About the Löwen
The Löwen is one of the most traditional inns in the Knonau district with a "tavern right to the lion" dating back to Napoleon. The festive hall on the first floor, the restaurant area on the ground floor with a large beer garden, and the beautiful bar with a historic wine cellar make the Löwen a popular meeting place and culinary experience for guests from Hausen am Albis and the surrounding area.
The Löwen has established itself as an ideal venue for banquets and celebrations of all kinds. Whether Weddings, Birthdays or company Christmas dinners - the experienced team ensures unforgettable moments. With the versatile premises, the appropriate setting is offered for every event: The elegant banquet hall is perfect for larger gatherings, while the cozy restaurant area creates a more intimate atmosphere for smaller groups. The charming beer garden invites guests to summer celebrations, and the atmospheric bar with its historic wine cellar adds a special touch to any occasion. Thus, guests with a wide variety of wishes and group sizes always find the ideal environment for their celebration at the Löwen.
As a locally anchored establishment, the Löwen team proves its professional knowledge and skills every day, focusing on the wishes and needs of the guests. The dishes prepared daily are made with fresh ingredients - preferably from local producers and suppliers. The employees are valued, encouraged, and further trained.
The Löwen inn values sustainability and ecological optimization. The heating, including hot water preparation, is provided by wood chip heating district heating. The electricity obtained from the Zurich Electricity Works is also CO2-neutral as "eco-electricity". Three charging stations for electric cars also support the Löwen's sustainability-oriented concept.
History
The impressive building was erected around 1720, and it is one of the most distinctive secular buildings in the village of Hausen am Albis. Along with the Löwenplatz, the Löwen comprises the center of the old village’s northern side. The Löwen is a baroque building with a striking staircase. The banquet hall, which is characteristic of a restaurant in the region, was added in 1878. This architectural structure bears witness to the history of a noteworthy rural restaurant.
In 1833, the members of the "Gesellschaft Hausen", the local craftsmen's guild, purchased the Löwen building. The journeymen converted the house into a restaurant through communal labor. Since that year, the Löwen has been continuously operated as a gastronomic establishment, with a "Tavern right to the Lion" registered in the land register and dating back to Napoleon.
In 1858, district judge Schärer from Ebertswil acquired the Löwen. However, the "Gesellschaft Hausen" continued to hold its so-called Treasurer's Celebration at the Löwen for years afterwards, a grand feast celebrating the election of their president.
In the late 1940s, the couple Karl and Julia Burkard from Willisau (LU) bought the Löwen inn. In 1957, their son Emil Burkard ("Migl") took over the guesthouse.
In the 1970s, the "Pub Carnival" made the Löwen known beyond the region. As the last carnival in the canton, it was extensively celebrated at the Löwen: Three carnival bands played simultaneously in the bar, the restaurant, and the large hall. The hundreds of cars parked along the access roads to the village showed the significance of the Löwen for carnival revelers from near and far.
In 1987, Beat and Ruth Burkard took over the inn and ran it with great commitment for 31 years.
In April 2018, the Hausen entrepreneur couple Joelle Apter and Michael von Arx acquired the Löwen property. Today, the Löwen is run by Swiss Gastro Betriebs GmbH and its owners Oliver Wirkus, Joelle Apter, and Michael von Arx. In addition to the Löwen, Swiss Gastro Betriebs GmbH also operates the gastronomy in Park Seleger Moor and from 2025 onwards, Strandbad, Restaurant & Camping Türlersee.
Oliver Wirkus, Joelle Apter und Michael von Arx (Bild: Bernhard Schneider)
