Arth commune (Schwyz canton, Switzerland) (original) (raw)

On red a white tower with battlements, standing on a green mountain of three coupeaux.

In 1315 the people of Schwyz and of Arth signed an alliance against the rule of the Habsburgians who still played an important role in the region. As protection against possible attacks, a mighty "Letzi" wall with towers was built, which stretched from the mountain slope of the Rossberg along the lake to the mountain slope of the Rigi. Hardly any traces of it are visible today. Probably the tower in the emblem is a reference to those fortifications.