freienbachF ive V i l l ages – One M un ic ipa l i t y

v ib ran t and a t t rac t i ve

Fre ienbach

Fre ienbach

Dear Sir or Madam

The municipality of Freienbach comprises the five villages of Freienbach, Pfäffikon, Hurden, Bäch und Wilen. Situa-ted in a picturesque location at the upper end of Lake Zu-rich, the municipality offers unique residential areas and a flourishing economy with attractive employment oppor-tunities. Furthermore, in addition to its superb infrastruc-tural facilities such as public transport and education, Freienbach also offers the finest recreational areas right on the doorstep – features that help to guarantee a high quality of life.

Over the last few years we have been setting our course for the future by continuously developing our facilities and adapting them to meet the needs of our residents. Frei-enbach intends to live up to its «vibrant and attractive» motto by being a place where people of all ages choo-se to live and work. With our family-friendly policies, we are continuously developing our facilities for families and, through moderate growth and forward-thinking mobility and community development, we are making sustainable development possible.

Five villages – one municipality. The rural nature of our vil-lages, surrounded as they are by natural beauty, is at the heart of our community and should be protected. The mu-nicipality of Freienbach captivates due to its unique qua-lities, and it is these qualities which we intend to cherish and enhance with care.

We warmly invite you to see for yourselves what our mu-nicipality of Freienbach has to offer.

With very best wishesFreienbach Municipal Council

A warm we lcome

As a place to live, the municipa-

lity of Freienbach is unique. The

municipality‘s five villages are

situated in picturesque surroun-

dings, nestled between Lake Zu-

rich and the foothills of the Alps.

The municipality offers a superb

quality of life.

The convenience of having

everything within easy reach is

valued by residents. Schools,

shops and extensive leisure fa-

cilities – everything right on

your doorstep.

The municipality of Freienbach nest-les in an attractive environment on the banks of Upper Lake Zurich, in the rolling hills at the foot of the Etzel mountain. It has 15 km of lakeside shoreline, two islands and conserva-tion areas. Residents value the high quality of life here. As well as being an attractive location, the area’s superb transport connections, local recreation areas and low tax bur-den contribute to the wellbeing of the local population.

The municipality of Freienbach meets the widest range of residential needs. Whether you are looking for an idyl-lic little place by the lake, a district with views of the lake, older or newer areas at the heart of the action, or away from the town centre – there is a wide choice of places to live. Its location, in direct proximity to the Metropolitan Region of Zurich, and also in the Lake Zurich Region,

means that a great many high-quality leisure, cultural and educational faci-lities are available. The municipality of Freienbach is itself an important centre for education in the region.

The well-designed infrastructure has much to offer families. These include numerous leisure opportunities such as sports grounds and swimming pools, childcare facilities, advice cen-tres for parents of babies and todd-lers and the full range of educa-tional provision from nursery school through to cantonal and vocational school or youth centre. The elderly have a wide range of age-appropriate residential, advice, care and entertainment facilities available to them.

U rban bus t l e o r ru ra l i dy l l – i t ‘ s you r cho ice

The commercial centre of the

municipality is the village of

Pfäffikon.

In addition to its location and

quality of life, the favourable tax

conditions are a draw for com-

panies.

The municipality has a wider-

than-average range of attractive

employment opportunities.

With Pfäffikon as its centre, the municipality of Freienbach has deve-loped into a dynamic location for tra-ding and finance with global con-nections. Prestigious international companies have become establis-hed here and offer many varied and attractive job opportunities with pro-spects for the future. The municipa-lity is also home to various small and medium-sized companies. These help to create a sound economic base for the municipality.

The tax conditions represent a major advantage of the location for com-panies and individuals. Freienbach is currently at the head of the cantonal and national tax-ranking list. Craft industries, local shops, the Seedamm Center, and restaurants are also benefiting from the conti-

nuing rapid growth. The Hotel See-damm Plaza is a prestigious choice for conferences and events. As one of Europe’s top venues, it emphasizes the international focus of the Freien-bach/Pfäffikon area.

The municipality of Freienbach, together with the neighbouring muni-cipalities of Wollerau and Feusis-berg and the district of Höfe, has an institution, in the form of the Höfe Business Development Department, which is devoted to promoting and developing the Höfe location. It acts as the contact point and service pro-vider for companies interested in settling there.

A workp lace w i t h cosmopo l i t an f l a i r

F l u g h a f e n

Z u g

L u z e r n S c h w y z

Z ü r i c h

G e m e i n d e F r e i e n b a c h

S t . G a l l e n

C h u r

The municipality of Freienbach

is ideally situated in terms of

transport. Its central location

offers unique transport con-

nections for public and private

transport.

The municipality promotes the

benefits of public transport.

The railway station in Pfäffikon is the transport hub of the municipality. It is where the Zurich-Chur and Romans-horn-Lucerne railway lines intersect. Its integration into the Swiss Intercity network as well as the Zurich linked transport system guarantees an opti-mum range of options. Commuters value the excellent connections to Zurich, less than 30 minutes away. A direct link to the international airport at Kloten in 40 minutes is guaran-teed. Local buses supplement the excellent public transport facilities within the municipality.

The municipality of Freienbach is located on the A3 motorway from Zurich to Chur. Pfäffikon is connec-ted to the town of Rapperswil-Jona via the dam on the lake.

Pedestrians and walkers can access a wide network of footpaths within the municipality as well as the most

picturesque hiking trails in the region. The attractive wooden footbridge entices walkers to nearby Rappers-wil-Jona. National and regional cycle routes run through the municipality. The completion of the A3 in 1968 immediately opened up a superb road link to the wider conurbation of Zurich. The improved infrastruc-ture triggered a unique development boost – which has brought an enor-mous quantity of traffic to the villa-ges over the years. The road network within the Höfe region is approaching its limits. The three Höfe municipa-lities and the canton of Schwyz are working closely together to find solu-tions.

At t rac t i ve mob i l i t y cu l t u re fo r t he fu t u re

The municipality of Freienbach

offers a wide variety of cultural

facilities.

Traditional markets and fairs

also attract visitors from far and

wide to the villages.

The Schwyz Fasnacht carni-

val, known locally as the «fifth

season», packs in visitors of all

ages, year after year.

Freienbach’s event calendar offers a great deal to see, hear and be ama-zed by. Exhibitions, concerts, the lakeside cinema and other highlights provide top-quality entertainment. The Freienbach Culture Commission promotes this cultural programme by organizing events itself and awarding subsidies and culture prizes.

The municipality has various historic buildings available for cultural events. The most striking of these is the castle tower in Pfäffikon. The former station building in Bäch has been attractively converted as a venue for clubs and cultural activities. There are also churches, chapels and other public rooms available for a wide ran-ge of cultural events.

Arts enthusiasts are well catered for by the Vögele Culture Centre in Pfäf-fikon, which is well known throughout the region for its groundbreaking exhibitions.

Summertime marks the start of the market and fair season in Freienbach. These small local fairs attract visi-tors from near and far to the villages: for example the lakeside Chilbi am See in Pfäffikon, the Freienbacher Herbstmärt in the autumn and the Wiler Chilbi.

Many Freienbach residents spend the entire year looking forward to the next Fasnacht carnival. The Fasnacht carnival starts on 6 January with the Höfner Narrenfahrt, followed by masked balls and costume awards. A jester museum is devoted to the various masks of the region.

T rad i t i on and cu l t u re se t t he pace

The superb infrastructure, with

its various sports and bathing

facilities and natural beauty as

far as the eye can see, provi-

de the perfect setting for sports

enthusiasts.

The Alpamare water park at-

tracts visitors from all over the

region and beyond.

Clubs and associations are very

important in all villages. Over

100 associations offer a wide

range of leisure activities – from

music and sport, to politics,

church affiliations and the arts.

The municipality of Freienbach pri-des itself on its wide range of sport and leisure facilities. This superb inf-rastructure is enjoyed not only by Freienbach’s own residents, but also by its many visitors. The municipali-ty operates three lakeside resorts in Bäch, Freienbach and Pfäffikon. Tho-se in search of excitement will find lots to do at the Chrummen sports complex in Freienbach, with a range of facilities for beach volleyball, foot-ball and floor hockey surrounded by countryside. The local residents and sports associations benefit from two school swimming pools and various sports halls. Private sports centres complete the range on offer. Alpamare, a water park with water slides with a length of more than 2000 meters.

A fitness trail and cross-country running track draw athletes to the Schwerziwald forest between Pfäffi-kon and Freienbach. The hiking are-as of the Alpine foothills are virtually

on the doorstep. The close proximity of ski resorts is another plus for the region.

For those who prefer to take it easy, the media library and games library offer a broad choice of leisurely pas-times.

Over 100 clubs and associations pro-vide opportunities to become actively involved in Freienbach life – cate-ring for all interests whether musical, sporting, political, social, church, cha-ritable or cultural.

L ead ing t he f i e l d i n spor t and l e i su re

The Frauenwinkel is the largest

and most valuable nature reser-

ve on Lake Zurich. It comprises

the lakeside area near Pfäffikon

and two islands.

The Etzel area, in the foothills

of the Alps, is irresistible to hi-

kers and offers spectacular

views of the area.

The delightful walk over the

wooden footbridge between

Hurden and Rapperswil-Jona is

a popular excursion.

The municipality of Freienbach has a wide choice of recreational areas lite-rally right on the doorstep: the lake-side area near Pfäffikon and the two islands Ufnau and Lützelau are at the heart of the Frauenwinkel nature re-serve – the largest and most valuab-le nature reserve on Lake Zurich. The 350-hectare area features an excep-tionally well-maintained lakeside reed and marsh habitat.

The delights of the Frauenwinkel in-clude huge expanses of an extreme-ly rare sedge – a special type of reed grass. Other special features are its beautiful marshes and low fenland areas. Extensive wetland meadows with a great variety of small sedge reeds and moor grass meadows pro-vide a habitat for the population of rare wild birds. In addition, the heavilyovergrown stone quarry between Freienbach and Bäch, with its pools and damp vegetation, provides an ideal habitat and spawning ground for various amphibian species.

The region has a great deal to of-fer nature enthusiasts and those in search of a relaxing break: excursi-ons to the islands of Ufnau and Lüt-zelau, the finest lakeside landscape or a walk from Hurden to Rappers-wil-Jona across the longest woo-den bridge in Switzerland. Hiking in the Etzel region offers breathtaking views of the area.

The footpath between Freienbach and Wilen takes visitors past vine-yards and along dry stone walls through a delightful landscape. As well as the finest orchards, planta-tions of organic, standard fruit trees lend a unique character to the lands-cape of the municipality.

L oca l r ec rea t iona l f ac i l i t i es r i gh t on t he doors tep

The municipality of Freienbach

is the educational centre for the

Outer Schwyz Region.

From nursery school to college

– the range of educational faci-

lities within the municipality is

wide.

With its family-friendly policies,

the municipality’s support and

educational facilities are being

continuously developed.

The municipality of Freienbach is the educational centre for the Outer Schwyz Region. As well as numerous nursery and primary schools in the villages of the municipality, the Outer Schwyz Cantonal School is located in Pfäffikon. The municipality also offers an extensive range of training and further educational facilities.

The community schools provide a mo-dern infrastructure and focus heavily on offering a high quality of teaching and education. This extensive edu-cational task is supported by family-friendly policies. For example, there are support structures in place for parents of pre-school and school-age child-ren – from crèches to school lunch provision. The educational facilities are supplemented by Freienbach Music School, an institution that is known and loved beyond the municipality’s bor-ders, where students of all ages recei-ve expert music and dance tuition from established professionals.

The internationalization of the munici-pality has played a role in the opening of various crèches, after-school clubs and private schools, many of them bi-lingual.

The municipality of Freienbach offers a wide range of educational and trai-ning facilities:

Pfäffikon: Schools with nursery facilities Music school Psychomotor therapy units Senior school Weid Outer Schwyz Cantonal School Vocational training centre in

Pfäffikon

Bäch: School with nursery facilities Day school

Freienbach: School with nursery facilities Senior school Leutschen Therapeutic day school of Outer

Schwyz (HZA) Speech therapy school Freienbach

Wilen: School with nursery facilities

Focus on schoo l s and educa t ion

Boat trips and the wooden

bridge across the lake have

been boosting business and

tourism in the municipality for

centuries.

The Pilgrims’ Way to Einsiedeln

helped the hospitality industry

to flourish.

The predominantly agricultural

landscape of the municipality

has been developing into a cen-

tre for services since 1968.

Circa 2750 BC – Lake-dweller sett-lements in Pfäffikon

965 AD – Kaiser Otto I presents the monastery in Einsiedeln with manori-al rights to Freienbach.

1250 – The monastery in Einsiedeln builds the present-day castle tower in Pfäffikon to defend against enemy attacks and to protect the revenue from the monastery lands.

1360 – The wooden bridge between Hurden and Rapperswil is built.

1300-1800 – As a fortification, the castle in Pfäffikon is involved in nu-merous armed conflicts in the region.

1826 – Stagecoaches start to run between Zurich and Chur.

1848 – Foundation of the district of Höfe and the municipalities of Frei-enbach, Feusisberg and Wollerau.

These replaced the previous district names of «Vorderer Hof» (Pfäffikon) and «Hinterer Hof» (Wollerau).

1875-91 – Opening of the railway lines Zurich-Ziegelbrücke, Pfäffi-kon-Rapperswil, and Pfäffikon-Arth-Goldau.

1968 – Opening of the A3 Zurich-Chur motorway triggers rapid growth. The municipality has come a long way from its origins as a poor, pre-dominantly agricultural area to be-coming a thriving residential and in-dustrial community, which - thanks to its low tax rates - attracts numerous wealthy newcomers and international companies.

The Freienbach emblemThe Freienbach emblem depicts three left-facing golden lions on a red background. It was adopted by the Hofleute Korporation, a local citizens’ organization, in 1948 following cen-turies of conflict. The symbolism has a close historical connection to the Dukedom of Swabia, which has de-picted three lions one over the other on its crest and flags since the 13th century. The reference to the duke-dom comes from the Ufnau Island saint, Adelrich, his mother Reginlind, and a later abbot of the monastery, who is also said to have belonged to the family of the Dukes of Swabia.

H is to r y

The Freienbach Municipal

Council takes the concerns and

needs of its citizens to heart.

It plans and coordinates the

municipality’s activities and im-

plements the resolutions of the

municipal assembly.

This efficient, customer-focused

administration has its head-

quarters in Pfäffikon. Its broad

range of services is supplemen-

ted by the utilities maintenance

team and various rescue organi-

zations.

The Freienbach Municipal Council is composed of seven members elected by the citizens. It is the highest exe-cutive body of the municipality. Each member of the Municipal Council represents a department. The Muni-cipal Council is the municipality’s most senior body. Important initiati-ves in the political life of the munici-pality are also initiated by the local parties and committee members.

The Municipal Council has its head-quarters in Pfäffikon in the two muni-cipal buildings of Schloss and Dorf. With the introduction of «outcome-oriented public management», the municipality operates with up-to-date management structures and orga-nizations that are people-oriented, transparent and progressive. Cus-tomer-friendly service is a priority in Freienbach: as well as adapting counter opening times to suit custo-mers‘ needs, our website enables our residents to access information and services around the clock.

A lot of work goes into enabling the municipality of Freienbach to live up to its motto of being «vibrant and attractive». The maintenance mana-gers ensure that all streets and sys-tems are maintained and guarantee an efficient waste-disposal system.

The municipality is a key employer. Together with teachers, care centre workers, caretakers and maintenance staff, it employs over 500 people. In addition, there are also around 30 trainees benefiting from training in the municipality.

Rescue organizations are on call around the clock to protect the safety of the population. The municipality of Freienbach is well provided for with its own fire service. As a lakeside community, the municipality of Frei-enbach also has a lake rescue ser-vice. Regional units such as health-care, civil protection and command staff provide essential additional sup-port to the organizations.

Pub l i c au t hor i t i es and admin i s t ra t ion

w w w. f re ienbach .ch

BächBäch was famous in the late Middle Ages for its quarries. The sandstone was exported to Zurich and elsewhere by boat. Bäch later became the place where several important yet transi-ent industries grew up, such as salt trading, minting, paper milling, tex-tile manufacture and brewing. Today, Bäch is a residential village with little industry, but several well-known full-service restaurants serving fish spe-cialities. A particularly attractive area is Bächau, with its picturesque marina and impressive villas.

WilenWilen borders directly on the neigh-bouring municipality of Wollerau, but is part of the political municipa-lity of Freienbach. Wilen is a purely residential village and has just a few shops and no industry. It is situated in a slightly elevated position in the hills and is made up of the residential areas of Eulen, Fällmis and Breiten.

With over 7,000 residents, Pfäffikon is one of the larger towns in the can-ton of Schwyz. The Roswitha nursing home is located in the center.

HurdenHurden is located on a promontory that extends far out into Lake Zurich. It was originally a fishing village. The guesthouses and the chapel were used mainly by pilgrims travelling to Einsiedeln. Hurden has been connec-ted to Rapperswil-Jona by the lon-gest wooden bridge in Switzerland since 2001. Today, Hurden, with its exclusive residential area, is a well-known and popular village.

The islands of Ufnau and Lützelau belong to the municipality of Freien-bach.

Aerial view showing the local boundariesOrthophoto, 2010

FreienbachThe village gives its name to the poli-tical municipality of Freienbach. The Pfarrmatte nursing home is loca-ted near the lake. Sports enthusiasts enjoy the plentiful sporting facilities in Chrummen. The splendid lakeside resort is a popular holiday location and meeting point in the summer. The industrial area of Schwerzi accom-modates numerous companies and workplaces.

PfäffikonPfäffikon is the administrative centre of the political municipality of Freien-bach. Pfäffikon alternates with Wol-lerau as the administrative centre of the district of Höfe and serves as the centre for the Outer Schwyz Region. The former farming village is known today as a centre for services, edu-cation, culture, leisure and business.

Over v iew o f f i ve v i l l ages

f re ienbach

Bäch

Fre ienbach

Wi len

P fä f f i kon

H urden

f re ienbach

Villages In terms of population, Freienbach is the largest municipality in the canton of Schwyz. It comprises the five villages of Pfäffikon, Freienbach, Hurden, Wilen and Bäch.

District Höfe

Canton Schwyz

Population 16‘352 (as at 31.3.2020) 75 % Swiss, 25 % other nationalities

Area 20,69 km²

Topography 27 % agricultural16 % forest and hedgerow 36 % water and shoreline21 % residential areas

Religious affiliations 43 % Roman Catholic 17 % Reformed40 % other/none

Economic structure 2‘546 businesses (2017)14‘670 jobs (2017) 1 % agriculture23 % industry and trade 76 % services

Lake height 406 m above sea level

Highest elevation 1022 m above sea level (Schönboden)

Shoreline 15 km

C r e d i t sPublished by: Municipality of Freienbach © 2020, www.freienbach.chEditorial: Communication Department, Municipality of FreienbachConcept and design: www.geiterkonzept.ch

Municipality facts and figures

Source: Municipality of Freienbach, Office for Economy, canton of Schwyz

Gemeinde FreienbachGemeindehaus SchlossUnterdorfstrasse 9 Postfach 140CH-8808 Pfäffikon SZwww.freienbach.ch