THE CANTON OF SCHWYZ
The heart of Switzerland is sometimes referred to as William Tell Country. It consists of the three original Forrest Cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. The name of Switzerland was derived from the town of Schwyz, the capital of the canton with the same name. The region is well known for its many hiking trails and residents are quick to point out that the Mythen region with its twin peaks is the Matterhorn of mountain hikers. For many Swiss the “Swiss Path” which terminates in Brunnen, is a “must do”. (We featured it in our Spotlight on the Canton of Uri)
Separating myths & legends from actual events is not always easy. Did George Washington really cut down the cherry tree or did William Tell actually shoot the apple off of his son’s head and keep a spare arrow for Hermann Gessler if he missed? Does it really matter? Is the moral of the stories the important thing? For Swiss history a great place to separate fact from fiction is the Museum of the Swiss Charters of the Confederation in the City of Schwyz where most important documents from Switzerland’s early history & foundation are exhibited. A visit to the museum will tell you what really happened in 1291 when the Cantons of Uri, Schwyz & Unterwalden pledged allegiance to each other.
One of the neat things to do in Switzerland is to participate in its many festivals, many reflecting traditions going back to the middle ages. The “Klausjagen” in Küssnacht on December 5th on the eve of St Nicholas’ Day is one of these. Festivities are kicked off with a cannon shot, then whipcrackers announce the arrival of the procession. These are followed by the blowing of cow horns and clanging of hundreds of cowbells; then in an amazing display, scores of men carrying large artfully designed bishops’ miters walk by. The miters are cut out of cardboard and lit by candles from within. The parade is ended with the appearance of St Nicholas and two Schmutzlis.
You’ll find lots of beautiful spots in Schwyz like the Arth region with its long tradition of growing cherries & distilling excellent Kirsch. With its long history, you’ll also find a number of significant historical sites in Schwyz like the Benedictine Monastery in Einsiedeln. Pilgrims have been visiting the monastery, a place of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary, for over 1000 years.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above.
The heart of Switzerland is sometimes referred to as William Tell Country. It consists of the three original Forrest Cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. The name of Switzerland was derived from the town of Schwyz, the capital of the canton with the same name. The region is well known for its many hiking trails and residents are quick to point out that the Mythen region with its twin peaks is the Matterhorn of mountain hikers. For many Swiss the “Swiss Path” which terminates in Brunnen, is a “must do”. (We featured it in our Spotlight on the Canton of Uri)
Separating myths & legends from actual events is not always easy. Did George Washington really cut down the cherry tree or did William Tell actually shoot the apple off of his son’s head and keep a spare arrow for Hermann Gessler if he missed? Does it really matter? Is the moral of the stories the important thing? For Swiss history a great place to separate fact from fiction is the Museum of the Swiss Charters of the Confederation in the City of Schwyz where most important documents from Switzerland’s early history & foundation are exhibited. A visit to the museum will tell you what really happened in 1291 when the Cantons of Uri, Schwyz & Unterwalden pledged allegiance to each other.
One of the neat things to do in Switzerland is to participate in its many festivals, many reflecting traditions going back to the middle ages. The “Klausjagen” in Küssnacht on December 5th on the eve of St Nicholas’ Day is one of these. Festivities are kicked off with a cannon shot, then whipcrackers announce the arrival of the procession. These are followed by the blowing of cow horns and clanging of hundreds of cowbells; then in an amazing display, scores of men carrying large artfully designed bishops’ miters walk by. The miters are cut out of cardboard and lit by candles from within. The parade is ended with the appearance of St Nicholas and two Schmutzlis.
You’ll find lots of beautiful spots in Schwyz like the Arth region with its long tradition of growing cherries & distilling excellent Kirsch. With its long history, you’ll also find a number of significant historical sites in Schwyz like the Benedictine Monastery in Einsiedeln. Pilgrims have been visiting the monastery, a place of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary, for over 1000 years.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above.
