Tellskapelle, Seelisberg, Switzerland
Every Friday before the day of the ascent, the Urner Landeswallfahrt takes you by boat to Tellskapelle. The ship leaves at 7.30 pm from Flüelen via Isleten and Bauen to Tellsplatte. The trip is free, registration is not required.
At this point on Lake Uri, Wilhelm Tell was supposed to have escaped from the boat of the landowner Gessler. The present chapel was built in 1879/80, with four magnificent frescoes by the Basel painter Ernst Stückelberg, showing “Rütlischwur”, “Apfelschuss”, “Tellsprung” and “Gessler’s death in the Hohle Gasse”.
The fairytale king Ludwig II of Bavaria wanted to make a large Tell in the water, which should symbolize the Tellsprung and was so large that even the big steamboats could have passed between his feet (similar to the colossus of Rhodes).
Above the Tellskapelle is the biggest bell-play in Switzerland ever since 2001, which at every full hour in the first ten minutes one of the numerous melodies can sound. During the winter time, the clock can be played until 17.10 hours and during the summer time until 19.10 clock.
Visit Switzerland. Epic Switzerland Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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