THE SWISS PATH
Weg der Schweiz – La Voie Suisse – La Via Svizerra – La Via Svizra
Switzerland wanted to do something special to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation when Uri, Schwyz, & Unterwalden swore allegiance to each other in 1291 at the Rûtli Meadows. Switzerland is noted for its beauty and the many hiking trails that will take you the the many corners of the country. The Swiss decided to create a hiking trail along the southern leg of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) with 26 stages each representing one of the cantons. This leg is also called Lake Uri (Urnersee in German). Interestingly, each segment is proportionate in length to the population of the respective canton’s population in 1991. The “Swiss Path”, sometimes called “The William Tell Path”, starts at the Rûtli meadows following the lake to Brunnen. Stone markers indicate in chronological order the year in which each canton joined the confederation.
One can cover the “Swiss Path” in two days, but many visitors opt to only hike a few of the sections at a time, each of which are easily accessible by public transportation. Accommodations and eating options can be found at every town along the Path as well as resting places & BBQ spots. Do keep in mind that these trails are not made for flip-flops or sandals. Proper hiking boots are recommended for most of the trails. The best way to access Rûtli Meadows for the start of your hike is to drive or take the train to Brunnen where you can catch a ship which will take you across the lake to Rûtli for a walk up to Seelisberg. Since it’s a fairly steep trail, some hikers prefer taking the ship to Treib with a short funicular ride to Seelisberg. By the way, you can pick up a “Weg der Schweiz” brochure in English at the ticketing booths.
Swiss hiking trail are well marked. They not only provide directions, they point out historical markers, distances to destinations and are coded for the degree of difficulty. In the Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland followed the Yellow Brick Road. For the Swiss Path, you will need to follow the yellow trail signs “99 Weg der Schweiz”. Whether you decide to walk the entire length of the Swiss Path or opt to only cover one or two sections, you’ll find it to be an enjoyable & interesting experience. Many spots along the trail will reward you with splendid views over the Urnersee (Lake Uri). You’ll get a sense of Switzerland’s history and have the opportunity to visit the spot where William Tell is said to have saved himself out of Gessler’s boat. For more information & details on the Swiss Path, click here.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the various highlighted links above.
Weg der Schweiz – La Voie Suisse – La Via Svizerra – La Via Svizra
Switzerland wanted to do something special to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation when Uri, Schwyz, & Unterwalden swore allegiance to each other in 1291 at the Rûtli Meadows. Switzerland is noted for its beauty and the many hiking trails that will take you the the many corners of the country. The Swiss decided to create a hiking trail along the southern leg of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) with 26 stages each representing one of the cantons. This leg is also called Lake Uri (Urnersee in German). Interestingly, each segment is proportionate in length to the population of the respective canton’s population in 1991. The “Swiss Path”, sometimes called “The William Tell Path”, starts at the Rûtli meadows following the lake to Brunnen. Stone markers indicate in chronological order the year in which each canton joined the confederation.
One can cover the “Swiss Path” in two days, but many visitors opt to only hike a few of the sections at a time, each of which are easily accessible by public transportation. Accommodations and eating options can be found at every town along the Path as well as resting places & BBQ spots. Do keep in mind that these trails are not made for flip-flops or sandals. Proper hiking boots are recommended for most of the trails. The best way to access Rûtli Meadows for the start of your hike is to drive or take the train to Brunnen where you can catch a ship which will take you across the lake to Rûtli for a walk up to Seelisberg. Since it’s a fairly steep trail, some hikers prefer taking the ship to Treib with a short funicular ride to Seelisberg. By the way, you can pick up a “Weg der Schweiz” brochure in English at the ticketing booths.
Swiss hiking trail are well marked. They not only provide directions, they point out historical markers, distances to destinations and are coded for the degree of difficulty. In the Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland followed the Yellow Brick Road. For the Swiss Path, you will need to follow the yellow trail signs “99 Weg der Schweiz”. Whether you decide to walk the entire length of the Swiss Path or opt to only cover one or two sections, you’ll find it to be an enjoyable & interesting experience. Many spots along the trail will reward you with splendid views over the Urnersee (Lake Uri). You’ll get a sense of Switzerland’s history and have the opportunity to visit the spot where William Tell is said to have saved himself out of Gessler’s boat. For more information & details on the Swiss Path, click here.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the various highlighted links above.
