Seelisberg, village of a World Government, International Conferences and the Diet
19 June 2024
Seelisberg (canton of Uri) is an ancient Alemannic village situated on the border with canton Nidwalden. Despite Its small size, the village held significant autonomy in the Middle Ages, boasting market rights and jurisdiction.
Seelisberg, perched at an altitude of over 800 m, 400 metres higher than the Urnersee, which is part of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee). It was home to the pivotal Treibhafen, a crucial shipping hub on the lake.
Perhaps this port and shipping connection was also the reason for the meetings of representatives of the Orte Unterwalden, Uri and Schwyz in the Middle Ages, for example, on the Rütli.
Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, the Rütli is not so unlikely as a location of (secret) meetings, given its isolated but easily accessible location by water. Shipping was the fastest and safest mode of transport in Europe in the Middle Ages, including in the Innerschweiz. In any case, several Tagsatzung meetings also took place in Seelisberg in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Seelisberg also had a pilgrim chapel aptly named Maria Sonnenberg. This name comes from the village’s sunny location. The healthy mountain air, the location on the Urnersee and the many hours of sunshine also prompted the development of the spa resort Grand Hotel Sonnenberg in the 19th century.
Since 1972, Sonnenberg has been the centre of the self-proclaimed ‘World Government of the Age of Enlightenment’.
The Treibhafen was a steamship station in 1854. The Seelisbergbahn has been in operation since 1916. Above all, however, Seelisberg-the Rütli is a prominent location on the historic road ‘Wiege der Schweiz‘.
This route includes 12 sites, various village sights, and the Grand Hotel Sonnenberg, which offers stunning views over the Urnersee and Gothhard.
In 1947, Grand Hotel Sonnenberg was also the site of the still topical, interfaith and international conference on anti-Semitism.
(Source and further information: Commune of Seelisberg)
Grand Hotel Sonnenberg
The chapel Maria Sonnenberg
Impressions of the region
