Here in the original cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, Switzerland was founded. Central Switzerland is the cradle of the nation. Canton Schwyz gave the country its name. Central Switzerland looks just how you would imagine the cradle of a nation should look. At its heart is the idyllic Lake Lucerne, which invites you to linger and to discover. The lake, with its labyrinthine shape, only reveals views of its romantic coves little by little, both from a boat and from the shore. Green mountains form its backdrop. In the distance they are blue. In the valleys between the mountains with their farmhouses, fields and forests, nature is largely unspoiled.
The quickest way to get to know Central Switzerland is to go to Lucerne with the Swiss Travel System. You arrive in the beautiful old city on the western shore of Lake Lucerne when you come to Central Switzerland on the InterCity train from Basel, Zurich or Berne. Here treat yourself. In the old city there are countless down-to earth and elegant restaurants. Lucerne’s hotel industry has a proud tradition.
Lucerne is also the starting point for many excursions. Why not take one of the historical steamboats, moored right in front of the Lucerne railway station? You can hardly experience this area in a more impressive way than on board one of these boats to Flüelen at the other end of the lake. Lucerne is also the starting point for the GoldenPass Line. This takes you over the Brünig pass into the Bernese Oberland and on to Montreux on Lake Geneva. It is not necessary to go far from Lucerne if you want to see the world from above. It is only a stone’s throw to Pilatus, the majestic mountain which towers over Lucerne.
Perhaps you also feel drawn to the east towards Lake Constance, with the Pre-Alpine Express. Click here >
