<!--Note: There are two villages named Altdorf in Switzerland-->

Altdorf () is a municipality in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri and retains historic town privileges. It is the place where, according to the legend, William Tell shot the apple from his son's head. sits at an altitude of above sea level on a flat alluvial plain between the right bank of the river Reuss and the steep hillside of the Rossstock to the east. The scattered hamlets and pastureland of Eggbergen, about above the town, also belong to the municipality.

Of Altdorf's total area, about 36% is used for agricultural purposes (predominately for orchards or vineyards), 37–39% is forested, 23% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder is rivers, glaciers, or mountains.

Altdorf adjoins the municipalities of Attinghausen and Seedorf across the Reuss to the west, Flüelen, the port village at the Urnersee to the north, Bürglen in the Schächental to the east and south, and Schattdorf to the south.

History

Early settlement and medieval development

The earliest evidence of a settlement in Altdorf are several La Tène era bronze ax-heads and iron tools from the 3rd century BCE, along with iron implements recovered from the Bannwald above the Capuchin convent. The people that settled in this region initially settled in the forest, and expanded toward the banks of the Reuss. When the Reuss periodically flooded, the low lying settlements were destroyed and the inhabitants were driven back to the "old town", a possible source of the name Altdorf.

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, the local Gallo-Roman population of Altdorf began to mix with the Germanic Alamanni during the 7th century. The earliest evidence of this cultural mixing is the grave of an armed horseman dated to 670–680, located in the local . The current town was first mentioned in 1223 as Alttorf, whereas some sources from the 16th to 19th centuries occasionally refer to it as Uri.

By the second half of the 13th century, the territory around Altdorf had been cultivated to the banks of the Reuss. Beyond the main settlement of Altdorf itself, various hamlets are documented: Utzingen (1277), Hartolfingen, Magigen, and Untereien (1284). The Eggberge area was likely inhabited from the 14th century onward. The fertile lands to the west and south of the village were exploited intensively, while the Reuss valley remained largely as communal pasture. A substantial migration occurred, particularly of Walser people from Bosco/Gurin, continuing into the 17th century. From 2008 through 2017 the population has increased at an annual rate of 0.8%. Most of the population () speaks German (88.3%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common (4.2%) and Italian being third ( 2.5%). the gender distribution of the population was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

In Altdorf about 65.2% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a ).

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French occupation in the late 18th century caused lasting demographic shock; the population did not return to 1799 levels until the mid-19th century. From that point forward, population grew rapidly due to economic development, which attracted labor principally from other Uri municipalities. The construction of the Gotthard railway (1872–1882) brought new immigrants from central Switzerland and especially Italy. After the railway's completion, industrial growth maintained this immigration, while the native population remained stagnant. and in 1895 sculptor Richard Kissling unveiled a bronze statue commemorating the feat at the foot of an old tower.

In 1899 a theatre was opened close to the town's center for the purpose of performing Schiller's play of Wilhelm Tell.

Historisches Museum and the Haus für Kunst Uri

In 1905 a Museum was opened on Gottardstrasse just south of the centre of the town that houses a collection of local antiquities, weapons and regional furniture, as well as a collection of portraits of important Uri citizens, including fine ones by the Andermatt-born Felix Maria Diogg (1762–1834). There are several paintings here by the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury (1862–1947) whose family came from Hospental, including portraits of Pope Pius X, Pope Pius XI, Cardinal Merry del Val, the artist's father Alois Muller, his uncle Domherr Josef Muller, and a large allegorical work Alpenrose und Edelweiss. The museum was extended in the 1990s.

Recently the town has established the Haus für Kunst Uri at Herrengasse 2 in a partly converted historic house with a large contemporary extension creating an attractive exhibition space. The work of Swiss and international contemporary artists from Uri is exhibited here, and they sometimes have exhibitions of earlier historical art.

Climate

Between 1961 and 1990 Altdorf had an average of 133.7 days of rain per year and on average received of precipitation. The wettest month was August during which time Altdorf received an average of of precipitation. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 13.2 days. The month with the most days of precipitation was June, with an average of 14.4, but with only of precipitation. The driest month of the year was February with an average of of precipitation over 13.2 days. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Altdorf is classified as Cfb, or Marine West Coast Climate.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Altdorf is twinned with:

  • Altdorf bei Nürnberg, Germany (since 1971)

Transport

Altdorf is served by the regional public transport hub of Altdorf railway station, situated within the municipality and on the Gotthard railway. In 1899 a carriage-road was opened from Altdorf through the Schächental and over the Klausen Pass () to the village of Linthal () and so to Glarus. In 1906, the Altdorf–Flüelen tramway was constructed to connect the centre of Altdorf with Fluelen railway station. The electric tramway operated until 1951, when it was replaced by a bus service.

Notable people

  • Sebastian Peregrin Zwyer (1597–1661) was a Swiss military commander, mercenary entrepreneur, and one of the foremost politicians of the Old Swiss Confederacy; died in Altdorf
  • Franz Vital Lusser (1849–1927), Swiss civil engineer
  • Henry Haller (born 1923 in Altdorf, Uri) a retired Chef who served as Executive Chef at the White House for 22 years
  • Beat Streuli (born 1957 in Altdorf, Uri) a Swiss visual artist who works with photo and video based media
  • Luzia Zberg (born 1970 in Altdorf, Uri) a retired racing cyclist
  • Beat Zberg (born 1971 in Altdorf, Uri) a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer
  • Matthias Simmen (born 1972 in Altdorf, Uri) a retired Swiss biathlete, he competed in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics
  • Markus Zberg (born 1974 in Altdorf, Uri) a retired Swiss professional road bicycle racer

See also

  • List of towns in Switzerland
  • List of municipalities of Switzerland
  • Municipalities of the canton of Uri

Notes and references

Notes

References

Bibliography

  • Müller, Carl Franz (ed.): Das Dorfbüchlein des Fleckens Altdorf. Gesetze und Ordnungen für Altdorf. Durch Johann Jakob Büntiner, 1954.
  • Ammann, Hektor: "Die Talschaftshauptorte der Innerschweiz in der mittelalterlichen Wirtschaft", in: Der Geschichtsfreund. Mitteilungen des Historischen Vereins der fünf Orte Luzern, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden ob und nid dem Wald und Zug, 102, 1949, pp. 105–144.
  • Müller, Carl Franz: Das Bürgerhaus im Kanton Uri, 1950².
  • Stadler, Johann: "Landammann und Ständerat Gustav Muheim (1851–1917) von Altdorf. Ein Beispiel konservativer Politik um die Jahrhundertwende", in: Historisches Neujahrsblatt Uri, new series, 26/27, 1971/1972, pp. 1–258.
  • Bielmann, Jürg: Die Lebensverhältnisse im Urnerland während des 18. und zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts, 1972.
  • Fryberg, Stefan: Untersuchungen über die historische Demographie im Kanton Uri im 19. Jahrhundert, thesis, University of Basel, 1977.
  • Stadler, Martin; Bachmann, Heinrich: Altdorf. 100 Jahre aus dem Leben eines Dorfes und eines Vereins, 1978.
  • Zurfluh, Anselm: "Die Einwohnerzahl Altdorfs und des Kantons Uri von 1600 bis 1830", in: Historisches Neujahrsblatt Uri, new series, 37/38, 1982/1983, pp. 101–111.
  • Inventaire suisse d'architecture, 1850–1920, vol. 1, 1984, pp. 171–257.
  • Speck, Josef: "Ein latènezeitlicher Hortfund von Altdorf UR", in: Der Geschichtsfreund. Mitteilungen des Historischen Vereins der fünf Orte Luzern, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden ob und nid dem Wald und Zug, 139, 1986, pp. 5–22.
  • Historischer Verein der Fünf Orte (ed.): Innerschweiz und frühe Eidgenossenschaft. Jubiläumsschrift 700 Jahre Eidgenossenschaft, 2 vol., 1990.
  • Zurfluh, Kurt: Steinige Pfade. 160 Jahre Urner Wirtschaftsgeschichte [1830–1990], 1990.
  • Kälin, Urs: Die Urner Magistratenfamilien. Herrschaft, ökonomische Lage und Lebensstil einer ländlichen Oberschicht 1700–1850, 1991.
  • Stadler, Hans: Geschichte des Landes Uri. Teil 1: Von den Anfängen bis zur frühen Neuzeit, 1993 (2015³).
  • Gasser, Helmi: Altdorf 1. Teil. Geschichte, Siedlungsentwicklung, Sakralbauten, 2001 (Die Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Uri, 1.1).
  • Gasser, Helmi: Altdorf 2. Teil. Öffentliche und private Bauten, 2004 (Die Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Uri, 1.2).
  • Official website