Stans
Stans is the main town of the canton of Nidwalden, in central Switzerland, just south of Lake Lucerne. It has a small, quiet old centre with a large square and a church with a tall tower.
A cable car climbs from the nearby village to the Stanserhorn, a mountain with wide views. Stans is a calm base for the lake and for Lucerne.
Stans – Tu prépares un voyage ?
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Quand partir
May to October is best for the Stanserhorn and the lake. Summer is warm. Winter is cool and foggy in the valley, and the mountain cable car runs in a shorter season.
Sites incontournables
- Stanserhorn is a mountain with a cable car, including a roofless upper deck.
- Winkelrieddenkmal is a monument for a hero of Swiss history.
- Winkelriedhaus is a museum in a historic house.
- St. Peter und Paul is the main parish church of the town.
- Salzmagazin is an old salt warehouse used for art shows.
- Burg Rotzberg is a castle ruin above the lake.
- Bourbaki-Denkmal Stans recalls the French soldiers who found refuge in Switzerland in 1871.
- Frey Näpfli Stiftung is a small museum of a foundation.
Listes recommandées
Expériences à vivre
- Ride the cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn.
- Walk through the old square and see the monument.
- Take the train to Lucerne for a day.
- Take a boat on the lake from a nearby harbour.
- Hike on the paths above the town.
Visites et activités
Stans — Carte
Excursions à la journée
- Lucerne is about 15 minutes away by train.
- Lake Lucerne is nearby, with boats to many villages.
- Engelberg is a mountain resort with an abbey, about 40 minutes away.
- The Bürgenstock is a hill with a famous lift and views over the lake.
Où s'aventurer
- Lake Lucerne is the main lake region next to Stans.
S'y rendre
- By air: Zurich is the main airport, about 1 hour 30 minutes away.
- By train: Stans is on a regional line from Lucerne. Check times on SBB.
- The train from Lucerne takes about 15 minutes.
Se déplacer
- The old centre is small and easy to walk.
- Local buses link Stans with the nearby villages.
- A cable car goes up the Stanserhorn from the nearby village of Kälti.
Conduite
- A car is not needed for the town.
- The A2 motorway passes close by.
- Parking in the centre is easy.
Gastronomie
Try cheese, dried meat and cream dishes from central Switzerland. Local apples are a specialty. Nidwalden also has a tradition of fine pastry.
People speak German with a local dialect. English is widely understood.
Sécurité et santé
- Stans is very safe.
- Mountain weather changes fast.
- The cable car may close in wind.
- Stay on marked paths.
Histoire
Stans is one of the oldest settlements of the Swiss Confederation. In 1481, a diet held here ended a conflict between the cantons. A local man who offered help is remembered as a saviour.
The town was damaged in 1798, when French troops attacked, and was later rebuilt.
Infos pays
Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance:
- Devise
- franc suisse CHF CHF · Paiements par carte · Largement acceptées
- Numéros d'urgence
- 112
- Électricité
- 230 V · 50 HzType C / Type J
- Langues
- allemand, français, italien, romanche
- Eau du robinet
- Potable
- Sens de conduite
- À droite
- Indicatif téléphonique
- +41
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