The water of Lake Uri, as the southernmost arm of the beautiful Lake Lucerne in Switzerland is known, glistens azure blue. The rock faces tower high on its shores and the towns and cities in between are steeped in history. The Swiss Path (Weg der Schweiz) leads through this dreamy setting. It was created in 1991 by the 26 Swiss cantons to mark the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. Each canton was allocated a length of section according to its population, with five millimetres of path per resident.

The 36-kilometre (22 mi) hiking trail takes you to important stations of the Swiss Confederation in the stunning, fjord-like landscape of Lake Uri. You start at the Rütli, the birthplace of the Swiss Confederation, then hike – sometimes directly by the water, sometimes high above the lake – to Brunnen to the Square of the Swiss Abroad.

In this Collection, I’ve divided the Swiss Path into three relaxed stages so that you have enough time to enjoy, rest and swim. Starting from the Rütli landing stage, you climb up to the village of Seelisberg with its Schillerbalkon viewing platform and the Maria Sonnenberg pilgrimage chapel. Through the car-free village of Bauen, you reach Isleten, where the first stage ends.

The next day, you reach the Reuss Delta nature reserve on a flat lakeside path before immersing yourself in the colourful hustle and bustle of the harbour in Flüelen. Afterwards, a spectacular section along the Axenstrasse awaits you before you continue past Tellsplatz to Sisikon. After a night in Sisikon, the Swiss Path takes you to marvellous viewpoints and small chapels before reaching Brunnen, your destination.

It’s not only the landscape through which the Swiss Path leads that’s special but also the variability of the route. Thanks to the many connection points to the bus, train and boat network, you can choose between a variety of possible starting and finishing points. You can reach the starting point of Rütli by boat from Brunnen, Lucerne or Flüelen, where there are railway stations with national and international connections.

In general, the Swiss Path runs along easy-to-walk paths, trails and side roads and is suitable for anyone new to long-distance hiking. Regardless of whether you come from Switzerland or another country, the Swiss Path offers you interesting insights into the history of the cantons and marvellous views of Lake Lucerne.