A2 (Switzerland)
Encyclopedia
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It forms Switzerland's main north-south axis from Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
to Chiasso
Chiasso
Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
, meandering with a slight drift toward the east.
The A2 motorway leaves Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
heading south toward Olten
Olten
Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.Olten's railway station is within 30 minutes of Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.-History:...
, Sursee
Sursee
Sursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the Sure river enters the lake , hence the name "Sursee"....
, Luzern, Stans
Stans
Stans is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:Stans is one of the oldest settlements in the entire Nidwalden valley. The first traces of human settlement date to the 2nd Century BC...
, Altdorf
Altdorf, Switzerland
Altdorf is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri. The municipality covers an area of and is located at a height of above sea-level, to the right of the river Reuss.-Location:...
, Erstfeld
Erstfeld
Erstfeld is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Erstfeld is first mentioned in 1258 as Ourzcvelt. In 1638 it was listed under the Latin name in Protocampis. In 1831 it was known as Hirschfelden.-Geography:...
, Göschenen
Göschenen
Göschenen a village in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Göschenen is first mentioned in 1280 as Geschenden. In 1290 it was mentioned as Gescheldun, then in 1294 as Geschenen and in 1429 as ze Gestinen.-Geography:...
, Airolo
Airolo
Airolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into...
, Biasca
Biasca
Biasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as Aviasca in the Liber viventium of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as Abiasca.-Early history:...
, Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
, Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
and reaches Chiasso
Chiasso
Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
.
It intersects with the A1
A1 (Switzerland)
The A1 is a motorway in Switzerland. It follows Switzerland's main east-west axis, from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland's canton of St. Gallen through to Geneva in southwestern Switzerland...
, A8, A13
A13 (Switzerland)
The A13 is a motorway, at times an Autostrasse , which runs from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland through to Ascona in southern Switzerland, crossing the main chain of the Alps in the Grisons area. It is the southern half of European route E43.- Construction :The A13 started life as a...
and A14 motorways.
The St. Gotthard Tunnel
Gotthard Road Tunnel
The St. Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the Canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is just under in length below the St. Gotthard Pass...
lies on the way. Traffic jams stretching for kilometres on end are frequently found on both entrances of the tunnel, but more frequently on the northern flank. The difficulty with driving through the St. Gotthard tunnel is that it is a motorway tunnel with one lane per direction, but without a central reservation. So far, plans for a second Gotthard tunnel have been rejected or otherwise failed to come to fruition.
Near Lucerne, this motorway passes through the Sonnenberg Tunnel
Sonnenberg Tunnel
The Sonnenberg Tunnel is a 1,550m long motorway tunnel, constructed between 1971 and 1976 and located near Lucerne, Switzerland. At its completion it was also the world's largest civilian nuclear fallout shelter, designed to protect 20,000 civilians in the eventuality of war or disaster.-Motorway...
, which until recently was the world's largest nuclear blast shelter
Blast shelter
A blast shelter is a place where people can go to protect themselves from bomb blasts. It differs from a fallout shelter, in that its main purpose is to protect from shock waves and overpressure, instead of from radioactive precipitation, as a fallout shelter does...
.
This is one of the most driven-on motorways in Switzerland.
List of Exits
Listed are exits heading south as of BaselBasel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
Symbols: ↗ = exit (↘ = exit only; → = only when heading for Chiasso
Chiasso
Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
; ← = only when heading for Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
); ⇆ = main interchange; S = service area
Canton of Basel-Stadt
- Border with GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(German A 5Bundesautobahn 5is a 445 km long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the...
)- ⇆ 1: (BaselBaselBasel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
Wiese interchange with motorway heading for FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - ↗ 2: (←) Basel Bad Bahnhof
- ↗ 3: Basel Wettstein
- ↗ 4: Basel Breite, BirsfeldenBirsfeldenBirsfelden is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-History:Birsfelden is first mentioned in 1274 as minor Rinvelden. Around 1500 it was first mentioned as Birsfeld.-Geography:...
- ↗ 5: Basel City
- ⇆ 6: (Hagnau interchange with J18 (Switzerland)) ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, DelémontDelémontDelémont is the capital of the Swiss canton of Jura. The city has approximately 11,000 inhabitants as of 2007.-Geography:Delémont lies southwest of Basel, about halfway between Basel and Bienne... - ↗ 7: PrattelnPrattelnPratteln is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, located in the district of Liestal.-Geography:Pratteln has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 28.1% is forested...
, Schweizerhalle, Auhafen, AugstAugstAugst is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.It was known as Augusta Raurica in roman times-History:... - S PrattelnPrattelnPratteln is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, located in the district of Liestal.-Geography:Pratteln has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 28.1% is forested...
- ⇆ 1: (Basel
Canton of Basel Landschaft
- ↗ 8: LiestalLiestalLiestal is the capital of the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, south of Basel.It is an industrial town with a cobbled-street Old Town.-History:...
- ↗ 9: (AugstAugstAugst is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.It was known as Augusta Raurica in roman times-History:...
interchange with A3A3 (Switzerland)The A3 is a motorway in northeast Switzerland, running diagonally from France toward the southeast border, and passing by Zurich on the way. The total length of the A3 motorway spans roughly , but parts of the road share sections of the A1 and A2 motorways....
) - ↗ 10: ArisdorfArisdorfArisdorf is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Arisdorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 56.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 34.1% is forested...
- ↗ 11: SissachSissachSissach is a municipality and the capital of the district of Sissach in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Sissach has an area, , of . Of this area, or 28.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 46.6% is forested...
- ↗ 12: DiegtenDiegtenDiegten is a municipality in the district of Waldenburg in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-History:Diegten is first mentioned in 1152 as Dietingoven. In 1213 it was mentioned as Dietikon,in 1342 it was mentioned as Dietken and in 1671 it was Dieckten.-Geography:Diegten has an area, , of...
- ↗ 13: (←) EptingenEptingenEptingen is a municipality in the district of Waldenburg in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Eptingen has an area, , of . Of this area, or 47.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 47.6% is forested...
Canton of Aargau
- ⇆ 15: (HärkingenHärkingenHärkingen is a municipality in the district of Gäu in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.-History:Härkingen is first mentioned in 1080 as quendam comitatum nomine Härichingen in pago Buchsgeowe situm . In 1101 it was mentioned as 03 apud Harichingen.-Geography:Härkingen has an area, , of...
interchange with A1A1 (Switzerland)The A1 is a motorway in Switzerland. It follows Switzerland's main east-west axis, from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland's canton of St. Gallen through to Geneva in southwestern Switzerland...
) - ↗ 16: RothristRothristRothrist is a municipality in the district of Zofingen in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Originally an Alamanni settlement, the modern village of Rothrist is first mentioned in 1263 as Routris. The Herschaft rights were held by the Counts of Frohburg until 1299, when they...
Canton of LucerneCanton of LucerneLucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
- ⇆ 17: (Wiggertal interchange with A1A1 (Switzerland)The A1 is a motorway in Switzerland. It follows Switzerland's main east-west axis, from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland's canton of St. Gallen through to Geneva in southwestern Switzerland...
) - ↗ 18: ReidenReidenReiden is a municipality in the district of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On January 1, 2006 the former municipalities of Langnau bei Reiden and Richenthal were united in the new municipality of Reiden.-Geography:...
- ↗ 19: DagmersellenDagmersellenDagmersellen is a municipality in the district of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.On 1 January 2006, the former municipalities of Buchs and Uffikon were merged into Dagmersellen, causing a one-third increase in its population and a marked increase in its territorial...
- ↗ 20: SurseeSurseeSursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the Sure river enters the lake , hence the name "Sursee"....
- ↗ 21: SempachSempachSempach is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:It has retained some traces of its medieval appearance, especially the main gateway, beneath a watch tower, and reached by a bridge over the old moat.About half an hour distant to the north-east, on...
- ↗ 22: RothenburgRothenburg, SwitzerlandRothenburg is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Rothenburg has an area of . Of this area, 67.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 15.5% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
(planned) - ↗ 23: Emmen, SwitzerlandEmmen, SwitzerlandEmmen is a city in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Emmen has an area of . Of this area, 46.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 33.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive . , 18.19% of the...
Nord - ⇆ 24: (RotseeRotseeThe Rotsee is a natural rowing lake on the northern edge of Lucerne, Switzerland. It is 2,400 m long with virtually no current and protected from winds by nearby hills making it an ideal rowing venue....
interchange with A14) - ↗ 25: Emmen Süd
- ↗ 26: (→) LuzernLucerneLucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
Zentrum - ↗ 27: LuzernLucerneLucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
- KriensKriensKriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:... - ↗ 28: LuzernLucerneLucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
- HorwHorwHorw is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Horw is first mentioned in 1231 as Horwe.-Geography:...
Canton of Nidwalden
- ↗ 29: (→) HergiswilHergiswilHergiswil is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Hergiswil has an area, , of . Of this area, 29.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 44.4% is forested...
- ↗ 30: (→) Lopper (planned)
- ↗ 29: (←) Hergiswil
- ↗ 31: (→) StansstadStansstadStansstad is a village in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Stansstad has an area, , of . Of this area, 33.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 49.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 14.9% is settled and the remainder is non-productive .-Demographics:Stansstad has a...
- ↗ 32: StansStansStans is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:Stans is one of the oldest settlements in the entire Nidwalden valley. The first traces of human settlement date to the 2nd Century BC...
Nord - ↗ 33: Stans Süd
- ↗ 34: BuochsBuochsBuochs is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:Buochs is first mentioned in 1124 as Boches. In 1184 it was mentioned as Buoches in 1210 as Buches, and in 1229 as Buchs.-Geography:...
- ↗ 35: BeckenriedBeckenriedBeckenried is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:The 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...
Canton of UriCanton of UriUri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
- ↗ 36: AltdorfAltdorf, SwitzerlandAltdorf is the capital of the Swiss canton of Uri. The municipality covers an area of and is located at a height of above sea-level, to the right of the river Reuss.-Location:...
- ↗ 37: ErsfeldErsfeldErsfeld is a municipality in the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
- ↗ 38: Amsteg
- ↗ 39: WassenWassenWassen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-Geography:Wassen has an area, , of . Of this area, 12.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.1% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- ↗ 40: GöschenenGöschenenGöschenen a village in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Göschenen is first mentioned in 1280 as Geschenden. In 1290 it was mentioned as Gescheldun, then in 1294 as Geschenen and in 1429 as ze Gestinen.-Geography:...
Canton of Ticino
- ↗ 41: AiroloAiroloAirolo is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:In the settlement of Madrano, Roman tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD were found. They belonged to a Vicus, whose inhabitants probably collected crystal, which was processed in Locarno into...
- S Stalvedro
- ↗ 42: QuintoQuinto, SwitzerlandQuinto is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:A grave from the early Iron Age has been found in the valley. The modern municipality of Quinto is first mentioned in 1227. The old Vicinanza, whose statutes were first written in 1408, consisted...
- ↗ 43: FaidoFaidoFaido is the capital of the district of Leventina in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland.On 29 January 2006, Faido grew by incorporating the villages of Chiggiogna, Rossura, and Calonico.-History:...
- ↗ 44: BiascaBiascaBiasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as Aviasca in the Liber viventium of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as Abiasca.-Early history:...
- ⇆ 45: (Interchange with A13A13 (Switzerland)The A13 is a motorway, at times an Autostrasse , which runs from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland through to Ascona in southern Switzerland, crossing the main chain of the Alps in the Grisons area. It is the southern half of European route E43.- Construction :The A13 started life as a...
to ChurChurChur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
) BellinzonaBellinzonaBellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
Nord - S Bellinzona
- ↗ 46: Bellinzona Centro (planned)
- ⇆ 47: (Interchange with A13A13 (Switzerland)The A13 is a motorway, at times an Autostrasse , which runs from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland through to Ascona in southern Switzerland, crossing the main chain of the Alps in the Grisons area. It is the southern half of European route E43.- Construction :The A13 started life as a...
to LocarnoLocarnoLocarno is the capital of the Locarno district, located on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino, close to Ascona at the foot of the Alps. It has a population of about 15,000...
) Bellinzona Sud - ↗ 48: Rivera
- ↗ 49: LuganoLuganoLugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
Nord - ↗ 50: Lugano Sud
- ↗ 51: MelideMelide, SwitzerlandMelide is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The village lies very close to the mountain Monte San Salvatore and is directly on the Lake of Lugano...
, BissoneBissoneBissone is a municipality in the district of Lugano, in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Bissone is first mentioned in 735 and again in 854 as Blixuni. In German it was known as Byssen, though that name is no longer used....
, Morcote, Campione d'ItaliaCampione d'ItaliaCampione d'Italia is an Italian comune of the Province of Como in the Lombardy region, occupying an enclave within the Swiss canton of Ticino, separated from the rest of Italy by Lake Lugano and mountains... - ↗ 52: MendrisioMendrisioMendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian speaking Switzerland ....
- S ColdrerioColdrerioColdrerio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Coldrerio is first mentioned in 852 as Caledrano. In 1170 it was mentioned as Calderario, in 1185 as Caldirera and in 1187 as Coldrario.Archeological finds in the area provide evidence of a...
- ↗ 53: ChiassoChiassoChiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
- ↗ 54: Chiasso Centro
- Border with ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...