Weg der Schweiz

Flüelen is located on the shore of Lake Uri under the steep forested hillside of the Eggberge. The former church is now used in a variety of ways and houses a rock crystal exhibition. Rudenz Castle, with its castle park that is open to the public, also invites you to linger. In the south of Flüelen lies the natural paradise of the Reuss Delta, which is alluring with its flat moors, reed meadows and bathing islands.

Between the train station and the landing stage, where steamboats dock regularly, is the start of the hike along the shore of the lake in a northerly direction. The cantons gifted the Swiss Path to the population of Switzerland in 1991. The cantons of Schaffhausen, the two Appenzells and St. Gallen were allowed to design this section of the trail in the order in which they joined the Swiss Confederation.

A wooden bench shaped like a deck chair invites you to relax. Screeching seagulls, honking ships and the warm Foehn wind ensure a holiday mood. The train sounds remind you of the presence of the important north-south axis from Zurich to Milan, which runs parallel to long stretches of the route.

On the lake promenade, you can walk comfortably along the hillside between the tracks and water. A narrow wooden footbridge goes underneath the Sulzegg viaduct. You are fast approaching the spectacular section on the rock faces of the Axenflue. The path was built into and through the rock and it provides a vertical view downwards from the old Axenstrasse onto the rock face to the azure blue Lake Uri and the surrounding mountains.

The narrow paths are well maintained, and incorporate disused railway sleepers that serve as steps. Huge rock arches and pillars support the mountain under which the hikers pass, and they give you an idea of the effort involved in building the old Axenstrasse. Before this was opened in 1865, the important north-south traffic between Brunnen and Flüelen had to be loaded onto ships.

Now comes the descent back to the lake shore. Eighty steps above the Tell’s Chapel, the Swiss chocolate industry has created the largest glockenspiel in Switzerland. During the day, one of around twenty melodies is played for the first few minutes of every hour. Further down on the lake shore, Wilhelm Tell is said to have escaped by jumping out of the bailiff Gessler's boat to the Tellsplatte to save himself. Four frescoes in the chapel depict the Rütli oath, the shooting of the apple, Tell’s leap and Gessler’s death in the Hohle Gasse.

A stunning trail follows the shore past the Tellsplatte. Beneath gnarled pine trees and past steep cliffs, you pass by several attractive places rest. Sometimes the trail is right next to the water, with small waves engulfing the large boulders beneath them. You reach Sisikon via winding steps and with a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains. The valley station of the Twärrüti-Buggialp cable car is above Sisikon. It offers a panoramic journey with a view over Lake Lucerne to the Rigi and the Pilatus.