Obwalden is located North-Western of the Lake Lucerne and in the heart of Switzerland. It is the only canton being surrounded by inner cantons, which are cantons not bordered to foreign countries, but bordered to Swiss cantons. The canton Obwalden was very catholic and strongly against the reformation of the 16th century, but it was the first canton to accept the Helvetian Republic in 1789. 

Formerly known under the name of Unterwalden, the cantons Nidwalden and Obwalden belong with Schwyz and Uri to the original members of the Swiss confederation in 1291.  

Although united until the split in 1798, when both cantons received a political vote each in Swiss politics, the Nidwalden and Obwalden never were one legal entity.  

Being formerly seen as Half-canton together with Nidwalden, it became independent in 1999.