Altdorf

Altdorf, which is translated from German as “Old Village,” is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri. It is a famous social, political and business centre.

This tiny town has much to offer to the tourists, from its old and new distinctive features that remind us about the story of Switzerland’s origin.

While walking down of the Altdorf's squares and the narrow streets, you can clearly see the impact of the nearby south of the Swiss Alps. In the centre of the village stands the prominent William Tell Monument. It takes all the visitors back to the 19th century when William Tell shot the apple from his son's head on the orders of Hapsburg's regional governor - Gessler.

According to the legend, this happened right in the marketplace, where later the fine historical bronze statue of Tell and his son was set up.

In 1899, the people built a theatre near to the central town in order to perform Friedrich Schiller's well-known play of William Tell.

No other famous person in Switzerland is as celebrated as William Tell. However, there is still doubt whether he ever lived at all. His portrait can be seen on the back of the five Swiss Francs coins.

Another symbolic building in Altdorf is the Capuchin Monastery, right on the north side of the Swiss Alps. It is the oldest medieval tower in Switzerland, dating back to 1581, which is also known as the House of Silence. Nowadays, it hosts cultural events, like music shows and stone sculpture exhibits.

Altdorf had the honour to win the award of the Swiss Heritage Society’s Wakker in 2007. The reasons for the victory were its amazing landscape-compatible development, as well as the numerous new buildings, and the effective renovations.

In summer, Altdorf offers endless leisure possibilities of water sports, including swimming, surfing, sailing, rowing, or fishing.

Those who want to discover the real beauty of the surroundings can take a guide and go for hiking or mountain climbing tours on extreme hiking trails among unspoiled nature. Especially the trails in Schachental, which are highly recommended, and leave a lasting impression. For swimming, the best places are the outdoor and indoor Pool Complexes of Altdorf. They offer a paddling pool, wide entertaining slides, and restaurants with sunny terraces.

Winter holidays in Altdorf remind of a fairy tale when it wears a snowy white dress and offers plenty of joyful activity options, such as skiing, snowboarding, toboggan slopes, and many other exciting experiences.

Upon your visit to the dreamland of Altdorf, your to-do list must contain the taste of the famous Altdorf bean soup. It has been the traditional dish for over 100 years, ready to warm you in the cold winter days.

Altdorf also organises its annual music festivals, such as the Tonart Festival, Folk Music Festival, Alpine Sounds, and the famous Tell Festival, which is dedicated to the Swiss national hero.

You cannot resist the overwhelming beauty that you will see in Altdorf. It’s straight out of a fairy tale. AlpExcursion is totally at your disposal to give you the best of this wonderland during a private tour to delve into this attractive part of Switzerland.