In the northwest, Pfannenstiel is bordered by the village of Forch and a former mountain pass (668 metres (2,192 ft)) leading from Glatt valley to the Lake Zürich shore.

In the novel, a sculptor returns to Switzerland, and disappointed by the political reality, he retires on Pfannenstiel, builds a house and finds an intact village community.

The new location for the reconstruction was initially controversial: The cantonal authorities preferred the highest elevation on the mountain in the middle of forested area.

Pfannenstiel is a picturesque area, and the upper side of the mountain houses four restaurants overlooking Lake Zürich, Etzel, Zimmerberg, Albis, Uetliberg to the south and to the west, and Greifensee, Glattal, Bachtel and Zürcher Oberland to the north and east.

The upper part of the mountain is mostly woodland and a popular recreational area with picnic sites, in addition there are hiking routes, among the Küsnachter Tobel pathway.

The term "Region Pfannenstiel" usually refers to the mountain, the area and plateau between Zollikon-Zollikerberg and Hombrechtikon-Feldbach bordered by the upper Glatt valley–Zürcher Oberland and Lake Zürich.

This region includes the municipalities of Egg, Erlenbach, Herrliberg, Hombrechtikon, Küsnacht, Meilen, Männedorf, Oetwil am See, Stäfa, Uetikon am See, Zollikon and Zumikon.