Island Life

Piracy has never been much of a vocation in Zurich. The lake is far too small and there is no treasure island. Or is that strictly true? While the lake is too small for an effective Long John Silver or Jack Sparrow, it does contain a small island paradise. 

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Take the boat from Zurich and in one hour and forty minutes you will arrive at the small island of Ufenau to the south of the lake of Zurich. The journey itself is an entertainment. Imagine raiding and plundering the extravagant Gold Coast villas off the port beam (that’s left to you land lubbers) and as you look to starboard you can gaze at the magnificent Swiss alps.

The island itself belongs to the municipality of Freienbach but is actually the property of the Einsiedeln monastery and this explains why, unfortunately, swimming (and piracy) off the island is prohibited. But it definitely explains why half the buildings on the island are churches. There is the small chapel (St Martin) and the slightly larger church of St Peter and Paul which has stood there since the 12th Century. But does the island have treasure? Of course it does, in the form of the Haus zu den zwei Raben. There you can enjoy two golden treasures, a Bügelbier (one of those large biers with metal clasps, in case you didn’t know) and a plate of delicious Zürisee fried fish. 

Rather than comandeer a vessel take the good ships of the Zurichsee navy. The schedule can be found here and, as they have bars on board you can enjoy a tot of rum.