Küssnacht am Rigi
Hint
Intro
The tranquil central Swiss holiday and excursion region around Küssnacht am Rigi lies where Tell once felled his adversary, Gessler. The Seebodenalp is a vista-rich plateau half-way up the “queen of the mountains”, the Rigi.
Description
"He must come through this hollow way, no other path leads to Küssnacht", exclaimed the brave Willhelm Tell, as he watched out for the despotic bailiff Gessler, in order to fell him with an arrow from his crossbow. This is how Tell’s story unfolds from the quill of author Schiller. More than 700 years later, the "Hohle Gasse" or hollow way is a well-worthwhile and luckily no longer a fear-inducing walk that leads as far as Gesslerburg. The history of Swiss national heroes is made perceptible, visible and audible in the information pavilion sited between Küssnacht am Rigi and Immensee.
Winter
The "Hohle Gasse" and the Gesslerburg also remain attractive hiking destinations in winter. An excursion to the nearby (shopping) metropolis of Lucerne or to the Swiss Museum of Transport (direct train connections) in winter is particularly rewarding.
Summer
A short aerial cableway leads from Küssnacht to the Seebodenalp on the Rigi. Situated at around 1,000 metres above sea level, fantastic views of the Pilatus and foothills to the Alps –even right to the Jura and the Vosges mountains on clear days – await visitors. The walk from the Seebodenalp up to the Chänzeli and further on to Rigi-Kaltbad, cableway station for the trip to Rigi-Kulm or down to the lake is especially popular due to the wonderful views that unfold en route.