Moving in the Canton of Uri – from Altdorf to Andermatt, at a clear guide price

Uri essentially corresponds to the catchment area of the upper Reuss and stretches from Lake Uri (Urnersee) in the north to the Gotthard Pass in the south. Around 56 per cent of its area is mountains and unproductive land. That is why three quarters of its 38,533 inhabitants (as of 30 September 2025) live in the lowest part of the canton, the Reuss plain (Reussebene). With 36 inhabitants per square kilometre, Uri is one of the most sparsely populated cantons. The cantonal capital, which is also the most populous place, is Altdorf.

Where people live in the canton

For planning a move, Uri can be roughly divided into four areas:

• the Reuss plain with the capital Altdorf, where most people live
• the shore of Lake Uri from Seelisberg to Sisikon
• the Urserntal with Andermatt, Hospental and Realp
• areas outside the Reuss valley: the upper course of the Engelberger Aa and the Urnerboden

On the plain, access is usually straightforward; by the lake and in the mountain villages, the stopping place and vehicle size matter. We clarify these points during the free survey visit, by WhatsApp video if you prefer.

Corporations instead of districts

Uri has no districts; the Federal Statistical Office lists the whole canton as a single district. Instead, the corporations (Korporationen) Uri (from Seelisberg to Göschenen, 16 municipalities) and Ursern (Andermatt, Hospental and Realp) shape the canton, owning practically the entire territory with its water, land and alpine pastures. In total, the canton has 19 political municipalities. For the courts there were the districts of Uri and Ursern; the cantonal parliament (Landrat) approved the abolition of the Ursern judicial district in September 2018.

Uri is distinctive in language too: Uri German (Urnerdeutsch) belongs to Highest Alemannic and sounds noticeably different from the Schwyz dialect – in Uri people say «Miis» instead of «Müüs» for mice.

The Gotthard axis

One of the most important Alpine crossings runs through Uri. The Schöllenen Gorge was developed from around 1220, and the first Devil's Bridge (Teufelsbrücke) was built in 1230. The Gotthard rail tunnel followed in 1882, the road tunnel in 1980 and, in December 2016, the base tunnel of around 57 kilometres, the longest railway tunnel in the world. On top of that come five pass roads whose costs the canton has to bear.

Andermatt lies roughly halfway between Zurich and Milan, about four kilometres from the Göschenen motorway exit. Since 2011, the Andermatt Swiss Alps resort with hotels and holiday apartments has been developing there. When you move into such a holiday apartment, we can also take care of furniture assembly on request.

Working and moving house in Uri

In 2021, the canton had 2,796 workplaces, and the unemployment rate stood at 1.2 per cent in January 2026. From Lake Uri to the Gotthard region, Uri tends to focus on gentle tourism: around 70 hotels recorded 304,459 overnight stays in 2022, plus some 39 mountain railways and cable cars. We carry out office relocations outside business hours.

Uri borders eight cantons. A move can therefore lead in very different directions: through the Gotthard for a move to Ticino, along Lake Uri to the canton of Schwyz, from the Urnerboden to Glarus or towards Nidwalden. End-of-tenancy cleaning and disposal can be booked directly as add-ons.

Frequently asked questions

Who moves servers, measuring instruments or labs for industrial firms in Uri?
We do, with our IT and laboratory relocation service, planned outside your business hours. Computers and devices are packed individually in protective material and labelled, and on request we move files in an orderly way as part of an archive relocation. Our carpenters reassemble office furniture at the new site in the canton of Uri so that operations can resume quickly.

How do you plan a move from Amsteg up into the Maderanertal?
By choosing a vehicle that suits the road into the valley: Silenen is spread out, and between Amsteg on the valley floor and the houses in the Maderanertal, width and gradient change. If the large removal lorry cannot reach the house, we make several trips with a smaller vehicle and plan enough carriers and time for this.

How does a move work at the far end of the Schächental, well above Bürglen?
Mainly by clarifying access early: beyond Bürglen, the village of William Tell, the road leads deep into the valley. If your address is on the Klausenstrasse, we match the vehicle to the cantonal checklist. We also ask about farm access, turning space and the distance to the front door so that loading and carrying work without detours.

Where can furniture be stored if the new home in Uri is not ready yet?
Your furniture can stay with us until the Uri home is ready, in storage that is dry, climate-controlled and alarm-protected. On moving-out day, we collect everything and deliver it later to Altdorf, the lakeshore or the Urserntal as soon as the flat or house is free. We see how much space is needed during the survey visit, so storage and delivery appear in the same quote.

When should I request a quote for a move in the canton of Uri?
As soon as the date is fixed, because the survey visit comes before the quote, and the application for the stopping place also needs lead time. If the route crosses a pass or the address is on a mountain road, booking early gives you extra flexibility in choosing the date. The quote follows within 24 hours of the survey visit.

Why does a cost ceiling make sense for addresses in mountain villages like Realp?
Because the journey and carrying routes there can be longer than on the valley floor. With a cost ceiling, which we set after the survey visit on request, you know the maximum amount in advance; alternatively, we agree a flat rate. Without such an agreement, billing is by working time, and if things go faster, you pay correspondingly less.

Which route do you take for a move to the Urnerboden?
The route depends on the season, because the Urnerboden belongs to Uri but lies outside the Reuss valley on the far side of the Klausen Pass. When the pass is open and from which direction we approach, we clarify during planning. We set the loading volume and vehicle so that everything reaches the Urnerboden in one trip.

What should I watch out for on a winter move to Andermatt, Hospental or Realp?
Snow and wet at both ends of the carrying route: in the high valley of Ursern, we lay extra floor protection so that the stairwell and flat stay dry. Ask the property management or neighbours to keep access to the house cleared. For the drive into the Urserntal, we allow more time and pack delicate furniture with extra protection.