Cherry season in Switzerland is one of those fleeting summer moments that, if you’re not paying attention, slips right past you. In the canton of Zug, one Switzerland’s cherry heartlands, the season runs from late June through mid-July, and for those few weeks, everything revolves around the tiny red fruit. Cherry signs appear outside farms, shelves fill with cherry-themed treats, and crowds gather for the Chriesisturm, a centuries-old tradition, now with a more modern touch.
I’ll admit: before I moved to Zug nearly 25 years ago, I didn’t even like cherries. I grew up in Queensland, where mangos came by the tray and the only cherry I’d ever encountered was the unnaturally glossy tinned kind perched on top of a sundae at the Big Pineapple. I’d written them off entirely. Then I tried my first freshly-picked Zug cherry, warm from the tree, so dark it was almost black, and understood quickly what all the fuss was about.
Here’s everything you need to know about cherry season in Switzerland, from cherry blossoms, when the cherries ripen and where to find them. To the traditions, products and experiences that make Zug’s cherry culture unlike anything else in the country.
When Is Cherry Season in Switzerland?
Cherry season in Switzerland typically runs from late June through mid-July, depending on the region, elevation and the weather that spring. In Zug, which sits at a lower altitude in central Switzerland, cherries usually ripen in the last week of June. Higher-altitude areas may see their harvest a week or two later.
The season is remarkably short — most farmers have cherries for just two to four weeks. A late frost in spring can devastate the crop, and heavy rain during harvest can split the fruit. In good years, the market overflows. In bad years, you’ll pay a premium and count yourself lucky to find a bag.
The official start of cherry season in Zug is marked by the ringing of the Chriesigloggä (cherry bell) at St. Michael’s Church — a tradition dating back to the 18th century.
Cherry Blossoms in Zug: From Bloom to Harvest
Zug Cherries Blossoms
The countdown to cherry season in Zug begins in early spring, when bare cherry trees burst into bloom before their leaves even appear. For a few weeks, the hillsides around Zug come alive with puffs of white, and everyone plans hikes around capturing the miracle of the cherry blossoms after a long grey winter.
In Zug, the most popular route to see the cherry trees in Bloom is the Cherry Hike from Zug, via Oberwil, to Walchwil. From early April to later in the month, there is usually one part of the path in bloom.
Insider Tip: If you want to see the pink ornamental cherry blossoms, keep an eye out in Gartenstrasse in Zug from Mid-March.
But while we’re out hiking to catch the blossoms, cherry farmers are watching the weather with dread. A single frost can destroy a crop overnight. On frosty spring nights, farmers light special warming candles, called Frostkerzen, between the rows of trees to keep the delicate blooms from freezing.
Then comes the wait. The cherries grow slowly through April and May, shifting from green to blush to deep red. By late June, when temperatures climb above 25°C, wooden cherry signs start appearing in front of farms around Zug, and you know the season has finally arrived.
The Chriesisturm: Zug’s Cherry Race
How the Cherry Bell Tradition Works
In Zug, cherry season officially begins when the Chriesigloggä — the cherry bell at St. Michael’s Church — rings at noon. This tradition dates back to the 18th century, when the bell announced that the cherries in Zug’s communal orchards were ripe. As soon as it rang, locals would grab their wooden ladders, some over eight metres long, and race to the orchards. Whoever reached a tree first could claim its fruit for the season. Picking before the bell was strictly forbidden.
The tradition faded in the 20th century as Zug urbanised and cherry orchards disappeared. But in 2009, the IG Zuger Chriesi (Interest Group for Zug Cherries) revived it as the Chriesisturm — a ceremonial race through the old town.
What Happens on Race Day
The Chriesisturm takes place on a Monday in late June — typically the Monday closest to the summer solstice. The event begins at the Liebfrauenkapelle with a welcome at 11:50, followed by the bell ringing and the first race at noon. Four pairs of men carry four-metre wooden ladders through Zug’s narrow cobblestoned streets, followed by a women’s race with traditional cherry-picking baskets (Chriesihutten) on their backs, and a children’s race with shorter ladders.
Hundreds of spectators line the streets of the old town to watch. After the races, everyone floods to the cherry market and food stands on the Landsgemeindeplatz where the prize ceremony also takes place. Enjoy a cherry sausage with cherry chutney, baked cherry products direct from the farm kitchen and of course plenty of fresh cherries.
Chriesi — (KHREE-si) — Cherries
In Swiss German, nobody says Kirschen. It’s always Chriesi. You’ll see it on farm signs, market stalls, and menus across the region. The Chriesisturm, Chriesimärt, and Chriesigloggä all take their name from this word.
Zug’s Cherry Market (Chriesimärt)
What You’ll Find at the Market
At the Chriesimärt on the Landsgemeindeplatz, local farmers sell freshly picked cherries — classic red, deep maroon, sweet and sour varieties, and fruit from traditional Hochstamm trees that produce particularly flavourful cherries.
When and Where to Go
The cherry market is not only open on the day of the Chriesisturm. You will find a daily cherry market on the Landsgemeindeplatz in Zug’s old town from 3pm for as long as their supply lasts — usually two to four weeks. Look out also for the small market stand near Starbucks in the Metalli mall selling cherries throughout the season.
Zuger Kirschtorte: The Famous Cherry Cake
The Zuger Kirschtorte is Zug’s most famous culinary creation. A layered cake made with almond and hazelnut meringue, sponge soaked in Kirsch syrup, Kirsch-infused buttercream, and a dusting of icing sugar. It’s boozy, light, and completely unlike any cake most visitors expect or have tried before. It is not kid friendly.
The cake was invented in the 1920s by confectioner Heinrich Höhn at Konditorei Treichler who still claims the original recipe and displays the cake’s history in the shop today. Though, every bakery in Zug makes their own version of Kirschtorte, and every local has an opinion on whose is best. My favourite is from Confiserie Speck, another Zug institution.
Kirsch: Zug’s Cherry Brandy
Kirsch (short for Kirschwasser) is a clear cherry brandy distilled from fermented cherries — stones and all. It’s been made in the Zug region for centuries, and the canton’s Kirsch was once exported worldwide. Today, local distilleries like Etter (one of Switzerland’s most respected) and smaller producers like Eichhof in Walchwil continue the tradition.
You’ll encounter Kirsch in several ways: as a digestif served chilled after a meal, added to cheese fondue (it helps prevent the cheese from clumping), stirred into a Kafi Schnapps (coffee with schnapps — a Swiss mountain tradition), and of course as the defining flavour in Zuger Kirschtorte.
Cherry Specialities Worth Trying in Zug
Over the years, Zug’s food producers have woven cherries into everything. Here are the ones worth seeking out:
- Cherry sausages (Chriesi-Wurst): Metzgerei Rogenmoser in Baar makes a sausage blending ground beef and pork with spices and dried Zug cherries. Available in a grilling version and a boiled Bratwurst version — surprisingly good.
- Kirsch-filled chocolates: Confiserie Speck’s Chriesigloggen (bell-shaped chocolates filled with Kirsch) are a local favourite and also come alcohol free. Aeschbach Chocolatier makes my husbands favourite Kirschstängli, where a single bite can risk the kirsch spilling out. Strickler also has a great selection of cherry chocolates and pralines.
- Cherry jams and chutneys: Farm shops and the larger producer Zuger Rigi Chriesi sell jams and chutneys made from local cherries. Available in their online shop, select Coop locations, and on Farmy.
- Cherry ice cream and yoghurt: Found in farm shops and cheese shops (Käserei) across the region during summer.
Over the years, the local community has gotten very creative in integrating cherries into various products. In farms, bakeries, butchers and restaurants across the region, you will find some quirky and delicious options. Keep your eyes open!
Where to Pick Cherries Near Zug
Commercial cherry picking (Selbstpflücke) isn’t as widely organised in Switzerland as strawberry picking, due to its shorter season.
The best way to find cherry-picking opportunities is to watch the Selbst Pflücke website to see which farms over Switzerland offer this. One is Sonnenhof not far from Zug in Mettmenstetten.
Beyond Zug, the Aargau Jura Park runs an organised cherry-picking volunteer programme where you can help farmers harvest their Hochstamm cherry trees.
If you are heading to a farm, dress for the outdoors – here’s our guide to what to wear in summer in Switzerland.
Our Family’s Cherry Season Rituals
But, in the end, it is all about the fresh cherries. The wait to taste a just-picked local cherry is worth the wait. We enjoy cherries on our terrace each summer evening, picked just hours before, some of us swallowing the stones, the others spitting them out onto bowls waiting on the table. My husband shows the kids how to tie a stem with their tongue, and if we are lucky, there may be some leftovers to freeze for later to make jam when the cherry season is a distant memory. Or to whip up one of my favourite pies.
For more local ideas check out our local guide to visiting Zug.
Cherry season in Switzerland runs from late June through mid-July, depending on the region and spring weather conditions. In Zug, cherries typically ripen in the last week of June. The season lasts only two to four weeks, so timing is everything.
The Chriesisturm is a traditional cherry race held in Zug’s old town each June to mark the start of cherry season. Teams race through the cobblestoned streets carrying large wooden ladders, re-enacting an 18th-century tradition where locals raced to claim cherry trees on communal land. The event includes a cherry market and prize ceremony.
Zuger Kirschtorte is a layered cake made with almond meringue, Kirsch-soaked sponge, and Kirsch buttercream, dusted with icing sugar. It was invented in Zug in the 1920s and is available at bakeries across the canton year-round. Konditorei Treichler claims the original recipe.
While organised cherry-picking farms are less common in Switzerland, you can find self-picking farms if you look hard enough. Try the Selberpflücken.ch to find a farm close to you.
