Canton of Schwyz
Canton|short_name=Schwyz|local_names=Schwyz|coa_img_path=Schwyz.png|locatormap_img_path=Swiss_Canton_Map_SZ.png|cantonalmap_img_path=Map_of_Canton_Schwyz.png|capital=
Schwyz|area=908|area_rank=13th|area_scale=8|population=131400|population_rank=17th|population_asof=2003|population_density=144|since=1291|abbr=SZ|languages=
German|executive=Regierungsrat|executive_members=7|legislative=
Kantonsrat|parliament_members=100|highest=Bös Fulen|highest_m=2802|municipalities_number=30|districts_designation=Bezirke|districts_number=6|}}
Schwyz (
German ) is a
canton in central
Switzerland between
Lake Lucerne in the south and
Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of
Schwyz.
It is one of the founding
cantons of Switzerland, and Switzerland's name (in
Alemannic German homophonic,
Schwiiz) as well as the
Flag of Switzerland derive from this canton. The
Swiss Federal Charter is on display in
Schwyz. North east of the town of Schwyz is the world-famous abbey of
Einsiedeln.
Brunnen is located on
Lake Lucerne.
The canton of Schwyz is located in central Switzerland. The river
Sihl and the smaller
Muota traverse the canton. About three quarters of the total area is considered productive land. Most of the land is hilly rather than mountainous, making it suitable for agriculture. Of the productive land, about 240 km² are forests. Lakes take up 65 km². This area is made up of parts of
Lake Zürich and
Lake Lucerne. Only a small part of
Lake Zug is within the canton of Schwyz. The smaller lakes Lauerz (
Lauerzersee) and Sihl (
Sihlsee), however, are completely within the canton of Schwyz.
The highest elevation is the
Ortstock with 2,716 m. Although not as high, the summits of the
Rigi massif (
Kulm, 1,798 m, and
Scheidegg, 1,665 m) are probably the most famous mountains within the borders of the canton. The area of the canton is 908 km².
There are findings that show that people were living in the area of the canton of Schwyz thousands of years ago. Many of these findings are concentrated in the north of the canton, in the area of
Hurden and
Freienbach on
Lake Zürich. Many of the findings date back 5000 years. Stone and bronze tools were recovered from these sites.
About 1400 years ago, the Allemanni settled in the area of the canton. This influenced agriculture and the way of living of the locals. Christianity only arrived in the area by the late
7th century. There are churches in
Tuggen and
Schwyz that date back to this time.
In the
10th century the abbey of
Einsiedeln became more and more powerful. It soon controlled many of the surrounding lands, many of which outside the area today covered by the canton of Schwyz. The economy benefited from the transit across the
Gotthard, but these profits attracted other powers, such as the
Habsburgs.
On
1 August 1291 the canton of Schwyz founded the
Swiss Confederation together with
Uri and
Unterwalden (Pact of the
Rütli). It is one of the Four Forest Cantons (
Vier Waldstätten): Schwyz, and the cantons of
Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden - the latter two now joined together as the canton of
Unterwalden - all located on the shores of the
Vierwaldstättersee (
Lake Lucerne). The canton of Schwyz took the leadership in the confederation early on. As early as
1320 the name of the canton was applied to the whole of the confederation. It was only in
1803, howerver, that the name
Schweiz as derived from the canton of
Schwyz became the official name of Switzerland. The flag of
Switzerland is derived from the banner of Schwyz.
The rulers of
Schwyz little by little expanded their area of influence. This included a number of smaller battles, such as the
Alt Zürcherkrieg. In
1386 the canton of Schwyz won the
Battle of Sempach and as a result greatly expanded its area. The Protestant reformation was resisted in the canton. At the
Battle of Kappel in
1531 troops of Schwyz beat those of the reformation leader
Huldrych Zwingli fell. Zwingli himself was the most prominent to die at this battle which killed hundreds of soldiers.
Between
1798 and
1803 the canton of Schwyz was part of the
Helvetic Republic. After this it regained its independence and most of the changes introduced by
Napoleon were reverted. This led to frictions within the canton, leading to the separation of part of the canton. A canton of Schwyz
Outer Countries was created in
1830, only to be re-unified with the other half in
1833. In
1845 the canton joined the separatist Roman Catholic league (
Sonderbund). The venture of this league failed and the canton re-joined the confederation as an ordinary member.
The constitution of
1848 ended the openair assemblies (
Landsgemeinde). The constitution was revised in
1876 and
1898.
Most of the canton relies on agriculture. The local breed of brown cattle is renowned. Textiles used to be of greatest importance in the canton but now mostly ceased to exist. Where it does, it is concentrated around the capital
Schwyz. In the same area are located many producers of fine furniture. There are a few large hydroelectric power plants in the canton. Tourism is of importance in a number of regions, most notably probably in the centre of pilgrimage
Einsiedeln. Einsiedeln is also a centre of winter sports. The mountain railways on the
Rigi are well known around the country.
Freienbach in the north of the canton is known for the lowest taxes in Switzerland. This attracted a number of rich people.
There are about 131,400 inhabitants (
2002). The official language is
German, although the people speak the
Swiss German dialect of central Switzerland. The majority is
Roman Catholic.
The largest towns are the capital
Schwyz and
Einsiedeln.
Theodor Ab Yberg, head of the canton 1846-1847
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Official site
