Tell's Chapel

Tell's Chapel (Tellskapelle) on Lake Uri sits right on the shore at Sisikon in the canton of Uri, on the eastern side of the Urnersee, the southern arm of Lake Lucerne. It is among the best-known sites tied to Switzerland's national legend of William Tell.

What does the chapel commemorate?

Tradition says this is where Tell leapt from the boat of the bailiff Gessler and escaped during a storm. A small chapel was built on the rocky ledge by the water to mark the spot. Legend gives the year 1388, but historians cannot trace the source of that date. What is documented is a mention in Heinrich Brennwald's chronicle from 1508 to 1516. The chapel has long been dedicated to Saint Sebastian.

How did it change over time?

A brotherhood founded in 1561 held a memorial service here every year on the Friday after Ascension, remembering Tell as well as Werner Stauffacher and Arnold von Melchtal, two of the Rütli oath figures. Around 1589-1590 the chapel was enlarged or rebuilt and decorated with a fresco cycle about Tell's life. The present building was finished in 1879, and by 1882 the Basel history painter Ernst Stückelberg had filled the interior with four frescoes. In 1884 the Uri cantonal parliament raised the yearly pilgrimage to a solemn national procession, still held in the early 2000s.

What will you see?

The chapel is small and open at the front, so the paintings can be seen from outside as well as inside. They show the key scenes of the legend: the Rütli oath, the shot at the apple, Tell's leap from the boat, and Gessler's death in the Hohle Gasse sunken lane. The view stretches across the lake. The Rütli meadow, regarded as the cradle of the Confederation, lies on the opposite side of the bay about 4.3 km away. For photos, the water's edge gives the best angle, with the chapel set against the mountains.

How do you get there?

The chapel stands between Sisikon and Flüelen. From the Axenstrasse, which follows the lake, a short walk leads down to the shore. Public access is from the hotel above the chapel on that road. Sisikon and Flüelen can be reached by regional transport from Altdorf or Lucerne, and then on foot or by car along the lake.

When should you visit?

A stop takes about 20-30 minutes, so it pairs well with a boat trip on the Urnersee or a walk in the area. Late spring through autumn is the most pleasant time, with calm water and clear views. Services in honour of Tell follow the old date after Ascension.

Frequently asked questions

Is the chapel historically authentic? The Tell story is a tradition rather than a documented fact. The chapel itself has stood for several centuries and appears in an early 16th-century chronicle. The date 1388 has no confirmed source.

Who painted the frescoes? The four frescoes seen today were completed by 1882 by Ernst Stückelberg of Basel. An earlier cycle about Tell's life dates from around 1589-1590.

Is it the same as Tell's Chapel in Bürglen? No. Bürglen, Tell's home village in the legend, has its own separate chapel from 1582. The Sisikon chapel marks the escape from the boat.

Is there an entrance fee? The sources we used mention no charge for viewing the chapel. Access is a short walk down from the Axenstrasse to the shore.