Gletschergarten Luzern

Tour for blind visitors

Hello – and welcome to our geological wonder world, right in the heart of Lucerne! Welcome to history!

Our tour is equipped with beacons. Simply leave the app open – as soon as you approach a station, a dialogue box with the available content will appear automatically.

For the rock world, we recommend downloading the audio guide – this will allow you to experience the tour in the best quality, even offline.

Entrance and ticket office

information about the ticket office and its surroundings

2:53min

Descriptive overview of the Glacier Garden Lucerne

Overview of the Glacier Garden Lucerne At the lowest point of the Lucerne Glacier Garden, the entrance is through a mini chalet that serves as the Ticket House. The entrance is in the south, in the lower left corner of the garden. The left border of the Glacier Garden in the west is about 85 m long and is formed by a roughly 2-metre-high natural stone wall. Outside the Glacier Garden, Denkmalstrasse runs past the Ticket House and along the wall. The garden’s terrain slightly slopes upward in a northerly direction. The northern border of the Glacier Garden is about 105 m long. To the extreme north, in the upper right corner of the Glacier Garden, lies its highest point, the Sommerau. An almost vertical sandstone cliff makes up almost the entire right half of the Glacier Garden. Slightly rugged, it runs almost parallel to the Glacier Garden’s left border from north to south. Outside the Glacier Garden, the cliff descends into a ravine in the south. On the right side of the ravine, the sandstone cliff continues to the park with the Lion Monument. At the end of the ravine’s left side, the Glacier Garden’s Ticket House sits on the top. Inside the Glacier Garden, right after the entrance, there are 16 glacial potholes in the slightly hilly sandstone rock, which has been ground smooth by the glacier. Behind the glacial potholes stands the Swiss Chalet with the museum and a bistro. Right next to the Swiss Chalet on its left is the storage hut with lockers. To the right of the Swiss Chalet is the central square. From this square, the entrance to the Swiss Chalet is on the left, towards the west. To the front, towards the north, lies the Sandstone Pavilion, with the entrance to the exhibition space and the cinema on the left and the entrance to the toilets on the right. Opposite the Swiss Chalet, east of the square, there is the entrance to the Felsenwelt. To the right of the Felsenwelt entrance, in the south-east, lies the entrance to the Mirror Maze. Starting at the Glacier Garden’s entrance, a circular trail runs clockwise around the area with the glacial potholes. It passes the south side of the Swiss Chalet and ends at the exit through the Ticket House. After passing the south side of the Swiss Chalet, the path branches off to the left to the central square. Immediately to the right of the Sandstone Pavilion, there are three artificial ponds on ascending terraces. From the central square, a path runs between the Sandstone Pavilion and the Felsenwelt entrance, past the ponds and up to a junction. Almost straight on, the path runs above the Felsenwelt entrance and the Mirror Maze, past the Alpine Hut on the left and back to the exit through the Ticket House. At the path junction, in a U-turn to the left, begins the narrow Mule Track, zigzagging up to the garden's highest point, the Sommerau. The tunnel through the Felsenwelt zigzags, initially at ground level, deep into the sandstone rock, past the underground Rock Lake. You can then either take the elevator up to the Sommerau or climb 13 stairs to exit the Felsenwelt onto the Mule Track below the Sommerau.

How to find the central square and the Swiss house

Directions from the entrance to the Swiss House and the central square From the entrance to the Glacier Garden, go straight ahead, following the handrail on the right, climbing four relatively long steps and then four shorter steps that lead up to the first stone platform above the area with the glacial potholes. Go straight across the platform. Continue to the second platform over a short narrow bridge. Go straight across the second platform as well. Between boulders on the left and right, five steps lead down onto the third platform. Go down the five steps, following the handrail on the right. Take a few paces straight ahead to an almost human-sized boulder in the middle of the platform. From the left-hand side of the boulder, go left and take a few steps to the edge of the platform. Six steps with a handrail on the right lead up to a path. After a few paces, the path goes up another four steps to the right. Go straight ahead along the slightly uphill path to the left corner of the Swiss Chalet’s south side. At the corner of the building, turn right and go along the Swiss Chalet’s south side. Mind the bistro tables and a huge oak tree with rough bark in a gravel bed. At the end of the building, turn left and go to the central square on the Swiss Chalet’s east side. Mind the oblong gravel beds with ginkgo trees, bistro tables with chairs and parasol stands in front of the Swiss Chalet and in various places on the central square. On the front side of the Swiss Chalet are two entrances. About a third of the way along the front is the entrance to the museum shop and the “Salwideli” bistro, which is wheelchair-accessible. About two-thirds of the way along the front is the entrance to the museum in the Swiss Chalet.

How to find the toilets

Directions from the Glacier Garden entrance to the toilets From the entrance to the Glacier Garden, go straight ahead, following the handrail on the right, climbing four relatively long steps and then four shorter steps that lead up to the first stone platform above the area with the glacial potholes. Go straight across the platform. Continue to the second platform over a short narrow bridge. Go straight across the second platform as well. Between boulders on the left and right, five steps lead down onto the third platform. Go down the five steps, following the handrail on the right. Take a few paces straight ahead to an almost human-sized boulder in the middle of the platform. From the left-hand side of the boulder, go left and take a few steps to the edge of the platform. Six steps with a handrail on the right lead up to a path. After a few paces, the path goes up another four steps to the right. Go straight ahead along the slightly uphill path to the left corner of the Swiss Chalet’s south side. At the corner of the building, turn right and go along the Swiss Chalet’s south side. Mind the bistro tables and a huge oak tree with rough bark in a gravel bed. At the end of the building, turn left and go to the central square on the Swiss Chalet’s east side. Mind the oblong gravel beds with ginkgo trees, bistro tables with chairs and parasol stands in front of the Swiss Chalet and in various places on the central square. Go straight across the central square, past the Swiss Chalet, to the Sandstone Pavilion. Go to the right to the lavatory door. After the entrance door, the first door on the left is the accessible toilet with changing table; the second door is the women’s toilet, and the third door is the men’s toilet.

Would you like to go to the depot hut?

Directions from the Glacier Garden entrance to the storage hut From the entrance to the Glacier Garden, go straight ahead, following the handrail on the right, climbing four relatively long steps and then four shorter steps that lead up to the first stone platform above the area with the glacial potholes. Go straight across the platform. Continue to the second platform over a short narrow bridge. Go straight across the second platform as well. Between boulders on the left and right, five steps lead down onto the third platform. Go down the five steps, following the handrail on the right. Take a few paces straight ahead to an almost human-sized boulder in the middle of the platform. From the left-hand side of the boulder, go left and take a few steps to the edge of the platform. Six steps with a handrail on the right lead up to a path. After a few paces, the path goes up another four steps to the right. Go straight ahead along the slightly uphill path to the left corner of the Swiss Chalet’s south side. Go straight ahead to the back of the Swiss Chalet on the west side. Mind the two thin metal tent poles with somewhat bulky concrete bases. Pass to the right of the first pole, then make a slight curve to the left. The entrance to the storage hut is on your right, passing the second pole. Inside the small wooden hut, benches line the walls. Above the benches, to the left and right, there are open shelves. On the back wall are lockers with one- or two-franc coin deposit.

Directions from the Glacier Garden to Lucerne railway station

Directions from the Glacier Garden to Lucerne main station From the Glacier Garden’s exit, go right and follow the high natural stone wall on the right-hand side of Denkmalstrasse slightly uphill. At the wide, wrought-iron gate, turn left and cross Denkmalstrasse to carry on into “Wesemlinrain” street, which is slightly downhill. Between the end of the short Wesemlinrain and the pavement of Zürichstrasse, there is a row of cobblestones. Go right to the corner of a building. Near the corner, mind the stone bollards and a tree. Turn left and go to the edge of the pavement on Zürichstrasse. Follow the kerb a few steps to the right until it fully descends to street level. Cross Zürichstrasse via the zebra crossing without traffic lights. Once you have reached the pavement on the other side, go left. Pass the junction with Steinenstrasse and take a few more steps to reach the “Wesemlinrain” bus stop. This bus stop does not have a boarding marker. Take bus no. 1 bound for Obernau Dorf. Get off the bus at the fourth stop at the main station, “Bahnhof Luzern”. Walk back in the direction the bus came from, following the kerb of the bus platform to a tactile paving spanning the entire width of the platform. Go right to a downward flight of stairs. You will find a guidance path at the bottom left of the stairs. Follow this guidance path. After a few metres, follow the left turn of the guidance path. At the first branching to the right, turn right. At the next branching to the left, turn left to reach the stairs leading up to the station hall. At the top of the stairs, follow the guidance path to the right. Go to the crossing guidance path that leads through the entire station hall and takes you to platforms 2 to 15.

Wegbeschreibung vom Bahnhof Luzern zum Gletschergarten

Wegbeschreibung vom Bahnhof Luzern zum Gletschergarten Im Bahnhof Luzern, auf dem Perron der Gleise 2 bis 15 folgen Sie der Sicherheitslinie in Richtung der ankommenden Züge. Am Ende des Gleises ist ein Aufmerksamkeitsfeld über die gesamte Breite des Perrons. In der Mitte des Aufmerksamkeitsfelds beginnt eine taktile Leitlinie. Gehen Sie der Leitlinie entlang ein paar Meter weiter bis zur Querleitlinie, die alle Leitlinien in der Bahnhofshalle wie eine Aorta miteinander verbindet. Gehen Sie nach links, und folgen der Aorta geradeaus bis zu einem Knick kurz vor dem seitlichen Ausgang. Wenden Sie sich und gehen Sie der Aorta entlang zurück. Bei der dritten Abzweigung nach links, gehen Sie nach links. Nach wenigen Schritten führt die nächste Verzweigung nach links zum Treppenabgang in die Unterführung. Unten rechts an der Treppe folgen Sie geradeaus der Leitlinie. Bei der ersten Verzweigung nach links und nach rechts gehen Sie nach rechts. Beim nächsten Kreuzungsfeld biegen Sie nach links ab. Bei der ersten Abzweigung nach rechts, gehen Sie nach rechts zum Treppenaufgang «Bahnhofplatz». Das Geländer ist in Braille und in taktilen Buchstaben mit «Bus» und «B bis D» beschriftet. Oben an der Treppe führt ein Aufmerksamkeitsfeld über die gesamte Breite des Perrons der Bushaltestelle. Folgen Sie dem Aufmerksamkeitsfeld nach links zum Rand des Perrons der «Kante B». Achten Sie auf ein- und ausfahrende Busse. Gehen Sie nach rechts dem Rand entlang bis zur Einstiegsmarkierung. Nehmen Sie den Einer-Bus Richtung Ebikon, Fildern. Fahren Sie vier Stationen bis zur Haltestelle Wesemlinrain. Gehen Sie in Ausstiegsrichtung geradeaus in die leicht ansteigende, wenig befahrene Strasse «Wesemlinrain». Am Ende des kurzen Wesemlinrains überqueren Sie geradeaus die Denkmalstrasse. Sie gelangen zu einem breiten, schmiedeeisernen Tor. Gehen Sie nach rechts, leicht abwärts einer hohen Natursteinmauer auf der linken Seite der Denkmalstrasse entlang. Achten Sie auf breite Pflanzentröge auf der Strasse. Am Ende der Mauer gehen Sie nach links zu einem kleinen Vorplatz vor dem Eingang des Gletschergartens. Links führen vier breite Stufen hoch zu einem kleinen Chalet als Kassenhäuschen. Der Eingang führt durch das Kassenhäuschen in den Gletschergarten.

Orientation to the area with the glacial potholes and its surroundings

und dessen Umgebung

4:32min

The origins of the Glacier Garden Lucerne

3:43min

Discover the exhibits at the entrance and at the first of three platforms

beim Eingang und bei der ersten von drei Plattformen

4:19min

What it looked like here

before the Glacier Garden was created

7:03min

Information about the discovery, excavation and museum

Explanatory panels 1-3 – Formation of the Glacier Garden Lucerne Sandstone was quarried throughout the neighbourhood for centuries, including in what later became the Glacier Garden and near the Lion Monument. Until 1872, the site of today's Glacier Garden next to the Lion Monument was used as pasture land. In 1872, bank employee and wine merchant Joseph Wilhelm Amrein-Troller purchased a meadow in the former quarry next to the Lion Monument. He wanted to build a wine cellar there. During blasting work on 2 November 1872, construction workers came across a strange hole and finely polished rocks with deep grooves. Geologist Franz Joseph Kaufmann recognised these as traces of the Ice Age. He and geologist Albert Heim were able to convince Joseph Amrein-Troller to preserve this geological sensation. The population, as well as journalists and scientists from all over the world, followed the careful excavation of the natural monument with great interest. It took four years to clear away all the moraine debris and boulders that filled the glacial potholes. Prof. Albert Heim from the Zurich Polytechnic confirmed the authenticity of the natural monument with a certificate. The boulders, weighing several tonnes, were removed from the glacial potholes using muscle power and pulleys. On Albert Heim's recommendation, the glacial potholes were landscaped into a garden. Together with his wife Marie, Amrein-Troller opened the world's first glacier garden on 1 May 1873. In 1874, Amrein-Troller had a Swiss chalet-style house built for his family on the foundations of the former barn. The family expanded the natural monument into a famous attraction with romantic grounds, a viewing tower and a museum. After the early death of her husband, Marie Amrein-Troller took over the management of the glacier garden and created the mirror maze shortly before the turn of the century.

Information about glacial polishing and glacial scarring

Explanatory panel 4 – Glacial polishing and glacial striations Just 20,000 years ago, Lucerne lay beneath the Reuss Glacier, which was between 600 and 1,000 metres thick in places. The flow of the glacier polished the rock surface to a fine finish. This is known as glacial polishing. In addition, pieces of rock carried along in the ice left parallel scratch marks on the rock. These are known as glacial striations.

Discover the exhibits at the second and third platforms

bei der zweiten und dritten Plattform

3:49min

When Lucerne lay on

the side arm of the ancient Mediterranean Sea

1:44min

Description of the exhibit of a fossilised palm leaf

3:11min

Description of the wave ripple plate exhibit

2:12min

Information on the formation of glacial potholes

Explanation panels 8-10 – Formation of glacial potholes Around 18,000 years ago, the mighty Reuss Glacier melted. Meltwater penetrated the glacier through moulins – funnel-shaped hollows on the ice surface – crevasses and cracks. The force of the meltwater formed impressive glacial potholes in the rocky bed of the glacier. The amount of meltwater at the glacier snout was several times greater than the current flow of the Reuss out of the Lake Lucerne basin. The narrowing of the valley at the Glacier Garden increased the flow velocity of the meltwater. Depressions in the rock caused the flowing meltwater to swirl. The water pressure in the saturated glacier was enormous. In bottlenecks and whirlpools, the meltwater reached speeds of up to 200 km/h. One or two warm summers with plenty of meltwater are enough to create a glacial pot. Sand and gravel in the meltwater play a decisive role in this process. The theory of ‘glacier mills’ is long outdated: it is not huge millstones, but rapidly swirling meltwater enriched with gravel and sand that hollows out the glacial potholes.

Description of the glacial potholes

6:50min

Where am I? Signpost

2:12min

Description of the fossilised sandstone shell slab exhibits

3:48min

Where am I? Signpost

1:00min

Orientation to the central square and its surroundings

Would you like to go to the toilets?

Directions from the central square to the toilets Cross the central square at the Swiss House on your left and head towards the sandstone pavilion building. Turn right towards the second entrance door of the sandstone pavilion to reach the toilets. After this entrance door, you will find a wheelchair-accessible toilet with a changing table on the left at the first door, a ladies' toilet at the second door and a gents' toilet at the third door.

Would you like to go to the lower start of the mule track?

Directions from the central square to the mule track From the central square, a path leads between the sandstone pavilion and the entrance to the rock garden, past three artificial terraced ponds, up to a fork in the path. A U-turn to the left marks the start of the steep, narrow mountain trail through the Alpine world. To the right of the sandstone pavilion, the path leads up four steps to the right, passing the three ponds on the left. At the top of the steps, follow the path on the left to a fork. Make a U-turn to the left and climb seven steps up to the narrow mule track. The path with the handrail on the left continues straight ahead for a little longer and then climbs another thirteen steps. Go up eight steps with a handrail on the right. Now turn left, with the handrail on the left, and climb another 12 steps, which are slightly wider, and then another four steps to reach the grotto with a model of a glacier mill. At the top of the steps, a short path leads to the right. The entrance to the grotto is on the left.

Would you like to go to the exit of the Glacier Garden?

Directions from the central square to the Glacier Garden exit From the central square – to the left of the Swiss chalet, by the railing to the area with the glacial potholes – a path leads to the left, steeply uphill past the Rotsee fossil slabs to a fork. Take the slightly wider path to the right. After three slightly longer steps down, walk to the left side of the path. Now there are nine steps with a railing on the left – and after a landing, another three steps with a railing on the right. On the left, there is only a low wall and a wire mesh fence. Continue straight ahead down another three steps, a landing and another six steps to the ticket office and the exit of the Glacier Garden. Two more steps down take you to the passage through the ticket office. Turn left through the barrier, out of the ticket office and down four steps to the small forecourt in front of the Glacier Garden.

Welcome to the Swiss House

the main building of the Glacier Garden

1:01min

Information about the Swiss House building

2:14min

Description of the animated painting

a portrait of Marie Amrein-Troller

4:14min

Would you like to visit

the Salwideli bistro or the museum shop?

4:32min

Would you like to visit the museum or the terrace?

7:05min

Information about the museum

the Amrein-Trollers' collection

1:51min

Description of the exhibits on the ground floor of the museum

4:37min

Overview of the exhibits on the upper floors of the museum

6:40min

Orientation roof terrace

0:52min

About the creation of the Pfyffer relief

2:27min

Description of the Pfyffer relief and its surroundings

6:25min

Orientation Sandstone Pavilion building

3:41min

What's on offer in the Sandstone Pavilion

1:02min

Description of the murals

in the cinema of the Sandstone Pavilion

4:32min

Film «Eine Reise durch Zeiten und Räume» mit Audiodeskription

Encounter yourself in a brief moment of the present

at the centre of time.

1:34min

Discover the illusion in the mirror maze.

3:06min

Description of the exhibits in the mirror maze.

11:13min

What awaits you in the Felsenwelt?

3:50min

Don't rush – take your time!

3:20min

Entrance to the past – your walk to the primeval sea

5:58min

Your walk from the primeval sea

past the palm beach – to the folding of the Alps

4:48min

Your journey from the formation of the Alps

through the Ice Age – to human time

6:08min

The Rock Lake – at the centre of time

5:15min

Your exit from the present – up into the future

3:59min

Perhaps your acoustic message to the future?

Try the Kosmophon!

2:36min

Upwards – past man-made fossils

3:14min

Upwards – past the Gartenhof

to the exit from the Felsenwelt

6:19min

Orientation around the exit to the Felsenwelt and signposts

3:01min

Would you like to return directly

to the central square via the Felsenwelt?

Directions from the Felsenwelt exit to the central square The exit from the rock world above the garden courtyard is bordered on the left and right by protruding concrete walls that slope upwards towards the outside. An open passageway leads into the stairwell of the rock world – and down 13 stairs into the rock world. At the bottom of the last staircase, go straight ahead into the narrow passageway to the vault with the rock lake. Follow the right-hand wall for about 5 metres past the rock lake on the left to the beginning of the 12-section corridor. Continue along the winding corridor along the right-hand wall and through a large sloping gate to the central square.

Orientation Sommerau Park and surroundings

und Umgebung

4:31min

You have reached the highest point of the Glacier Garden!

2:11min

Where am I? Signpost

1:20min

Would you like to

return directly to the central square via the Felsenwelt?

Directions from Sommerau to the central square From Sommerau, take the lift down into the rock world and walk through the rock world passageway directly to the central square. From the top of the stairs at Sommerau, turn left around a plant bed and left again to the lift. Once at the bottom, turn right past a maintenance door to the stairwell. Opposite the bottom staircase, a narrow passageway leads to the vault with the rock lake. Follow the right-hand wall for about 5 metres, passing the rock lake on your left, to the beginning of the 12-section passageway. Continue along the winding passageway on the right-hand wall and through a large sloping gate to the central square.

Discover the distant past of Central Switzerland

in comparison to today.

4:09min

How the landscape of Central Switzerland was formed.

0:41min

Where am I? Signpost

1:08min

Description of the Observation Tower.

3:12min

Description of the Celts.

3:02min

Where am I? Signpost

2:08min

Welcome to the SAC club hut

2:12min

Description of the SAC club hut

6:04min

Description of the diorama and the Gorner Glacier at that time

3:09min

Background information on

the glacier diorama and the SAC club hut

Information board SAC club hut and diorama The Gorner Glacier diorama was built in 1896. Marie Amrein-Troller, the owner of the Glacier Garden at the time, had a replica of a Swiss Alpine Club hut built with a realistic view of the Gorner Glacier above Zermatt. The almost perfect two- and three-dimensional illusion was created by the leading topographer, panorama and relief artist Xaver Imfeld (1853-1909). Scientific advice was provided by geologist Albert Heim from ETH Zurich. The club hut and glacier diorama are now listed buildings.

Where am I? Signpost

1:59min

Discover the impressive surroundings

in the middle of the steep rock face - and the dwarves in their caves.

6:13min

Where am I? Signpost

1:19min

Discover this enchanting place

the grotto right next to the waterfall – and the spinning mistake.

3:16min

Why are glacial mills a spinning mistake?

1:54min

Explanatory panel 11 – The revolving error This model of a glacial mill with a rotating grinding or millstone was intended to explain the formation of glacial potholes in 1896. Although the glacial mill theory has long since given way to the glacial pothole theory, the old model still works today.

Where am I? Signpost

1:54min

Description of the alpine hut

2:14min

Would you like to go to the central square

the Salwideli bistro, the museum, the toilets, the sandstone pavilion, the mirror maze or the rock world?

Directions from Alphüttli to the central square The slightly wider path in front of the Alphüttli leads gently downhill to the exit of the glacier garden – and in the opposite direction, slightly uphill to a fork on the right, a few steps up to the mule track, and at the fork, straight ahead, down four steps to the central square. The four steps lead past three artificial ponds on the right-hand side, down to the sandstone pavilion. The central square is located to the left of the sandstone pavilion.

Would you like to go to the exit of the glacier garden?

Directions from Alphüttli to the Glacier Garden exit The slightly wider path in front of the Alphüttli leads gently downhill to the exit of the glacier garden – past the glacier potholes on the right-hand side. After three slightly longer steps down, walk to the left-hand side of the path. Now there are nine steps with a handrail on the left – and after a landing, another three steps with a handrail on the right. On the left, there is now only a low wall and a wire mesh fence. Continue straight ahead down another three steps, a landing and another six steps to the ticket office and the exit of the Glacier Garden. Two more steps down take you through the passageway through the ticket office. Go left through the passageway barrier, out of the ticket office, and down four steps to the small forecourt in front of the Glacier Garden.

Jetzt musivus App installieren

Museen interaktiv erleben

Tour for blind visitors

Jetzt musivus App installieren

App Store

Play Store