Walking Switzerland in a day
Families are being invited to Central Switzerland on May 5 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Swiss Path, which tells the story of William Tell and other aspects of Swiss history as it winds its way around Lake Lucerne.
The path was created in 1991 as part of Switzerland’s celebrations to mark the 700th anniversary of the pact that gave birth to the Swiss Confederation.
The events on May 5 begin at the boat landing in Flüelen on the southern arm of Lake Lucerne. There will be competitions, clowns and alphorn players and special gifts for children celebrating their own 10th birthday in 2001.
A paddle steamer will take guests on a short trip before calling at the Rütli meadow, where the first Swiss pledged the historic oath in 1291 to free themselves from Austrian rule.
William Tell will be on hand to give the event an authentic touch.
The Rütli meadow is the starting point for the 35-kilometre-long Swiss Path around part of the lake. Every one of Switzerland’s 26 cantons claims a length of the path according to their population – with every resident being equal to five millimetres.
It helps put into perspective the fact that canton Zurich counts more than a million residents compared to 50,000 in Appenzell.
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