According to legend, when the battle turned in the Confederates' favour, Arnold Winkelried threw himself into the spikes of the Habsburg knights, opening a path to victory for the Confederates. As the hero of Sempach, Winkelried became part of the Confederate tradition of liberation and is mentioned alongside the Rütli Oath, William Tell and the Breaking of the Castles. This is despite the fact that the story of Winkelried's heroic death takes place around 80 to 100 years after the other stories. When honouring the figure of Winkelried, a distinction needs to be made between the actual people, the narrative tradition and the history of the impact of the Winkelried myth.
In fact, there was a noble family called Winkelried in Nidwalden in the Middle Ages. The von Winkelried family were service nobles with their ancestral seat in the so-called "Wichried" in Ennetmoos and are documented - albeit with large gaps - from the 13th to the 16th century. In the Middle Ages, service nobles belonged to the lower nobility and administered estates for their noble feudal lords. In return, they were obliged to be loyal and serve them.
The location between the church and the town hall in Stans emphasises the importance of the monument. It depicts a group of three figures in Carrara marble.
In fact, there was a noble family called Winkelried in Nidwalden in the Middle Ages. The von Winkelried family were service nobles with their ancestral seat in the so-called "Wichried" in Ennetmoos and are documented - albeit with large gaps - from the 13th to the 16th century. In the Middle Ages, service nobles belonged to the lower nobility and administered estates for their noble feudal lords. In return, they were obliged to be loyal and serve them.
The location between the church and the town hall in Stans emphasises the importance of the monument. It depicts a group of three figures in Carrara marble.
Good to know
Openings
Open throughout
Price info
Free of charge
Target group
Individual guests
Groups
Directions & Parking facilities
The Winkelried Monument is a 5-minute walk from Stans railway station.
