Honestly, Lake Lucerne, an hour’s drive south of Zurich, is a magical place. Forested hills rise from its shores as they do on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, a few pleasure boats draw lines across the water, and the villages around the lake are dotted with beautiful villas from the 1870s, when Lucerne and its grand hotels welcomed English aristocrats, German writers and Russian composers for the summer.
On a hillside about 15 minutes from Lucerne stands what may be the prettiest house in the whole region. It is not so much a villa as a little jewel. Its name is Im Spycher, and it was not built here: the wooden granary dates from 1710 and originally stood in the Entlebuch valley, where it was taken apart and then rebuilt here exactly as it was. The current owners, Tanja and Thomas Siegwart, bought it some years ago, mainly because they live in the house just above. After a careful renovation, they opened Im Spycher as a wonderful vacation hideaway.
A very congenial hideaway, we must admit.
Even the entrance is wonderful. It leads through a small garden gate into a tiny park and then through a creaky wooden door into the house itself, which is very, very small (with low doors and ceilings to match). But the real gem, as you quickly realize, is the location: a picture-postcard view. From all three floors you can take in the whole lake and Lucerne’s own mountain, Pilatus, which rises more than 2,100 meters.
There are two bedrooms for up to four people, a living room and, on the lower level, a fairly modern kitchen that is very well equipped – after all, you are meant to really live here and enjoy the atmosphere. To the left of the kitchen is a sun terrace where you can barbecue in the evening, eat, drink and simply soak up the setting.
Ideal for
Couples looking for the most romantic places. Children under 12 are not accepted, because the hillside and the stairs are quite steep.
Dining
Self-catering is the way to go here. For dinner out, the Bürgenstock Resort, which opened in 2017 about five minutes up the hill, is a good option. For groceries, head down to Stansstad.
Excursions
Ride (or hike) up Pilatus at least once. The cogwheel railway, the steepest in the world, leaves from nearby Alpnachstad.
Prices
The house costs from 200 Swiss francs a night for two people and 400 Swiss francs for four.
Booking & Contact
Im Spycher
Unterschiltstrasse 7
6363 Fürigen / Bürgenstock
Switzerland
