Beckenried

Geschichte

Beckenried is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.HistoryThe first settlers in what would become Beckried were from Alamanni tribes that moved into the area over 2000 years ago. During the Middle Ages the region was part of extensive estates that were shared between Engelberg Abbey, Murbach-Lucerne and Steinen, Switzerland. The two tower houses in the village (named: Retschrieden and Isenringen) were built in the 13th century for two local, influential families. In 1262 the village is mentioned in an agreement over a nearby pasture. In 1314 it is mentioned as Beggenriet.GeographyBeckenried has an area, of 24.3km2. Of this area, 49.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 36.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 5.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (8.7%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The municipality is a linear village along the shore of Lake Lucerne. It consists of the village of Beckenried with the sections known as Oberdorf, Niederdorf and Dorf.The Beckenried–Gersau car ferry links a terminal in Niederdorf with Gersau on the opposite bank of Lake Lucerne.