7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo

Hiking

etappe-01621

ViaGottardo

Stage 7, Luzern–Altdorf

Route report
40 photos

WL_007_07_DSC05421_F_M.jpg
etappe-01621

ViaGottardo

Before the opening of the Axenstrasse road in 1865, the main route was by lake. The trip by steamship still remains an exceptional experience. From the jetty at Flüelen, you hike into the cantonal capital of Altdorf.
This stage is unique in that it is covered mainly by boat. It starts at the landing stage near the KKL (Lucerne Culture and Convention Centre). Once on the water, you can experience the rich biodiversity of Lake Lucerne. It was formed during the ice ages through erosion of the Reuss Glacier; the Reuss River, with a length of 164 kilometres, has its source in the Gotthard Massif. It leaves Lake Lucerne as a wide river with many bends and joins the Aare River at Windisch (330 metres above sea level) in the Canton of Aargau. The lake's name dates back to the four historic cantons surrounding it: Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden.

Offering breath-taking views of the Rigi and Bürgenstock, the boat after Viznau turns to enter the next lake basin. It feels like travelling on a small lake, but another lake basin opens up after each headland. At Brunnen, the boat turns into the Urnersee lake. On the right, you can see the Rütli. On a slightly raised forest clearing, representatives of the original cantons in 1291 swore the oath of allegiance (Rütlischwur), determining a joint approach to combat the foreign bailiffs in their valleys. It became the foundation for the Swiss Confederacy.

Axenstrasse runs along the left side of the lake. Until the road was built, the waterway served as the only connection to the north. After landing at Flüelen, the route continues on foot for a short while toward the Canton of Uri's capital. Passing the commercial zone, swimming baths and a bird park, you follow the river until shortly before Altdorf. On the way, the beautiful, almost 2-metre-high drystone walls will grab your attention, in addition to the 3,000-metre high Bristen. In Altdorf, about an hour after arrival by boat, the same can be said about the well-preserved old houses. And of course, there is the market square with the Tell monument, a bronze statue by Zurich artist Richard Kissling.
Before the opening of the Axenstrasse road in 1865, the main route was by lake. The trip by steamship still remains an exceptional experience. From the jetty at Flüelen, you hike into the cantonal capital of Altdorf.
This stage is unique in that it is covered mainly by boat. It starts at the landing stage near the KKL (Lucerne Culture and Convention Centre). Once on the water, you can experience the rich biodiversity of Lake Lucerne. It was formed during the ice ages through erosion of the Reuss Glacier; the Reuss River, with a length of 164 kilometres, has its source in the Gotthard Massif. It leaves Lake Lucerne as a wide river with many bends and joins the Aare River at Windisch (330 metres above sea level) in the Canton of Aargau. The lake's name dates back to the four historic cantons surrounding it: Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden.

Offering breath-taking views of the Rigi and Bürgenstock, the boat after Viznau turns to enter the next lake basin. It feels like travelling on a small lake, but another lake basin opens up after each headland. At Brunnen, the boat turns into the Urnersee lake. On the right, you can see the Rütli. On a slightly raised forest clearing, representatives of the original cantons in 1291 swore the oath of allegiance (Rütlischwur), determining a joint approach to combat the foreign bailiffs in their valleys. It became the foundation for the Swiss Confederacy.

Axenstrasse runs along the left side of the lake. Until the road was built, the waterway served as the only connection to the north. After landing at Flüelen, the route continues on foot for a short while toward the Canton of Uri's capital. Passing the commercial zone, swimming baths and a bird park, you follow the river until shortly before Altdorf. On the way, the beautiful, almost 2-metre-high drystone walls will grab your attention, in addition to the 3,000-metre high Bristen. In Altdorf, about an hour after arrival by boat, the same can be said about the well-preserved old houses. And of course, there is the market square with the Tell monument, a bronze statue by Zurich artist Richard Kissling.
4 km
70 m | 50 m
0 h 55 min
easy (hiking trail) | easy

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Luzern
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

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Crossing Vierwaldstättersee
Between Luzern Bahnhofquai and Flüelen (See), a boat takes you across the Vierwaldstättersee.

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
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Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Altdorf
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map
Arrival / return travel Flüelen
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Contact

Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton and the communities.
Urner Wanderwege
Rathausplatz 4
6460 Altdorf
info@urnerwanderwege.ch
www.urnerwanderwege.ch

Services

Accommodation

Jugendherberge Luzern
Jugendherberge Luzern
Luzern
Hotel Continental Park
Hotel Continental Park
Luzern
Backpacker’s Lucerne
Backpacker’s Lucerne
Luzern
Seeburghof
Seeburghof
Luzern
See- und Seminarhotel FloraAlpina
See- und Seminarhotel FloraAlpina
Vitznau
Hotel Nidwaldnerhof
Hotel Nidwaldnerhof
Beckenried
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Beckenried
City-Hotel
City-Hotel
Brunnen
Seehotel Waldstätterhof
Seehotel Waldstätterhof
Brunnen
Hotel Schmid & Alfa
Hotel Schmid & Alfa
Brunnen
Chlosterhof
Chlosterhof
Brunnen
Jugendherberge Seelisberg
Jugendherberge Seelisberg
Seelisberg
Wissig-Hof
Wissig-Hof
Seelisberg
Hotel Zum Schwarzen Löwen
Hotel Zum Schwarzen Löwen
Altdorf UR
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Places

Lucerne
Lucerne
Bürgenstock
Bürgenstock
Vitznau
Vitznau
Beckenried - Klewenalp
Beckenried - Klewenalp
Gersau
Gersau
Brunnen
Brunnen
Morschach
Morschach
Seelisberg
Seelisberg
Sisikon
Sisikon
Flüelen
Flüelen
Altdorf
Altdorf
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Places of interest

Musegg Wall
Musegg Wall
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Rosengart Collection Lucerne
Rosengart Collection Lucerne
KKL Luzern
KKL Luzern
Glacier Garden
Glacier Garden
Lion Monument
Lion Monument
Schweizerhofquai/Nationalquai
Schweizerhofquai/Nationalquai
Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne
Swiss Museum of Transport
Swiss Museum of Transport
Hammetschwand Lift Bürgenstock
Hammetschwand Lift Bürgenstock
Vitznau Fortress (Festung Vitznau)
Vitznau Fortress (Festung Vitznau)
Swiss Holiday Park
Swiss Holiday Park
Swiss Holiday Park Morschach
Swiss Holiday Park Morschach
Treib - Seelisberg Cable Railway
Treib - Seelisberg Cable Railway
Rütli
Rütli
Sweet chestnuts on Lake Lucerne
Sweet chestnuts on Lake Lucerne
Axenstrasse (Flüelen–Sisikon–Brunnen)
Axenstrasse (Flüelen–Sisikon–Brunnen)
Bathing islands Lorelei Altdorf
Bathing islands Lorelei Altdorf
Monument of Wiliam Tell
Monument of Wiliam Tell
Tell museum
Tell museum
Pumptrack Schattdorf
Pumptrack Schattdorf
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Signalization

Signalization
For hiking, follow the logo indicated on the yellow signposts. Take a printout of our web map on your hike for safety's sake.
Signalization