Bauen is a small village on the northern shore of the Urnersee, the southernmost arm of Lake Lucerne, and is one of the most secluded and quiet places in central Switzerland. The village is accessible only by boat or via a narrow hiking path – no road leads to Bauen. This remoteness has preserved the place's original character.

The historic Axen Road – the first modern road construction project on Lake Lucerne – passes above Bauen and opens up the dramatic rocky landscape of the Urnersee. The village has a small restaurant and a few holiday houses. The cliff face directly above the village, the view of the lake and the silence make Bauen a rare counterpoint to the tourist-developed central Switzerland.

Bauen is accessible only by boat from Flüelen or Brunnen. The journey from Flüelen takes around 15 minutes. Alternatively, the village is reachable via the hiking path along the Axen Road. No road access and no parking in the village.