How William Tell became a monument
The court lime tree on today's town hall square had become weak in the 16th century, whereupon the village bailiff Bessler had a stone fountain built in 1567. A similar fountain with a statue of Tell was erected at today's entrance to the church square. Both fountains marked the alleged positions of Tell and the boy at the apple shoot.
In 1859, Landammann Alexandre Muheim brought a monumental Zurich plaster figure from the Freischiessen in Zurich to Altdorf. However, the statue could not withstand the adverse weather for long and so a long-term solution was sought over the next 20 years.
Through self-financing and a donation from the Swiss Confederation, the bronze project cast in Paris by Thiebaud Frères could be realised. It was stipulated in writing that William Tell was to be depicted as a man proud of freedom, bold and determined, and dressed in the peasant costume customary in the country. The sculptor Richard Kissling carried out the commission between 1882 and 1895 exactly according to these specifications. Thus the new monument could be inaugurated with a grand ceremony on 28 August 1895.
More than just a monument - A guided tour of the Türmli
How about taking a look at the Tell monument not only from the outside, but also from the inside? Our expert guides will lead you through the old walls and present you with exciting background knowledge.
