Artilleriewerk Gütsch, Military fortification in Uri, Switzerland
Artilleriewerk Gütsch is a military fortress built into the mountainside in Uri at 2300 meters elevation. The installation features three armored turrets equipped with 10.5 cm cannons and five reinforced machine gun positions carved into the rock.
Construction started in 1941 and the fortress became operational by October 1942, with interior work continuing until June 1944. It was built during World War II as a strategic defensive position.
The fortress served as a critical defensive position for the Swiss Army, operated by Artillery Company with 300 personnel until its decommissioning in 1994.
The site is accessible via a road from Nätschen or by cable car from Göschenen, which covers an elevation gain of around 1200 meters. Visitors should expect steep mountain conditions and limited access during winter months.
The installation was staffed by around 300 soldiers and remained in operation until 1994, showing how long such mountain fortresses stayed active in Switzerland. Despite its remote location, it played an important role in Swiss defense strategy for decades.
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