Schwanau - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Lake Lauerzersee lies between the Rigi and Mythen massifs in the municipalities of Lauerz Schwyz and Steinen. The lake, which is 3 kilometres long and a maximum of 1 kilometre wide, lies at an altitude of 447 metres. With a maximum depth of 14 metres, it is one of the shallowest lakes in Switzerland.

The Nature Reserve and Wildlife Park Goldau is located in Central Switzerland in the middle of a wild, romantic landslide area. More than 100 species of wild European animals live in an area of 42 hectares. Many of them are endangered. The spacious animal enclosures are situated in between giant rocks and give the park its distinctive charm. One of the beautiful and informative places which gives an idea about the rare species of animals in the world.

The Museum of the Swiss Charters of Confederation exhibits the most important documents from the history of the Old Swiss Confederation and explains their meaning. The focal point is the legendary Federal Charter of 1291. Today, the museum explains the national myth and the actual history of the Old Swiss Confederacy. It features a collection of original documents and flags.

Mt Rigi watches over the eastern shore of Lake Lucerne and was one of the first mountains in the world to have a cog railway. First opened in 1871, the Mt Rigi rack train was originally pulled by steam engines. It was changed to electric, later on, but still today the route operates with nostalgic steam on special runs. There are actually two railways to the summit of Mt Rigi. The original Mt Rigi cog train from the shore of Lake Lucerne at Vitznau where the lake cruise boats stop.

A 35 km footpath was created around the southernmost part of Lake Lucerne to mark Switzerland’s 700th anniversary. The Path leads to historic sites pertaining to the Swiss Confederation. The path is divided into stages that are partially wheelchair-accessible and can be reached by ship or by train. Overnight stays are possible at the end of some of the trails.

The Druidenstein is a large erratic block above Morschach in the canton of Schwyz. The stone lies at an altitude of 758 m above sea level. M. northeast above the village on a hilltop of the Grossegg. The Druidenstein is surrounded by other smaller boulders and by the lawn of the Axenstein Golf Club, whose restaurant is barely a hundred meters away from the stone. From the “Schwyzerhaus” bus stop, it can be easily reached in around fifteen minutes via a marked hiking trail.