Schwyz - the cradle of Switzerland
by globetrott
Schwyz is a small village of just 12.000 inhabitants, but THIS is the place that gave the name for all of Switzerland. Schwyz was mentioned in history already in the year 972 and it used to be an important stop-over for the merchants travelling the Gotthard-Route. Schwyz made a union in 1291 with 2 other cantons: Waldstaetten Uri and Unterwalden. Schwy is not only the name of that small town, but also of the Kanton / canton.
Take a look at this lovely townhall that is decorated by precious frescos all over the facades.
There are also a few wtch-towers of the old medieval fortifications left and of course there is a great church with a lovely interior.
There are really a lot of good reasons to make a short stop-over in Schwyz, when going to Maria Einsiedeln.
Kuessnacht - on the way to Einsiedeln
by globetrott
Kuessnacht is a small village close to Luzern and you may easily combine it with a visit to maria Einsiedeln. According to the legends it was in Kuessnacht, where Wilhelm Tell killed Gessler in the "Hohle Gasse".
Hohle Gasse means "narrow pass" and when you enlarge my pictures, you will see how this is ment : This "Hohle Gasse" was the only way for Gessler to ride up and down from his castle, high above Lake Lucerne. So it was rather easy for Wilhelm Tell to just wait behind the bushes for the right moment to kill Gessler, who could not be protected by his guards in this very moment, because they had to ride in front or behind of him.
At one end of the Hohle Gasse there is the Tell-chapel and at the lower end there is a a small museum with a few exhibits and explanations.
That museum is open all the time
it is made just by a few windows inside a house without doors.
Hohle gasse is a bit outside of the village, BUT plenty of signposts will lead you there. The distance to the lake is maybe 800 meters and the local bus goes there as well and stops at the stop, called : Hohle Gasse.
Hotel Engel in Kuessnacht am Rigi is a traditional hotel and and certainly the most beautiful building of that small village. Hotel Engel was also the place, where the "Eidgenossen" had their meeting first in 1424 and afterwards several times again untill 1712 A.D.
In October 7th, 1797 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent the night in that hotel.
Click on my link below and
read more about it on my Kuessnacht-page !
The church in Einsiedeln
by polardabar
Einsiedeln is a really nice place where I went to have fun in the snow. There's a really nice church all in gold with the black Virgin Mary. Her clothes are being changed every day & especially when there's a big celebration.
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Goldapfel gingerbread museum
Inside Diorama
Abbey at night
view on Sihlsee
