Andermatt is located 1436 meters above sea level in the barren and rocky yet lovely Upper Urseren Valley. When Goethe travelled through the valley in 1779, he described it as the «dearest and most interesting» of all the regions he knew. This is where four great rivers rise: the Rhine, the Rhone, the Reuss and the Ticino. It is the meeting-point for the four linguistic and cultural regions of Switzerland, and it is also the crossroads of the three major Alpine passes: the Gotthard, the Furka and the Oberalp.

The Gotthard area is Europe’s «moated castle». Over 40 lakes, large and small, glisten like pearls around the Urseren valley – crystal clear, ice cold and rich in fish. There is a 60 km long themed footpath in the Göscheneralp valley, dedicated to the subject of «Worlds of Water».

Since the legendary Devil's Bridge was built at the start of the 13th century, the connecting arterial route between northern and southern Europe passed through Andermatt. The development of the pass roads brought new life to Andermatt as a vacation and spa resort and a trading centre. The economy took a downward turn with the opening of the Gotthard rail tunnel in 1882 and especially with the inauguration of the motorway tunnel in 1980. The army dominated construction in the valley during the last century and stimulated the local economy, but it is also cutting jobs as a result of savings measures.

Hopes now rest on tourism, a sector where Andermatt has a great deal to offer. As well as the Alpine passes, tourist attractions include the Schöllenen Gorge with the legendary Devil's Bridge and the Suvorov Monument. In summer, the Urseren Valley is a splendid paradise for hikers, and the passes present a challenge for mountain bikers and cycle tour enthusiasts. Splendid views of the mountains, valleys and glaciers are the reward for ascents which might sometimes tempt cyclists to dismount. In winter, Andermatt is among the winter sports resorts with the best guarantee of snow in Switzerland. A two-section aerial cableway carries snow-lovers to the skiing area on the Gemsstock, at an altitude of almost 3000 meters. The 40-km cross-country course follows the Furka-Reuss river through the unique natural world of the Urseren Valley.

Andermatt is an ideal base or staging-point for railway fans. This is the junction between the historic Matterhorn-Gotthard rail route and the Schöllenen rack-and-pinion railway leading down to Göschenen. There are many equally exciting options: crossing the Alps from west to east in winter on the world-famous Glacier Express from the Valais into Graubunden, taking the Furka Steam Railway to traverse the Furka on the historic rack-and-pinion section, or an exclusive nostalgic journey in a stagecoach drawn by five horses over the Gotthard Pass during the summer months.