New Glarus travel guide

New Glarus is located in Green County, Wisconsin in the United States at the intersection of Wisconsin Highways 69 and 39. It has an estimated population of 2,111 according to the 2000 census. The village, as well as the town in which it lies, was named after the Canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland. Founded in 1845 by immigrants from Glarus, Switzerland and incorporated in 1901, New Glarus is a popular tourist destination best known for its Swiss heritage, old world architecture, fine dining, outdoor festivals, and many forms of recreation. New Glarus is located approximately 22 miles from Madison, Wisconsin, 47 miles from Rockford, Illinois, 105 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 130 miles from Chicago, Illinois.
While many ethnicities in America have become one in the great melting pot, New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and many old world traditions. More than 160 years after it was founded, Swiss-style chalets and flower boxes filled with red geraniums still grace the streets of New Glarus. Swiss flags also fly proudly next to the American flag at many businesses and homes in New Glarus. Old World meat markets, restaurants, and an authentic Swiss bakery can also be found in downtown New Glarus, along with folk art, museums, and Swiss-style shops. Many Swiss customs are still alive in New Glarus, too. Among those are the card game Yass, yodeling, and flag tossing. (...) more....