The Tour de Suisse in
Beckenried
The most beautiful village by the most beautiful lake
The poet Isabelle Kaiser (1866-1925) described Beckenried in her works as “the most beautiful village by the most beautiful lake.” The people of Beckenried still call it this today: “S’scheeschtä Dorf am scheenschtä See,” translated as: “The most beautiful village by the most beautiful lake.”
Beckenried, uniquely located on Lake Lucerne with the nearby recreational area Klewenalp-Stockhütte just outside the door, is situated at 435 meters above sea level and has just over 3,700 inhabitants. Beckenried was the first place in the canton of Nidwalden to develop tourism, which began before 1850. The construction of the Klewenalp cable car came about in 1933 through private initiative. The poor accessibility of the mountain properties and alpine farms at that time was the starting point of the cable car idea. The initiators also had the tourism potential in mind. Excursion traffic and winter sports developed beyond expectations, and at regular intervals, the cable car facilities were expanded. The first cable car (1933) had 12 seats per cabin (which could not be fully occupied due to licensing reasons), the second (1936) had 20, the third (1955) already 40, and the fourth, which came into operation in 1972, could hold 80 people per cabin. In 1999, the Klewenalp cable car merged with the Emmetten-Stockhütte aerial cable car, forming today’s Bergbahnen Beckenried-Emmetten AG.
In summer, Beckenried is the starting point for unforgettable activities. Whether it’s a boat trip on Lake Lucerne, a hike to the impressive Risleten Gorge and the dinosaur tracks left by the Iguanodontid dinosaurs that once lived in Beckenried, or a ride on the aerial cable car to Klewenalp, where varied hiking trails, bike routes, climbing gardens, mountain huts, barbecue spots, and playgrounds await – there’s much to discover in Beckenried.
Winter in Beckenried is mostly centered around the snow sports area of Klewenalp-Stockhütte. Many slopes are waiting to be explored by winter sports enthusiasts of all ages. Numerous winter hikes, snowshoe trails, and sledding runs also offer plenty of variety.
One thing summer and winter in Beckenried have in common – you are always accompanied by a stunning panorama of the surrounding mountains and the turquoise-blue Lake Lucerne.
Impressions
© Christian Maugg, nineworks gmbh