He's known throughout the world. William Tell is the man who, in Altdorf, was compelled by the Habsburg bailiff Gessler to shoot a bolt from his crossbow at an apple placed on his son's head, and who later killed Gessler with the second bolt in the Hohle Gasse (Hollow Way). The Tell Museum offers an opportunity to find out more about the Swiss national hero William Tell through a fascinating collection of historical objects. The museum isn't aiming to prove that William Tell actually existed, but to critique what he represents and his role in society.
The entrance area of the Tell Museum introduces visitors to the idea of heroism and its significance for society. The lounge is where you can meet Tell culturally, for example through the words of Schiller, the Tellenlied (Song of Tell) or the music of Rossini. The middle floor contains an unusual compartmentalised wooden box featuring a variety of objects from art, politics, tourism, historical research, society and advertising – all centred on the Tell myth. They chart how the perception of Tell has evolved over a period of 600 years. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the work of Ernst Stückelberg, the Basel painter (1831-1903) responsible for the murals in the Tell Chapel in Sisikon, among other things. The top floor presents a film installation that brings together the various Tell strands by way of conclusion to the exhibition – from the origins of the Tell myth to Tell's significance in selected phases of Swiss history.
The Tell Museum is housed in the Wattigwiler Tower on Bürglen's Postplatz – the village in which William Tell is said to have lived. The tower is one of the four that feature in Bürglen's municipal coat of arms. It's nestled in the delightful village centre alongside the parish church of Peter and Paul and priest's house, Adler inn, Tell restaurant with its Ludwig parlour, Tell Chapel and Planzerhaus. These are all places that you should view if visiting the Tell Museum.
If you arrive by public transport, you'll alight at the "Bürglen, Post" stop, which is right by the museum. Parking spaces are available for visitors arriving by car, but they are limited in number. Once you're at the Tell Museum, there are lots more things to see and do in the village. You could follow the Tell educational trail, discover the churches and chapels on Kapellenweg, and enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the inns.
Wenn Sie mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln anreisen, befinden Sie sich bei der Haltestelle «Bürglen, Post» direkt am Ziel. Für die Anreise mit dem Auto stehen Ihnen Parkplätze zur Verfügung, jedoch in beschränkter Anzahl.
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