Central Switzerland

Panoramic and scenic pictures from Central Switzerland.

Lucerne Panoramic picture of the seaside of Lucern, Switzerland.
Kapellbrüche Panoramic picture of the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) at Lucerne.
Kapellbrücke 2 Panoramic picture of the lakeside of the Chapel bridge in Lucerne.
KKL Panoramic picture of the centre of art and congresses in Lucerne. (KKL)
Pilatus Panoramic picture of Lucerne with the Pilatus in the background.
Zug Panoramic picture of the city of Zug.
Titlis 1 Panoramic picture pf the alps. View from the Titlis to the Alps of Bern.
Titlis 2 Panoramic picture of the Mittelland, taken on Mount Titlis.
Lake Zug Picture of lake Zug (Altidude 413m), taken on the Rigi (1798m)
Rigi Railways Picture of an Art- and a Viznau-Rigi rack railway train.
Rigi Panoramic picture of the Alps of Central Switzerland. (View in southern direction)
Rigi 2 Panoramic picture, taken at the Rigi, view in direction Lucerne.
Lauerzersee Panoramic picture of the Lauerzersee (Lake in Canton of Schwyz), taken at the Rigi.
Abbey Place Einsiedeln Panoramic picture of the Abbey Place in Einsiedeln.
Lake Sihl in winter Panoramic picture of the frozen Lake Sihl at Euthal, Switzerland.

Video

About Central Switzerland

Population: around 526'000
Language: German
Major cities: Luzern, Zug, Schwyz

Location

Central Switzerland is located, as the name suggest, right in the center of Switzerland, north of the Gotthard Mountains. Because a major European traffic route, the Gotthard route, crosses through Central Switzerland, it relatively easy to reach from the north and south by train as well as by car.

Landscape

Central Switzerland is a transition region where the the flat Swiss Plateau and the Alps meet. It features two main lakes: Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) and Lake Zug. A bit special is the landscape in the upper Reuss-Valley where river, highway and rail-Tracks squeeze in the narrow valley.

Points of Interest

Central Switzerland is famous for the more than 700 year old Chapel Bridge in Lucern. Apart of this city, the region is visited mostly because of the landscape. Mountain railways give easy access to places with stunning views. Some examples are: Rigi, Mount Pilatus or Titlis. The little church of Wassen can be seen several times "while passing by" in a train on the old Gotthard-Line. The rail-tracks loop around the church a few times while winding up into the mountains.

History

400 B.C.
Colonisation by the Helvetics, a celtic group. -> Confoederatio Helvetica (CH), the latin name and car-sign of Switzeland are derivated of that
after 58. B.C.
Roman province. -> Capital Aventicum (Avenches)
after 400 A.D.
Immigration of the "Allemannen" a german group (-> german speaking part) and the Burgunds (->french speaking part)
after 500 A.D.
Central Switzerland is part of the frankish realm, later on of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (Heiliges römischer Reich deutscher Nation).
01.08.1291
Switzerland is founded with the legendary oath at the Rütli.
1315
Battle of Morgarten. The Swiss Confederacy wins against Habsburg.
1332
Lucerne joins Switzerland.
1352
Zug joins Switzerland.
1386
Victory against Habsburg-Austia at the Battle of Sempach.
1529-1531
Battles between the catholic and the reformed cantons of Switzerland
1648
The Swiss Confederation declares independence from the German Empire.
1847
Civil war. The "Sonderbund", mostly consisting of the Cantons of Central Switzerland, is defeated.
1848
Creation of the modern Swiss Confederation with Bern as capital city.

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