Platz der Auslandschweizer

In 1856, the then Rössli innkeeper, Fridolin Fassbind, began to buy a series of gardens between the Leewasser and the lakeshore in the direction of "Wehrihaggen". In 1870, he built the Hotel Waldstätterhof on the part of the site close to the village. In December 1905, Fassbind bought the "Wehrihaggen" (harbour pier with a shallow water area facing land) from the district of Schwyz. From 1906 onwards, the spit of land was filled in over decades, and the area of around 5400 square metres had to be secured against the lake with a strong retaining wall. A Kursaal was planned for the gradually created square. Until the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, the "Wehrihaggen" remained the property of the Waldsätterhof Hotel. On 4 May 1991, the Swiss Abroad Square was opened to the public by Federal Councillor Jean-Pascal Delamuraz and was one of the main sites of the 700th anniversary celebrations.FoundationIn 1988, the Foundation "Swiss Abroad Square Brunnen" was established. Thanks to a worldwide fundraising campaign among Swiss abroad and the support of the Swiss Confederation, the square was purchased in 1989. The donor plaque attached to a granite block at the entrance to the square commemorates the generous donors from Switzerland and abroad. Public and private events are regularly held on the Swiss Abroad Square. It can be rented for events.