Uri

Uri is the land of the Gotthard and William Tell: a narrow mountain valley through which one of Europe's most important Alpine crossings has run since the Middle Ages. A trip to Uri combines passes, gorges and a fjord-like lake with Andermatt, which has transformed into a year-round resort.

From Lake Uri to the Gotthard

The canton follows the Reuss Valley from Lake Uri, the southernmost arm of Lake Lucerne, up to the Gotthard Massif. Peaks of more than 3,000 meters rise on both sides. On the lakeshore lies the Rütli Meadow, where, according to tradition, the Swiss Confederates swore their oath, and the Tell Chapel marks the spot where Tell is said to have leaped from Gessler's boat. Altdorf, the main town, greets visitors with the Tell Monument of 1895; in Bürglen, Tell's legendary home village, a museum tells the story of the hero. Erstfeld and Göschenen recall the great era of railway construction.

Andermatt and the Schöllenen Gorge

Beyond Göschenen, the road winds through the Schöllenen Gorge, which the Devil's Bridge already spanned in the 13th century. Legend has it that the devil himself built it. Above, the Urseren Valley opens up with Andermatt, which has been revitalized thanks to a large resort project with hotels, a golf course and a ski area that extends to Sedrun. From here, the Oberalp, Furka and Gotthard passes lead off in three directions, and the Glacier Express stops in town.

Away from the main route, you'll find the Schächental valley with the Klausen Pass and waterfalls, the Maderanertal, a quiet side valley with mountain lakes and Belle Époque hotels, and Isenthal on Lake Uri. The Axenstrasse, blasted into the rock in the 19th century, and the Swiss Path along the shore offer views of the lake. In Erstfeld, a visitor center presents the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world.

Food and best time to visit

Uri cuisine is hearty and down-to-earth: Älplermagronen (Alpine macaroni), Urner Rys and Pöör (a risotto with leeks), alpine cheese from the Schächental and the Urner Pastete. Altdorf is about an hour from Zurich by train, and Andermatt can be reached via Göschenen. The passes are usually open from June to October, the best time to visit for hiking; in winter, Andermatt is a reliable snow-sure ski area.