Flüeli-Ranft belongs to the municipality of Sachseln and lies at an altitude of 728 meters. The tranquil pilgrimage site and holiday resort is home to the «Hohe Brücke» or high bridge, which is considered Europe’s highest wooden bridge and crosses the Melchaa River flowing 100 metres below.

The main attraction is the hermitage of Brother Klaus in the narrow valley of the Melchaa: Sachseln’s most famous inhabitant, Niklaus von Flüe (Nicholas of Flüe), lived in the hamlet of Flüeli-Ranft. He was a farmer, politician, judge and officer in the Swiss army who left his family in 1467 to live as a hermit in the Ranft gorge. Known as Brother Klaus, legend has it that he lived there for nineteen years without food except for the Eucharist. His counsel is said to have prevented a civil war between the cantons who met at the Diet of Stans in 1481. The advice he gave them remains a secret. Revered during his lifetime, he was canonised in 1947 and is Switzerland’s only saint.

The upper Ranftkapelle or chapel with the adjoining hermitage bears witness to the life of Brother Klaus. His cell remains largely intact in its original form. The chapel was rebuilt in 1693 and contains a picture cycle illustrating the life of Brother Klaus. The lower Ranftkapelle built in 1501 is an excellent example of late-Gothic architecture. Its interior contains 16th century fresco paintings.

The Visionenweg or vision theme path was opened in 1991, and is a hiking and meditation path, leading from Niklaus von Flüe’s birthplace to the so-called Grabkapelle (tomb chapel) near the parish church. The house Niklaus von Flüe lived in is in Flüeli-Ranft village and can be visited. The furnishings are reminiscent of the late medieval period.

Sachseln and Flüeli-Ranft have been important stages on the Route of St. James since late medieval times. The Route of St. James from Stans to Ranft is identical with the Brother Klaus Path, opened in 1981 to commemorate Brother Klaus’ mediation between the cantons of the Swiss Confederation.