Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

About 3 km (2 miles) north of
Flüelen is the Tellsplate, a flat WILLIAM TELL
rock. According to legend, this Switzerland’s national hero, or perhaps
is where William Tell made his just a myth? Revisionist historians say
leap to freedom during his William Tell (right) was invented more
journey across Lake Lucerne, than a century after he allegedly freed
on his way to impris on ment his son, and his emerging country,
at Küssnacht. Near the rock from Habsburg feudal lords
stands the Tellska pelle, a 16th- by shooting the evil bailiff
century chapel remodelled in Hermann Gessler in 1307.
the 19th century. This emblem atic act
of courage and
resistance has
14 echoed down the ages
and across the globe, thanks in
Bürglen part to Hollywood, Friedreich von
Schiller’s play and Gioachino Rossini’s
! E4 @ ∑ uri.info opera. If, as now suggested, it was all
This small town at the mouth a ploy designed to forge a sense of
of the Schächen valley is national unity, it worked.
reputed to be the birthplace
of William Tell, hero of Swiss
legend. The sup posed site chron icles at the fascinating 15
of his house is marked by Tell Museum. Also of interest
a chapel, built in 1582. It is in Bürglen are a 17th-century Altdorf
decorated with frescoes illus- wooden tavern, the Adler Inn, ! E4 @ £ n Tellspielhaus;
trating how Tell killed a which serves local beers, and www.uri.info
Habsburg duke, an early Baroque church with
triggering confederacy. a Romanesque tower. Altdorf is reputed to be the
The legend of William town where William Tell shot
Tell and the place it Tell Museum an apple from his son’s head.
occupies in Swiss "' ⌂ Postplatz # May, The Telldenkmal, a 19th-
culture are illustrated Jun, Sep & Oct: 10–11:30am & century statue of Tell and his
through over 600 1:30–5pm daily; Jul & Aug: son, stands on Rathausplatz,
years’ worth of 9:30am–5pm daily and plays of the story are
paintings and ∑ tellmuseum.ch regularly performed.

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