Visit the Limmern pumped storage plant

The Limmern pumped storage plant is one of Axpo's most important expansion projects. The underground pumped storage plant pumps water from the Limmern lake back up to the Muttsee reservoir located at 630 m above sea level, so that it can be reused to generate electricity when needed.

Guided tours

At the Limmern pumped storage plant in Linthal / Tierfed we offer you a look into the heart of the plant. The tours start and end in Tierfed.

  • By appointment only
  • All guided tours are integrated into the ongoing operation of the power plant. For this reason we can offer one guided tour per half day. If there is no guided tour on your desired date, it is already fully booked or not available.
  • For guided tours in English, please contact us by e-mail.

The individual guided tours at a glance

From water to stream and vice versa

The tour starts and ends in Tierfed. First you take the funicular up to around 1700 metres above sea level. Then you follow us 700 metres deep into the mountain through the huge machine and transformer caverns and the associated connecting tunnels. With the help of information boards, videos and explanations, you will learn many interesting and interesting facts about the power plant operation and the most important installations.

Number of participants:

Minimum 6 persons, maximum 28 persons
Individuals or additional groups can be added to already booked tours up to a maximum group size of 28 persons.

Days of operation:

Summer months: Wednesday - Sunday
Winter months: Wednesday - Saturday

Time: 10 - 12.30 h and 14 - 16.30 h

Cost:

CHF 20 for adults
CHF 10 for children and young people under 18

Payment in advance by credit card.

Would you like to visit the pumped storage plant with your family, club or company as a closed group? Then an exclusive tour is the right thing for you. No additional persons or groups will be booked. This offer is aimed at groups with a maximum of 28 people.

Number of participants:

Maximal 28 persons

Days of operation:

Summer months: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Winter months: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday

Time: 10 - 12.30 h and 14 - 16.30 h

Cost:

CHF 560 all-inclusive

Payment in advance by credit card.

Would you like to visit the pumped storage plant with a group of up to 50 people? Then this guided tour for large groups is the right thing for you. You and your group are among yourselves. No other persons will join you.

For logistical reasons, the participants will be divided into two groups. The second group will start 30 minutes after the first group. The tour lasts 2.5 hours.

Number of participants:

Minimum 29 persons, maximum 50 persons

Durchführungstag:

All year round: Friday

Time: 9.30 - 12.30 h and 13.30 - 16.30 h

Cost:

CHF 1'000 all-inclusive

Payment in advance by credit card.

Important notes

  • For operational reasons, we reserve the right to make programme changes and implement restrictions.
  • There are no "Muttsee dam" guided tours for visitors.
  • The minimum age is 14 years.
  • Children from the age of 6 can take part in the guided tours accompanied by a parent or guardian and under their responsibility.
  • The guided tours are suitable for school classes from grade six and up. 

The LPSP guided tours are subject to a fee. Payment by credit card.

Prices 

  • PSW Limmern: CHF 20 for adults, CHF 10 for children and young people under 18 years of age.
  • PSW Limmern exclusive: CHF 560 all-inclusive
  • PSW Limmern for large groups: CHF 1,000 all-inclusive
  • Most of the guided tours take place on foot and inside the mountain at around 1700 metres above sea level. Good physical fitness (many stairs) is therefore required.
  • For safety reasons, people with pacemakers or implanted defibrillators cannot be allowed access to the power stations.
  • The ascent and descent with the funicular in the tunnel takes place in a closed cable car cabin. When the cabin is fully occupied, the space available in the cabin is limited, as is the case with conventional ropeway cabins.
  • Firm, closed, non-slip shoes are required. Clothes adapted to the weather are recommended. The temperatures on the tour vary between 10 and 18 degrees, depending on the area.
  • Safety vest, audio system and torch are provided. 

A pumped storage plant functions like a large battery. You can find out exactly how it works and what it has to do with the security of electricity supply in Switzerland here.

How about some refreshment before or after a visit to the Limmern pumped storage plant or even an overnight stay at the southern most end of the Glarus region? The Hotel Tödi is located in the immediate vicinity of the power plants and is the starting point for guided tours. 

Find out more under: hoteltoedi.ch

How do I pay for the guided tour?
You will receive an email request for payment 21 days before the tour. The link in the email allows you to pay conveniently by credit card. You have until 14 days before the tour to pay the outstanding amount. 

Can the number of visitors be adjusted at a later date?
Additional persons can be booked with a separate booking in our webshop. If the number of visitors is lower than stated at the beginning, the booking must be cancelled and then re-booked. Please use the link in your confirmation email. Changes are possible 14 days in advance of the tour.
Please be sure to inform us of the correct group size so that we can ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

Can reservations be cancelled again?
You can cancel the booked tour free of charge 14 days in advance of the tour or up until you have paid the remaining balance. Please note our general terms and conditions. 

Are the guided tours in the Limmern PSP wheelchair accessible?
The guided tours in the Limmern PSP are not suitable for wheelchair users.

Can guided tours be shortened or is it possible to leave the group before the end of the tour?
The guided tours begin and end in Tierfed. For safety reasons it is not possible to end or leave the tour prematurely.

Can I participate in a visitor tour as an individual?
Yes. You can easily join a group that has already registered. You can find all available dates in our webshop.

Can the Limmernboden and Muttsee dams be visited?
The two dam walls cannot be visited during the guided tours.
Both dams can be reached during the summer months via the hiking trail from the Kalktrittli mountain station. Please note the information on the cable car Tierfed - Kalktrittli.

Is the path through the "tunnel" from Kalktrittli to Limmernboden open?
The hiking trails through the "tunnel" from Kalktrittli to Limmernboden and from Limmernboden to Muttenalp are open during the summer months. Please note the information on the cable car Tierfed - Kalktrittli.

How do we get to Tierfed / the aerial cableway Tierfed - Kalktrittli?
Tierfed is not accessible by public transportation. The nearest railway station is in Linthal. The hike from Linthal to Tierfed takes about 1 hour.

Aerial cableway Tierfed – Kalktrittli

  • The aerial cableway Tierfed – Kalktrittli was completely renewed in January 2019. The cabin now offers space for 8 people. The ride on the cable car is self-service during operating hours.
  • The journey time is approximately 7.5 minutes and the cable car overcomes a height difference of 1053 meters.
  • Due to inspection and maintenance work, the Limmernboden dam is not accessible to the public between June and October 2023. The hiking trails are not affected by the maintenance work and can be used normally.
  • The tourist season 2023 has ended. We're already looking forward to welcoming you next year!
  • The cable car Tierfed – Kalktrittli usually runs from about mid-June to about mid-October (depending on weather conditions)
  • Depending on weather conditions or other environmental influences such as strong wind, thunderstorms, etc., rail operations may be suspended for safety reasons. This does not give rise to any claim for reimbursement or exchange of tickets already purchased.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the bottom station of the cable car at the ticket machine.
  • Ticket prices:

    Adults: CHF 12 single, CHF 20 return
    Children (6-16 years): CHF 6 single, CHF 10 return
    Dogs: for free
  • Methods of payment: Cash, Maestro, Postcard, Mastercard, Visa
  • Depending on weather conditions or other environmental influences such as strong wind, thunderstorms, etc., rail operations may be suspended for safety reasons. This does not give rise to any claim for reimbursement or exchange of tickets already purchased.

Please use the parking spaces at the bottom station of the cable car.

  • Priority is given to rides with plant personnel
  • Bicycles cannot be transported
  • Hiking tour Linthal SBB – Tierfed: approx. 1 hour 30 min
  • Hiking trail Kalktrittli – Muttseehütte closed
    Duration: approx. 2.5 hrs
  • Hiking trail Kalktrittli – Ochsenstäfeli (hike through a tunnel) closed
    Duration: approx. 45 min

    We recommend that you wear a light vest in the tunnel. The vests are available at the entrances/exits for tunneling.
  • Hiking trail Ochsenstäfeli / Limmernsee – Muttseehütte closed
    Hiking trail Kalktrittli – Ochsenstäfeli – Muttseehütte: approx. 2.5 hours
  • Due to inspection and maintenance work, the Limmernboden dam is not accessible to the public between June and October 2023. The hiking trails are not affected by the maintenance work and can be used normally.

Booking and date check


Here you can check your desired date and book.

Check date and book now

Contact

Telephone information on the guided tours is available from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG
Auenstrasse 51
8783 Linthal

+41 55 285 24 08

info.kll@axpo.com

Arrival and parking


By car from Zurich or from Chur/Sargans via the A3 motorway to exit no. 44 Niederurnen; then main road towards Glarus/Klausen (approx. 30 km) to Linthal and on to Tierfed. Sufficient parking spaces are available. 

At the valley station of the cable car Tierfed – Kalktrittli parking spaces are available. The car park also offers space for three coaches.

Tierfed is not accessible by public transport.

Please note the weather conditions. The ascending road from Linthal to Tierfed is not cleared during the winter and a snow-covered road must be expected. 

More information

You will find additional links and downloads for your trip to the Glarnerland here:

Downloads

Privacy notice

We collect your contact data and all the information you provide when registering for a power plant tour on our web form. This data is stored in our visitor centre system. State of the art information security measures are used to protect and maintain the security, integrity and availability of your data.

The collected data is required to process your registration for a power plant tour. The basis for data processing is the fulfilment of the contract and safeguarding our legitimate interests. After the tour, the data is automatically deleted from our visitor centre system.

You have the right at any time and at no cost to obtain written information about the personal data processed by us, or to request the correction of inaccurate personal data as well the restriction of the respective processing. Requests for information can be sent in writing to our postal address with a copy of your identity card or passport.

If you have additional questions regarding the processing of your personal data, please contact the Axpo Data Protection Officer (dataprotection@axpo.com). For security reasons, Axpo may implement appropriate measures to verify your identity. You will find more information on data processing by Axpo in the latest version of our Privacy Policy on our website.

To the privacy policy

Background knowledge

Limmern pumped storage plant: Battery in the mountains

A pumped storage plant functions like a large battery. You can find out exactly how it works and what it has to with the security of electricity supply in Switzerland here.

Read more

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