Photos

Altdorf (German for "old village") is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri. The municipality covers an area of 10.23 km². It is built at a height of 462 m above sea-level, a little above the right bank of the Reuss, not far above the point where this river is joined on the right by the Schächen torrent.

Altdorf is 55 km from Lucerne by the St Gotthard railway and 28 km from Göschenen. Its port on the Lake of Lucerne, Flüelen, is 2 miles distant. There is a stately parish church, while above the little town is the oldest Capuchin convent in Switzerland (1581).

Altdorf is best known as the place where, according to the legend, William Tell shot the apple from his son's head.