Canton Obwalden, Switzerland

 

Walden, wherever you look: together with the half-canton Nidwalden, Obwalden once formed Unterwalden, one of Switzerland’s ancestral cantons. Obwalden is located in the centre of Switzerland and lies between Luzern and Interlaken. It represents everything most people usually imagine when they think of Switzerland: marvellous landscapes, high mountains such as Pilatus and Titlis, skiing areas with guaranteed snow, well-constructed hiking trails, a mild climate, crystal clear lakes, good air, and an affectionate hospitality. Sometimes it’s good when ready-made pictures become true!

The small municipality of Giswil is primitive and it is precisely for this reason that it is beautiful: only 3,500 inhabitants live in an area that is as large as Zurich.

The municipality’s highest mountain is the Giswilerstock. In the valley in which this place is located, you will find many of Switzerland’s treasures: Medieval wooden houses, for example, such as “Schrotenmatt“ house, the oldest house, built in the year 1467.

The houses conform as harmonically to the mountainous region like the lovely parish church St. Laurentius, for example. Those loving records might travel to Alpnach on Lake Lucerne: the rack-railway which leads onto the Pilatus is regarded as the steepest of the world, with a gradient of up to 48%. Hikers might prefer a walk over parts of the famous Way of St. James, which leads through half of Europe to the tomb of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

Small churches and chapels flank the path, for example on the way between Stans and Flueli Ranft. The Lungerersee, in whose clear water the surrounding mountains and forests reflect their image, is up to 23 degrees warm and thus proves that mountain lakes sometimes also invite less hard-boiled people to bathe. The lakeside resort Lungern welcomes you with a fine sandy beach and a 56 metre long water slide, amongst other things…have a good time!

 

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