| Sempach
A pretty little town at the south-eastern end of the lake of the same name, in the canton of Lucerne. A chapel and the Winkelried stone recall the famous Battle of Sempach, which marked the true beginning of Swiss independence. Sempach was founded in the Middle Ages by the Habsburgs to control the Gotthard route, one of the major north-south trade routes of the time. It was here that the Battle of Sempach took place in 1386, which saw the victory of Lucerne and Waldstätten (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden) over the vastly superior Austrians. It is also here that the memory of Winkelried is celebrated, the legendary hero who allowed a decisive breakthrough in the enemy ranks by voluntarily throwing himself on the spears of the Austrian soldiers... Of course, like William Tell, it is probably only a legend, but it is part of the founding myths of the Helvetic Confederation! It is a very pretty town with its Hexenturm (Witches' Tower), its red and white half-timbered town hall dating from 1474 and its many old houses. One will also like to linger by the lake, a stone's throw from the main street, where a pretty park invites one to relax and daydream... Sempach is also home to the Swiss Ornithological Institute, which is dedicated to research into bird migration and the monitoring of breeding bird populations, among other things, and is a popular place for excursions. |
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