Andermatt is a town and ski resort in the canton of Uri, Switzerland. It is located at a crossroad in the Alps with great historical importance. Before the opening of the Gotthard car and train tunnels, a big part of the north-south traffic had to pass through here. It has been a rather sleepy town for the last decades but is now slated for the development of a big resort by a foreign investor, so it might be a good time to visit while it is still the quiet place it is now.
There are not actually many museums and monuments and that like in Andermatt. However, the town's alpine-style houses and the nature with the surrounding summits are certainly worth photographing. Do bring a camera.
- Devil's bridge. The Schöllenen Gorge below Andermatt used to be the bottleneck on the important Gotthard route. The first bridge was built here around 1300 and a first stone bridge around 1600. The two bridges which are now present are from 1830 and 1958. A famous Swiss legend tells of how the first bridge was built by the devil in exchange for the soul of the first men to cross the bridge. According to legend, a ploy was then used and a dog sent over the bridge instead. The devil got angry and brought along a boulder large enough to smash the bridge but was convinced on the way not to do so. He dropped the boulder. where he was and it is supposedly still there today next to the road.
- Talmuseum Ursern, Gotthardstrasse 113, +41 41 887 06 24. We-Sa 16:00-18:00 during the season. A small museum inside an old nobleman's residence. Fr. 7/3.
Devil's bridge. The Schöllenen Gorge below Andermatt used to be the bottleneck on the important Gotthard route. The first bridge was built here around 1300 and a first stone bridge around 1600. The two bridges which are now present are from 1830 and 1958. A famous Swiss legend tells of how the first bridge was built by the devil in exchange for the soul of the first men to cross the bridge. According to legend, a ploy was then used and a dog sent over the bridge instead. The devil got angry and brought along a boulder large enough to smash the bridge but was convinced on the way not to do so. He dropped the boulder. where he was and it is supposedly still there today next to the road.
Talmuseum Ursern, Gotthardstrasse 113, +41 41 887 06 24. We-Sa 16:00-18:00 during the season. A small museum inside an old nobleman's residence. Fr. 7/3.
Like many other towns in the Alps travelers are attracted by various outdoor activities like skiing in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer.
- Skiarena Andermatt-Sedrun, +41 41 887 14 45. Andermatt shares a ski area with Sedrun the other side of the Oberalppass. The train between the two towns is included in the price of the ski ticket. Day pass Fr. 60/30.
Skiarena Andermatt-Sedrun, +41 41 887 14 45. Andermatt shares a ski area with Sedrun the other side of the Oberalppass. The train between the two towns is included in the price of the ski ticket. Day pass Fr. 60/30.
Shops in the town centre sell equipment for outdoor activities, but being a "tourist" town in Switzerland, they are not especially cheap. Classic Swiss souvenirs like chocolate, cuckoo clocks and Swiss army knives are also available.
"Hotel" and "restaurant" are interchangeable concepts in Andermatt – most restaurants are situated in hotels.
- Gasthaus zum Sternen, Gotthardstrasse 67, +41 41 887 11 30.
Gasthaus zum Sternen, Gotthardstrasse 67, +41 41 887 11 30.
Being on a crossroad, there is many choices on where to go on from Andermatt: