Rütli is considered the birthplace of Switzerland, the so called cradle of the confederation and a national monument. It is where, according the founding myth, some locals secretly met in the middle of the night, swore allegiance to each other and decided to get rid of their rulers. It is basically a mountain meadow on Lake Lucerne. It as a popular excursion destination that can only be reached by ship or on foot. There are barbecue areas and a restaurant (www.ruetlihaus.ch) and on August 1, a national holiday, there's a celebration here (tickets required).