"LEGEND'S WERE MADE AT ALTDORF" Altdorf by balhannah

Altdorf Travel Guide: 37 reviews and 102 photos

THIS IS WILHEM TELL COUNTRY.

Do you know the story?

I will tell you about the legend...............

William Tell was born at nearby Burglen, and was known as an expert shot with the crossbow. During this time, the Habsburg emperors of Austria were seeking to dominate the Canton of Uri and Altdorf. Albrecht Gessler, the newly appointed Austrian Vogt of Altdorf, raised a pole in the village's central square, hung his hat on top of it, and demanded that all the citizens bow before the hat.

When Tell passed by the hat without bowing to it, he was arrested. His punishment was to shoot an apple off the head of his son, Walter, otherwise, both would be executed.
Tell was promised freedom if he successfully made the shot.

Old building @ Altdorf

On November 18, 1307, Tell split an apple on his son's head with a bolt from his crossbow. Gessler noticed that before the shot, Tell had removed two crossbow bolts from his quiver, not one, and after the shot, asked him why.
Tell replied that if he had killed his son, he would have turned the crossbow on Gessler himself. Gessler was angered, had Tell bound, and then had Tell brought to his ship to be taken to his castle at Kussnacht.

A storm broke on Lake Lucerne, and Tell managed to escape. He went by land to Kussnacht, and when Gessler arrived, William Tell shot him. William Tell's defiance sparked a rebellion, in which he played a leading part. The struggle eventually led to the formation of the Swiss Confederation.
Tell is said to have fought again against Austria, in the 1315 Battle of Morgarten.
Wilhelm Tell died in 1354, while trying to rescue a drowning child from a river in Uri.

Altdorf

DID WILHELM TELL EXIST?

Nobody knows whether he is fact or fiction, but the story is known Worldwide.
He is the symbol of Swiss pride, courage, and the Swiss national hero of liberty.

William Tell will ALWAYS be a real-life hero, and he will live on, in the hearts and minds of Swiss people, forever

After reading this page, if you wish to follow my journey through Switzerland, please click on the town link below.

ANDERMATT

Last visit to Altdorf: May 2011
Intro Updated Oct 31, 2012
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Reviews (9)

ALTDORF - FLUELEN Things to Do (9)

Fluelen is located only 4kms from Altdorf. It really was a scenic little town, located at the end of Lake Lucerne.... more travel advice

THE 'MG' CAR Things to Do (9)

At the small Town of Fluelen, which is located beside Lake Lucerne, but on the opposite end to Lucerne, I happened to... more travel advice

THE ARSENAL Things to Do (9)

My photo is of the Arsenal building in Altdorf. I have tried to find information and can't. All I can tell you, is it's... more travel advice

WILHELM TELL THEATRE Things to Do (9)

The Wilhelm Tell Theatre struck me as a beautiful building. It was built in 1865, and was used as a Town Hall until... more travel advice

Comments (8)

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toonsarah Feb 18, 2013 at 4:18 AM

Interesting to read the full story of Wilhelm Tell. Fluelen looks lovely and the church is very pretty
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  balhannah Feb 18, 2013 at 7:51 PM
  
  Yes, another nice area, thanks for reading.
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yumyum Nov 18, 2012 at 2:01 AM

We've also been there not too long ago :-)
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  balhannah Nov 18, 2012 at 8:39 PM
  
  I look forward to reading your pages.
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Yaqui Nov 4, 2012 at 12:43 PM

The town looks so enchanting! LOL, love that MG car! You look marvelous in it!:) Nice page Dee!
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  balhannah Nov 5, 2012 at 2:22 PM
  
  Thanks Dee! I thought it was pretty cool too!
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HORSCHECK Aug 17, 2012 at 3:33 PM

Dee, fantastic little page about Altdorf which we once explored on foot for a day. Of course we also went to Fluelen, which I liked even more. I must admit that we missed the MG car.
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Nemorino May 1, 2012 at 12:53 PM

You certainly had beautiful weather for your visit to the town of Wilhelm Tell!
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Trekki Mar 29, 2012 at 10:28 AM

Loverly legend about Uri and the bull and the ring :-) I also love the interior of church of St. Martin. And so it was here where you took the photo in the cement MG Car :-) Oh and Wilhelm Tell, one of my ... how to say... co-crossbowers :-)
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Maryimelda Nov 28, 2011 at 8:27 PM

I must have been very close to Altdorf, yet I still missed it. I guess we will never have time to see everything we want to see. Well done!
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ranger49 Nov 26, 2011 at 1:45 AM

I have had a lovely time here in Aldorf - and at last heard what happened after the apple was split. It's never too late to learn!:)