The Pilatus is a mountain massif located to the south/southeast of Lucerne. As a mountain massif, it is not a single peak but rather a collection of peaks within a mountain region. This mountain region is also known as the Pilatus region and is surrounded by the Grossen Schlire, Samer Aa, Alpnachersee, Vierwaldstättersee, Reuss, Kleine Emme, Rümlig, and Fischenbach. To the west, the Pilatus region is bordered by the Risetestock mountain. Among the peaks of Pilatus are Risetestock (1759 m), Stäfeliflue (1922.2 m), Mittaggüpfi (1916.6 m), Widderfeld (2075.2 m), Tomlishorn (2128.5 m), Oberhaupt (2106 m), Esel (2118.7 m), Matthorn (2041.3 m), Klimsenhorn (1907.2 m), Rosegg (1972 m), and Steiglihorn (1968 m). The highest peak of Pilatus is Tomlishorn at 2128.5 meters.
Due to its central location near Lucerne, Pilatus is easily accessible. Highways A1, A2, A8, and A6 surround the Pilatus area, and Highway A2 at Lucerne directly borders Pilatus.
The Pilatus region is surrounded by several legends and stories. One legend revolves around the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, who is said to have been buried on Mount Pilatus in the so-called Pilatus Lake (a former mountain lake on Pilatus). According to the legend, all the places where Pilatus was buried were plagued by heavy storms and bad weather, which is why he is said to have been finally buried high on Mount Pilatus, where strong winds prevail. According to the legend, the spirit of Pilatus rests in Pilatus Lake, and disturbances of this rest bring about severe storms. Another legend is about the Luzern Drachenstein, a stone that a dragon is said to have dropped on Mount Pilatus in the 15th century. This stone is believed to possess miraculous and especially healing powers.
The Pilatus Massif is a popular tourist destination that can be easily reached via highway connections. However, the mountain massif itself is less accessible by car. The Pilatus Railway, the steepest cogwheel railway in the world, which opened in 1889, allows visitors to ascend Mount Pilatus from Alpnachstad (located south of Lucerne) up to an altitude of 2073 meters. From there, the hotels Hotel Bellevue and Hotel Kulm can be reached. Since 1956, Mount Pilatus can also be accessed from Lucerne via a cable car and aerial cableway.
Popular attractions of Mount Pilatus include Pilatus Lake and the "Mondmilchloch" (Moon Milk Cave). Mount Pilatus also offers numerous opportunities for mountain sports such as climbing, hiking, and paragliding.
