Flüelen Travel Guide

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The castle was probably built in the early 13th century. It’s located in a strategic important position, ie at the beginning of the road to the Gotthard, a major mountain pass over the alps.

The first known owner was Johann von Attinghausen, later the Rudenz family inherited the castle. All these owners were also customs collectors.

The castle used to be more fortified with moats and walls all the way over to the lake. Some of the walls are up to 2,6 meters thick. Over the centuries the castle was twice close to decay and then renovated and partly reconstructed. For instance all the windows in the upper part are from a much later date.

Today the castle Rudenz is owned by the town of Flueelen. The castle garden is open to the public and features a children’s playground and one of the best “free” public toilets I’ve ever seen.

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The church is called “old” church because it’s no longer in use as a church and was replaced by the Herz-Jesu church which is overlooking the town.

Flueelen used to have a chapel which obviously became too small. So in 1663/64 this church was built and on 16th November 1664 this church, St. George, was consecrated by the paptial Nuntius Federicus Borromaeus. At the end of the 19th century this church became too small. Besides it stood next to the new Gotthard railway line and it became rather noisy, so it was decided to build a new church, the Herz-Jesu which was finished in 1912. Therefore in 1912 the St. George church was exsecrated and the bishop ordered its demolition.

But the first world war arrived and the former church was used as a factory with internees. In the 1920s money was collected for repairs. Later the old church was used as gym, to house troups during WW2 and after the war to hold citizen’s meetings. In the 1950s discussions arose once more about demolishing the building and an association was founded to save it. Today, it’s used for cultural purposes.

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The current church was built by the architect Paul Siegwart of Aarau on the spot called Grundbuehl. The construction started in 1910. The church bells were consecrated in 1911 and in August 1912 the church itself was consecrated by the bishop.

The choir is painted in the Beuron style with Jesus in white and Nikolaus and George the patrons of the previous church on this side.

The church looks very castle like as it’s standing on a hill. Alongside the church you will find the Marienkapelle which is part of the cloisterlike hallway.

Flueelen is situated on the main railway line over the Gotthard mountain pass but all the fast long distance trains just whizz past. The railway station is served by regional trains tough. We used such a train to leave Flueelen in the direction of Schwyz which was our next stop on our day trip from Zurich.

The railway station, the bus station and the boat station are all conveniently situated very centrally within a short walking distance from each other.

Flueelen is connected by bus to Altdorf and other surrounding towns. We actually came here from Altdorf by bus, simply because the bus left in the center of Altdorf whereas the railway station was further away.

The Flueelen-Altdorf section of the bus is a rare example where the Swiss National Railway ticket is also valid on a bus as well as on the train.

Flueelen is also served by yellow postbuses for regional connections.