The historically significant place is a magnet for pilgrims. The path up to the monastery leads over an old wooden bridge, past the Gnadenbrünneli. The Franciscans already interpreted the spring as a mystical source of grace in 1649. The spring water is said to have special healing powers and can be filled into a water bottle.

Back on the Emme bank, you repeatedly come across nicely situated benches inviting you to pause for a moment. You enjoy the view of the mosaic-like landscape with green meadows, deciduous forests, hedges and scattered farms. Shortly afterwards, you reach the Schwellisee, an extensive sedimentation plain with gravel banks and a shallow riverbed. Here, you can wonderfully cool your feet and enjoy the sun. The playground with beautiful wooden elements and a barbecue area invites you to take a break before the next section to Emmenbrücke is tackled on foot. Sunny stretches over fields and meadows alternate with shady floodplain forests until you increasingly approach the pulsating agglomeration of the city of Lucerne in Littau.

On the last section, industrial buildings contrast with the tree- and shrub-lined Emme bank trail, which continues to follow the course of the water. Shortly before Emmenbrücke, you pass through part of the former viscose area, today called Viscosistadt. Viscosuisse was one of the largest textile companies in Switzerland and was among the pioneers of the European chemical fiber industry. The industrial buildings from the company's heyday are still well preserved today and complete the industrial charm of the city district at the gates of Lucerne. The route ends in Emmenbrücke through one of the most charming river landscapes with the confluence of the Emme into the Reuss.