Schwyz (canton)

Schwyz (canton)

The Schwyz canton is the bedrock of Switzerland where the national flag was born and the original Federal Charter of 1291 is kept. You find yourself in a landscape of massive twin peaks known as the **Mythen** which dominate the skyline. The province is a mix of deep lake shores and high mountain plateaus like the **Muotatal**, famous for its massive Hölloch cave system. Roads take you to the **Stoosbahn**, the world steepest funicular railway which climbs at a 110 percent gradient. You find yourself looking down at the **Lauerzersee** and the site of the historic **Goldau** landslide. Valleys are filled with ancient archives and museums that hold the original charters of the nation. It is a place where the past feels very close to the present. Watch farmers moving their herds through the town center and hikers tackling the steep limestone trails. The mountains here are sharp and iconic providing a dramatic backdrop to every drive. Schwyz is the soul of the country and a place that feels deeply connected to the earth.

Schwyz (canton) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Schwyz (canton)

This is the foundational canton of the Swiss identity **where the name Switzerland and the national flag were born**. In 1291 the leaders of Schwyz met on a hidden meadow called the Rutli to sign a pact of mutual defense against the **Habsburg dynasty**. They were fierce high altitude warriors who specialized in ambush tactics in the narrow mountain gaps. Their victory at the **Battle of Morgarten** in 1315 proved that a small force of motivated peasants could defeat the finest knights in Europe. The region wealth did not come from gold or trade but from the **Victorinox** blade and the Schwyz cattle. For centuries the people here were famous for breeding some of the heartiest livestock in the Alps driving their herds over the passes to Italian markets. This tough outdoor lifestyle led to the creation of the world famous **Swiss Army Knife** in the late 1800s which was a tool designed to be as versatile and durable as the mountain people who used it. Despite its status as a revolutionary birthplace the canton has always been a sanctuary for tradition. The **Abbey of Einsiedeln** with its Black Madonna has been the spiritual center of the region for over a thousand years attracting millions of travelers. The history of the canton is a story of rugged independence and deep rooted faith. It is a land where ancient charters are kept in high security vaults and where the world steepest funicular railway now scales the same cliffs used by early rebels.
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