Altdorf

Altdorf is the capital of Uri and the place the Tell story puts the apple shot - Gessler's hat on a pole, the crossbow, the boy. The monument on the main square, unveiled in 1895 and sculpted by Richard Kissling, is the reason the Tell most people picture looks the way he does: bearded, striding, crossbow over his shoulder, a hand on his son. It was reproduced endlessly and effectively standardised the image. The Tellspielhaus stages Schiller's play in a purpose-built theatre in occasional seasons. Beyond the legend, Altdorf is the administrative centre of a canton that has been a transit corridor for centuries, and the Gotthard route runs past it.

What you actually see

• Kissling's monument of 1895 - the statue that standardised Tell's image.
• The square of the apple story - where the legend places the shot.
• The Tellspielhaus - Schiller's play staged in seasons.
• A Gotthard corridor town - the transit route running past.

When to go

All year. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Tell is legend, and Altdorf's material is a monument to a story rather than to a documented event. The town is small and mostly administrative. Theatre seasons are occasional, not annual. The motorway is close and audible.

Nearby

Rutli and the Tellskapelle are on Lake Uri; Andermatt is up the Gotthard road.