Switzerland - Kirchhofer

39 | ERLEBNIS
days gone by and travelling through a stunning
mountain landscape with matchless views. A
railway journey with a nuance of nostalgia, incredibly
impressive scenery, an extravaganza of
Alpine flora and walking paths to suit everyone.
Schynige Platte – simply overwhelming at 1967
metres above sea level!
The old but reliable technology has more than
proved itself since the railway opened in 1893.
The existing original infrastructure has been
tended with so much love and care for 120 years
that it is still functioning today – because nostalgic
experiences are once again in demand.
Historic cogwheel railway
The Schynige Platte Railway is in the happy
position of possessing a complete nostalgic
infrastructure with a steam locomotive, many
electric locomotives from the pioneering days,
old wooden bench seats and a simple but
romantic mountain hotel. Those who board the
old train can still smell iron and wood, and further
up on their journey enjoy pure mountain
air and views of the world famous trio of peaks,
the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau.
The 7.2 km journey from Wilderswil near Interlaken
up to Schynige Platte lasts 50 fascinating
minutes. The attractive route was built from
1891 to 1893. The railway planners declared
that the train journey would «save 4 to 5 hours
hiking time and the cost of 20 to 25 francs for a
mule». The railway, then steam-driven, was electrified
in 1914, yet another pioneering achievement
in those days. All ten locomotives still in
service today are from those early days and the
carriages are either original or faithful reproductions.
So nothing has changed, be it on the nostalgic
paintwork or the exceptional experience
of an excursion to Schynige Platte. Several of the
locomotives have been given the names of
Alpine flowers – an indication that here men
and machines are in harmony with nature.
Most spectacular panoramic views
Many connoisseurs of the Alps consider the
views from Schynige Platte to be beyond compare.
From the top station you have a breathtaking
view of the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau. In
the distance, stunning views into the valleys of
Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The two valleys
are totally different in terms of topography
and thus offer the perfect setting for a geology
lesson. The view to the south, into the UNESCO
World Heritage of the Alps, is without doubt
imposing but the views to the north also deserve
attention. Towards the west, visitors see
Lake Thun with Lake Brienz lying almost immediately
next to it towards the east. And between
them Interlaken, the touristic centre of the
Bernese Oberland, its name originating from
the Latin «inter lacus» meaning «between the
lakes». Above, the chain of Alpine foothills with
the Harder Kulm.
Botanical Alpine Garden
The Botanical Alpine Garden is a popular attraction.
Opened in 1929, it covers an area of
around 8000 square metres and is home to 600
species of flowering plants and ferns found in
Switzerland above the tree line. These are cultivated
and cared for in 15 typical habitats, under
scientific supervision. From mid-June to around
the end of September, the constantly changing
show of flowers is a visitor magnet.
Schynige Platte Mountain Hotel
The modern, renovated restaurant in the
time-honoured Schynige Platte Mountain Hotel
offers guests a wide choice of culinary delights
from simple snacks to Swiss specialities. After
admiring the stunning sunset, hotel guests
spend the night in a comfortable, old-fashioned
room before enjoying an unforgettable sunrise
before the mighty summits of the Eiger, Mönch
and Jungfrau.
Dampffahrten
22. 6., 20. 7., 10. 8., 14. 9. 2013
Vormittag Nachmittag
Wilderswil ab 08.45 14.05
Schynige Platte an 10.17 15.37
Schynige Platte ab 11.41 17.01
Wilderswil an 12.33 17.53
Nur bei genügend Anmeldungen.
Pro Fahrt maximal 40 Plätze.
CHF 11.– Dampfzuschlag.
Early-Bird Ticket
Jeden Mittwoch, 10. Juli bis 14. August 2013
bei günstiger Witterung.
Wilderswil ab 5.20 Uhr. Alle Billette sind gültig.
Reichhaltiges Sonnenaufgangs-Frühstück im
Berghotel Schynige Platte (bis 8 Uhr).
Rückfahrt mit beliebigem Zug.
Information über Durchführung:
Ab 18 Uhr am Vortag, Tel. 1600, Rubrik 5.
Berghotel Schynige Platte
Übernachtungen wie zu Urgrossmutters Zeiten
bietet das Berghotel Schynige Platte an. Die rustikale
Einrichtung der Romantik-Zimmer erschafft
eine authentische Atmosphäre wie anno
dazumal. Natürlich ohne Telefon, Wi-Fi und
Fernseher.
Schynige Platte-Bahn, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau
Botanischer Alpengarten
Naturfreunde finden direkt neben der Bergstation
den botanischen Garten mit über 600 Blütenpflanzen,
die in der Schweiz oberhalb der
Waldgrenze vorkommen.
Öffnungszeiten täglich von 8.30 bis 18.00 Uhr.
Der Eintritt ist frei.