Central Switzerland
The five cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri, Nidwalden, Obwalden and surrounding Lake Lucerne form central Switzerland located north of the Saint-Gothard massif.
They are the original cradle of the Swiss Confederation and are the origin of the legend of William Tell.
The biggest canton of Lucerne lies at the north end of Lake Lucerne the River Reuss. The town, with its well-preserved medieval core, elegant historic buildings, and genuine atmosphere, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Switzerland.
The Benedictine monastery of St. Leodegar was founded around 730, and the first mention of a town is of Luciaria in 840.
Lucerne is compact and easy to explore, with the old town and all the main sights within walking distance of the railstation. For tourists who love mountain scenery, the biggest attraction of all is Lucerne’s location as a base for some of the most spectacular Alpine rides in Europe, with easy connection to Mt. Rigi, Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Titlis, and Jungfraujoch.
Lucerne offers a wealth of things to do. Many visitors come to see leading conductors, soloists, and orchestras perform at the annual summer music festival and at other festivals spotlighting blues, piano, and marching bands.
Several boat trips of different lengths explore the 38-kilometer-long lake, one of which, the William Tell Express, combines with a train excursion through the St. Gotthard Pass, linking Central Switzerland with the many attractions of the Ticino region.
The canton of Schwyz with its capital of the same name, a small but characteristic town, is situated about five kilometers from Lake Lucerne. The confederation of independent cantons received the name «Switzerland» thanks to this area as well as the national flag in the form of a white cross on a red background.
Schwyz is also known as «Swiss Knife Valley» where the world-famous Swiss penknives come from: in excess of 25'000 of the red all-rounders leave production daily.
Schwyz offers access to 3 welcoming ski resorts: Mythenregion, Stoos and Sattel-Hochstuckli. The valley station of the cable car to the Rotenflue/Mythenregion is just five minutes from the main square. Perfect for skiing in winter and for breathtaking walking tours and hiking in summer time.
The canton of Uri is located in the centre of the country on the north side of the Swiss Alps with Altdorf as capital. The legendary William Tell is said to have hailed from here.
Most beautiful places to visit in Uri are Klausen pass, Andermatt-Sedrun Sports AG, the top of the Gemmstock mountain, Rütli Wanderland, Schöllenen Gorge, Arnisee Alpine Lake, Andermatt town and Glacier Express. The canton of Nidwalden is essentially in the Alps, south of Lake Lucerne with its capital Stans.
It is one of the smallest cantons. The division of Unterwalden into two separate territories, Obwalden and Nidwalden, appears to develop over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries. In Stans you can visit the local Historical Museum composed of several buildings. Temporary exhibitions are held in the 3-storey building of the former Salzmagazine salt warehouse (XVII century). The main topics are the historical events of the canton and the region. Expositions representing the work of contemporary Swiss artists and sculptors are very popular. The Winkelried House and the adjacent modern pavilion host various religious exhibitions.
The canton is famous for its cheese Tanser fladä and Barmettler, mountain Stanserhornbahn and Risleten’s water-fall.
The canton Obwalden, together with Nidwalden, was part of the forest canton of Unterwalden, one of the three participants in the foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy, named in the Pact of Brunnen of 1315 with Uri and Schwyz.
Basically, the entire territory is concentrated around the capital — Sarnen and Lake Sarnen, however, the detached territory of Engelberg Abbey also belongs to the canton.
Obwalden is one of the most popular places for sports both in summer (for walks in the mountains) and in winter (Engelberg ski resort). It is famous for its beautiful nature and numerous mountain lakes.
The region has a lot to offer the traveler: outdoor recreation, great scenery, historic old towns, and steamboat rides on the lake, to name but a few examples.