july-2011

PHOTO © REX FEATURES
Li s for a
thrilling ride
HAMMETSCHWAND LIFT
MOUNT BÜRGENSTOCK,
SWITZERLAND
If your trip to northern
Italy allows for a day in
Switzerland then head to
the Lucerne area – and
the highest outdoor lift in
Europe. It looks brilliantly
rickety and in one minute
will zip you up to a giddy
1,132m above sea level.
FLY TO MILAN (BERGAMO)
FROM 69 DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING BILLUND, DUBLIN
AND KOS. WWW.RYANAIR.COM
MERCEDES-BENZ
MUSEUM
STUTTGART, GERMANY
Straight out of a Bond
movie and beating any
department store hands
down, the lifts here glide up
and down a vertical track
taking you to the various
levels. Even the inside
of the lift is cool, with a
glowing fl oor and postindustrial
vibe.
FLY TO KARLSRUHE-BADEN
FROM 12 DESTINATIONS,
WWW.RYANAIR.COM
GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC
NEAR BERGERAC, FRANCE
This spectacular cave in
the Midi-Pyrénées has an
elevator that takes you
103m into the belly of the
cavern. You then step out
onto a subterranean boat
for a short underground
river ride. Probably totally
unsuitable for the very old
or very young, but brilliant.
FLY TO BERGERAC FROM
FIVE DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING
BRISTOL AND LIVERPOOL.
WWW.RYANAIR.COM
THE FALKIRK WHEEL
FALKIRK, SCOTLAND
Different to everything
else on our list, the
Falkirk Wheel (www.
thefalkirkwheel.co.uk)
near Edinburgh is a lift for
boats, linking the Forth
& Clyde Canal to the
Union Canal (35m above).
Engineering fans will want
to take one of the boat
trips through it.
FLY TO EDINBURGH FROM
37 DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING
BREMEN. WWW.RYANAIR.COM
The Shortlists
MIKE PEAKE GOES RANDOM ON THE RYANAIR ROUTE MAP
RADISSON BLU HOTEL
BERLIN, GERMANY
There are certain things you
expect at a luxury city hotel, but
a thumping great fish tank with a lift
inside isn’t really one of them. The water
elevator here is basically a showcase
for the Sea Life centre next door, but
that doesn’t make riding up and down
surrounded by inspiration for
tonight’s dinner any less exciting.
FLY TO BERLIN (SCHONEFELD) FROM EIGHT
DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING DUBLIN.
WWW.RYANAIR.COM
LA GRANDE ARCHE DE
LA DÉFENSE
PARIS, FRANCE
If you’ve already done the
Eiffel Tower’s famous lift,
why not try the other great
elevator in Paris? Located
in the business district, it
commands rather splendid
views across the city. How
high, you say? Try 110m.
Oh yes.
FLY TO PARIS (BEAUVAIS AND
VATRY) FROM 42 DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING BRINDISI, KAUNAS
AND PORTO. WWW.RYANAIR.COM
RYANAIRMAGAZINE
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