Schwyz, Switzerland
Ever since Artur Schnabel was laid to rest in 1951 the grave has attracted many visitors, mostly musicians whose life had been touched by his music. Since then four more musicians of the Schnabel family have found their final resting place, each an outstanding musician, each having had a lasting impact on his or her environment.
Learn more about the grave and Schwyz, the place in which it is located.
In the summer of 1951 Artur Schnabel and his wife, Therese Behr-Schnabel, were spending time in Axenstein (Switzerland), a hamlet above Lake Lucerne a few miles south of Brunnen. Due to heart problems Artur Schnabel had to stay below the altitude of Sils Maria in the Engadin, away from the Alps he so loved.
Artur Schnabel’s male nurse, a native of the area, described the Mythen, a mountain range close by, and how peaceful Schwyz, his home town is. Through these stories Artur Schnabel fell in love with the area and expressed the wish to be buried in Schwyz.
Schwyz, located between Lake Lucerne and the small Lake Lauerz, is the town from which Switzerland takes its name and coat of arms. In 1291, the cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden formed a historic alliance, and in 1315, their victory at the Battle of Morgarten enabled them to drive out the Austrians. The town is home to the Museum of the Swiss Charters, which preserves some of the most important documents from the early Swiss Confederacy, including the confederation’s founding charter. In the same building, the town library features a collection of publications from the Schnabel Music Foundation. Schwyz also serves as the capital of the canton that bears its name.
Info from MySwitzerland.com
