mySwitzerland

mySwitzerland 

The Swiss holiday magazine . Summer 2014 

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Fine views on the Uri cableway hike, with the peaks of Rossstock (left; 2,461 m) and Fulen (2,491 m).

Editorial 

Grüezi 

I 

n 

the high mountains, where the air is pure and thin, one breathes more freely 

and feels lighter in body and brighter of mind.” Thus wrote the philosopher 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau. And he was absolutely right. On a mountaintop, 

everyday stresses seem insignificant: you feel on top of the world! 

The views from Switzerland’s high summits are heavenly. Each peak – from the 

Rigi to the Säntis, from Muottas Muragl to the Schilthorn – reveals a breathtaking 

natural landscape with its own unique charm. Our new holiday magazine gives 

you a preview of what to expect when you visit, and shows how you can reach 

the finest viewpoints easily with the help of spectacular cog railways, cable cars 

and funiculars. 

Switzerland’s magnificent natural landscapes thrill and inspire countless visitors. 

Discover for yourself the magic of our mountains, glaciers, forests and lakes – 

and experience natural highs that you’ll never forget. 

Welcome to Switzerland: we look forward to your visit! 

Jürg Schmid 

Director, Switzerland Tourism 


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Contents 

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6 Peak thrills for all the family Uri cableway hike 

12 Being here is beautiful Poets and novelists 

SPECIAL 

14 360° panoramas 

The fi nest viewpoints 

28 Playground for pioneers Summit rides 

34 Walks on the wild side Panoramic city strolls 

38 Pinnacle of achievement First ascent of the Matterhorn 

40 Roads to freedom Panoramic postbuses 

44 100 years of pristine nature Swiss National Park centenary 

48 Man of leisure SBB RailAway 

54 Switzerland from above Yann Arthus-Bertrand 

51 Be our guest 

58 A la carte 

60 Picked for you 

62 Swiss made 

67 Switzerland at a glance 

EXPERT TIPS 


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mySwitzerland 6 Views

Uri cableway hike 

Peak thrills for 

all the family 

Words: Christoph Zurfluh Pictures: Angel Sanchez 

The small canton of Uri alone has 39 passenger cableways. 

Many are quaint, old-fashioned installations offering a real sense 

of adventure. It’s easy to devise spectacular mountain hikes 

incorporating these nostalgic rides – to charm visitors of all ages.

Uri cableway hike 

Moments such as this linger long in the memory: 

the mild summer sun is bathing Uri’s 

dramatic 3,000-metre peaks in a wonderfully 

soft light, while the lush meadows below 

us are so green they look freshly painted. 

The chiming of cowbells supplies the perfect soundtrack. 

It’s just like in a film, and this one is called “Perfect Mountain 

World”. 

I take a deep breath. The fresh morning air feels so liberating 

– and I need to summon a little courage before climbing 

into the cable car that is supposed to carry us down the 

mountain. We are at Kessel, just below Biel, a charming centre 

for walking and skiing where we have spent the night on 

our two-day “cableway hike”. The next stage of the walk begins 

in Witterschwanden, down in the valley. 

The green cabin looks rather scary, half-exposed and a 

bit elderly, but in fine working order. Typical Uri, in other 

words: functional and fancy-free. I push open the heavy door, 

and the children jump cheerfully into the small green cabin: 

at least it’s better than walking, they say … 

A multitude of cableways 

Uri boasts an abundance of two things: high mountains and 

cableways serving their slopes. Of course, some cable cars 

access Uri’s world-class ski areas, such as the Gotthard region 

around Andermatt, but most serve remote hamlets, farms and 

mountain pastures. To this day, they bring provisions up to 

the heights, and children down to the valley for school. They 

make life easier for alpine farmers, and also make the high 

mountains more accessible for everyone. 

Hikers and holidaymakers, swimmers and nature lovers 

can use these cableways to access a superb network of footpaths, 

pretty mountain lakes and glorious views. But they are 

not just a means to an end: they are among the highlights of 

hikes in this region, especially when the ride is in a simple 

old-style cabin. A genuine Uri cableway is usually small, basic, 

partly open to the elements, and unstaffed. To ride them, you 

buy tokens – and run the ride yourself. 

And that is exactly how it is with our nostalgic ride down to 

Witterschwanden for our hike. We’ve bought a token for a 

couple of francs from the farm opposite, popped it into the 

slot, and very soon we’ll be on our way. An alarm bell rings for 

30 seconds, urging us to board – and the cable car sets off automatically. 

Almost like a roller coaster 

“Daddy,” asks my 9-year-old daughter Amélie, “are you sure 

the cabin won’t fall off?” 

Well, I think to myself, it depends what you mean by sure. 

But I have confidence in Uri’s cableway-building skills, 

tried and tested for over a century. So I say: “Of course!” and 

“Whoooah!” as we clatter over the first pylon and drop 

steeply down towards the valley. Unlike tourist cable cars, 

ours does not feature a mechanism for keeping the cabin 

level. As the ride gets steeper, the cabin tilts further, so you 

feel that at any moment you’re going to slide out – although 

you won’t, of course. 

“It’s a bit like being on a roller coaster,” I say, winking at 

my other daughter, Sophie (12). She just shrugs and looks 

down at the pastures below, full of colourful spring blossom. 

“Main thing is, we don’t have to walk,” she says with a 

cheeky grin. 

And that’s exactly what makes “cableway hiking” in Uri 

so attractive. With 39 official cableways of all kinds to choose 

from, you can clock up a lot of vertical metres and have a lot 

of fun along the way. 

We began our cableway hiking adventure yesterday in 

Flüelen, conquering our first 1,000 vertical metres in just 

nine minutes thanks to the Eggberg cable car. The next 

400 vertical metres up to little Lake Flesch cost rather more 

effort as well as a promise: that we would call in at the lakeside 

café for refreshments. The climb took about an hour, as 

did the stop for a dip and a bite. Refreshed, we needed only 

another half an hour to walk to our planned lunch stop: the 

Alpstubli Selez, a charming mountain restaurant on the 

Schächental High Trail offering sensational views. 


8 Views

Appetite for adventure: on an Uri cableway hike, picnic spots come with glorious mountain views. 

Even high up, the meadows in Uri are lush and green. 

The prospect of tasty treats en route is sure to revive weary legs. 

You can’t get lost: paths are all clearly signposted. 


9 Views

And if you look to your right, 

you can see Heidi. 

 

That’s because we make sure that Swiss quality is never an empty promise. Thanks to our personal 

service, excellent regional cuisine and warm hospitality, you’ll experience the beauty of Switzerland before 

you even start your holiday.

“Are you hungry?” asked the host, Joe Arnold, as he pulled 

out his notepad. His words revealed such a genuine desire to 

feed us well that we would have ordered the whole range of 

Uri specialities – from “Älplermagronen” pasta with apple 

purée to a platter of local cheese and meat – if we hadn’t just 

filled ourselves up only a short while earlier. 

The next ride is never far away 

“How far do we still have to go?” asked Amélie every couple 

of minutes that afternoon as we walked high along the sunny 

side of the Schächental valley towards Biel. From there, the 

high trail continues to Ratzi and up to the Klausen Pass, but 

our goal was the Berggasthaus Biel, our accommodation for 

the night. After all, we were here not just to hike but to ride 

cableways – as many as possible, and the more spectacular, the 

better. 

And so, on day two, after a short walk downhill, we’ve arrived 

here at the top station of the Kessel–Witterschwanden 

cableway. It brings us 770 vertical metres down to the bottom 

of the Schächental valley, where our next ride awaits: a cable 

car from Witterschwanden up to Eggenbergli (600 vertical 

metres). From the top station, a two-hour walk will take us 

to the high sunny terrace of Haldi; I wonder whether my 

younger daughter is going to ask me endlessly how much longer 

the walk will take. I’ll count the minutes patiently before 

playing my trump card: the Alpenrösli. At Mary and Albert 

Planzer’s mountain restaurant, children are especially welcome: 

almost every wish is granted. And because everyone tends to 

overindulge at the Alpenrösli, I’m happy that just a short walk 

away there’s yet another cable car to carry us the 600 vertical 

metres down to Schattdorf, weary, full and happy. 

Vierwaldstättersee 

2952 

Brunnistock 

Flüelen 

Schattdorf 

Reuss 

Schwyz 

Eggbergen 

Haldi 

Muotathal 

Biel 

Witterschwanden 

Eggenbergli 

3295 

Schärhorn 

Uri cableway hikes 

Canton Uri boasts a remarkable concentration 

of cableways, so the options for creating “cableway 

hikes” are vast. Uri Tourism has picked out some of 

the finest, and created packages around them lasting 

three to seven days, with accommodation and 

cableway rides booked in advance (www.uri.info). 

The two-day route described in the article leads along 

the Schächental valley, incorporating a stretch of the 

popular Schächental High Trail (Eggberge–Klausen 

Pass) and four cableway rides. Simple accommodation 

is available at Biel (www.biel-kinzigag.ch). 

www.seilbahnen-uri.ch 

Breathtaking panoramic hikes. 

e Graubünden, Fil de Cassons: 4 hrs, Sardona Tectonic Arena, view of Martinsloch rock hole 

e Bernese Oberland, Gurnigel–Stockhorn: 5 hrs, high trail framed by parade of Bernese peaks 

e Ticino, Monte Lema–Monte Tamaro: 5½ hrs, ridge hike soaring high above sparkling lakes 

e Valais, Lötschental high trail: 2½ hrs, classic hike with views of the Bietschhorn 

e Jura & Three-Lakes, Chasseral circuit: 4½ hrs, panorama from Säntis to Mont Blanc 

e Eastern Switzerland, Hoher Kasten–Staubern–Brülisau: 5½ hrs, epic hike on the Alpstein 

e Fribourg Region, Moléson–Teysachaux: 3 hrs, sweeping views across western Switzerland 

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: AL25153 / 

Swiss Extend 


Poets and novelists 

Words: Marco Casile 

These words by the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke about his stay in 

Bad Ragaz elegantly encapsulate a world of emotion. 

Switzerland’s scenic beauty has long enchanted poets and writers, both as 

a source of inspiration and a haven of tranquillity. 


In September 1744, the Genevan writer and philosopher 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau travelled from the Simplon 

through the Valais. His experiences of the dramatic 

Alpine landscapes inspired him to write “Julie, or the 

New Heloise”, a novel that was to prove a turning point 

in French literature. In 1765, Rousseau spent about six weeks 

on St. Peter’s Island in Lake Biel, and wrote: “I have been 

granted barely two months on this island. But I could have 

spent two years, two centuries and the whole of eternity here 

without a moment of boredom. These two months have been 

the happiest time in my life.” The monastery that hosted 

Rousseau is now a hotel, crowned Swiss Historic Hotel of the 

Year 2010. You can see the room in which he stayed – and 

spend the night at this blissful spot yourself. 

Perpendicular nothingness 

Mark Twain’s second European journey also took him to 

Valais. The American author arrived from the Bernese Oberland 

via the Gemmi Pass and the precipitous mule trail down 

to Leukerbad. In his witty travelogue “A Tramp Abroad”, 

Twain wrote: “We began our descent, now, by the most 

remarkable road I have ever seen. It wound its corkscrew 

curves down the face of the colossal precipice – a narrow way, 

with always the solid rock wall at one elbow, and perpendicular 

nothingness at the other.” After arriving exhausted in 

Leukerbad, he visited the thermal baths and wrote: “Those 

baths remove fat and also skin diseases. The patients remain in 

the great tanks for hours at a time.” Today you can still walk 

in Mark Twain’s footsteps, following the historic trail from 

Kandersteg over the Gemmi Pass to Leukerbad. 

On the right side of the mountains 

When Hermann Hesse moved to Ticino in 1919 after separating 

from his wife and children, he was in a state of creative 

crisis, describing himself as “a minor, burnt-out writer”. He 

settled in the village of Montagnola above Lake Lugano. His 

new home, “on the right side of the mountains”, proved rich 

inspiration for his writing and painting, and at the age of 42 

he flourished once again. Here he produced works such as 

“Siddhartha”, “Steppenwolf ” and “Narziss and Goldmund”, 

which sold by the million and won Hesse awards from the 

Goethe Prize to the Nobel Prize for literature. For many 

years he lived in the Casa Camuzzi, a Ticino palazzo of elaborate 

turrets and ornate windows, and today the complex is 

home to a museum devoted to Hesse and his work. Both the 

museum and the theme trail through the village beautifully 

conjure the spirit of this great humanist writer. 

On the trail of great writers 

Rainer Maria Rilke 

In 1919, in an attempt to 

overcome a creative crisis and 

rediscover his lyrical voice, 

Rilke travelled to Switzerland. 

After a long search he found his 

new home in Sierre, Valais, in 

1921. The poet also found 

happiness at the thermal spa 

of Altes Bad Pfäfers in Bad 

Ragaz, and in the charming 

mountain village of Soglio in the 

Val Bregaglia, where he stayed 

at the Palazzo Salis. The historic 

hotel offers guests a warm 

welcome to this day. 

Johann Wolfgang 

von Goethe 

On his second journey to 

Switzerland in 1779, Goethe 

visited the Lauterbrunnen 

valley, where he marvelled at 

the 300-metre-high Staubbach 

Falls – a wonder of nature that 

has lost none of its magic. 

His third Swiss journey took 

him to historic sites in central 

Switzerland. The nation was 

founded on Rütli meadow and 

the William Tell story unfolded 

nearby, each location linked by 

the charming Swiss Path. 

Thomas Mann 

Thomas Mann spent May and 

June 1912 in Davos, in order 

to visit his wife, Katia, who was 

undergoing treatment at a 

sanatorium. He worked his 

impressions into the novel “The 

Magic Mountain”, published 

in 1924. The evocative Art 

Nouveau Hotel Schatzalp, 

a former sanatorium, is still 

a place of restful tranquillity. 

Lord George 

Gordon Byron 

The Romantic poet Lord Byron 

travelled through Switzerland 

from May to October 1816. 

Sailing trips by the Château de 

Chillon on Lake Geneva and 

visits to the Bernese Oberland 

inspired his poem “The Prisoner 

of Chillon” as well as passages 

in “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage”. 

Like Goethe, Byron was 

profoundly impressed by the 

Staubbach Falls and the famous 

peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and 

Jungfrau. 

Friedrich Nietzsche 

In July 1881, the philosopher 

Friedrich Nietzsche made his first 

visit to Sils Maria, “the most 

delightful corner of the world”. He 

spent his summers here until 

1888, finding he was at his most 

creative in the Upper Engadin. 

More information 

on inspiring locations at 

Webcode: 65745 / 


46°55'55"N, 6°43'17"E Creux 

du Van, Jura & Three-Lakes 

3600 panorama 

with the 

Swiss Extend app

360° 

Switzerland boasts as many splendid panoramic viewpoints as it has 

mountains – thousands, in other words. MySwitzerland presents seven of 

the most spectacular, and explains how to reach each one. 

Pictures: Matthias Taugwalder 

The Creux du Van is about two and a half hours on foot from Noiraigue, 

or an hour by electric bike. Motorists can drive from Couvet as far as 

Le Soliat, 20 minutes’ walk away. The photo location is midway along the 

rock amphitheatre, at an altitude of 1,466 metres.

46°30'31"N, 9°54'38"E Segantini 

hut, Engadin St. Moritz, Graubünden

From Punt Muragl in the Upper Engadin, take the funicular up to Muottas Muragl. 

A well-marked trail leads from the summit station to the Segantini hut, about an 

hour away at 2,731 metres. The photo location is about 15 minutes’ walk below 

the hut, by the path.

46°25'54"N, 8°5'37"E Eggishorn, 

Aletsch Arena, Valais

From the Valais village of Fiesch on the route up to the Furka Pass, take 

the cable car to Fiescheralp and then the Eggishorn. A path leads from the 

top station to the summit (2,927 metres) in about half an hour. The photo 

location is on the path of stone slabs leading towards the Aletsch Glacier.

46°32'56"N, 7°1'1"E Moléson, 

Fribourg Region

From Moléson-sur-Gruyères, ride the funicular and then the cable car 

to the top station of the Moléson. Footpath signs point the way to the 

summit, about five to ten minutes’ walk away. The photo location is at 

2,002 metres, close to the peak.

45°58'37"N, 8°56'50"E San 

Salvatore, Lugano, Ticino

A five-minute walk from Lugano-Paradiso station leads to the funicular 

up the San Salvatore. At the top station, follow the footpath signs to reach 

the church on the summit in about ten minutes. The viewing platform and 

the photo location are on the roof of the church.

46°18'36"N, 7°13'24"E Glacier 

3000, Les Diablerets, Lake Geneva Region

From the Col du Pillon, between Gstaad and Les Diablerets, take the cable 

car up to the Scex Rouge and then the chairlift down to the glacier. 

A path marked “Glacier Walk” leads to the “Refuge l’Espace” mountain hut. 

The photo location is a little higher up, at 2,865 metres.

46°37'6''N, 7°56'17"E Männlichen, 

Jungfrau Region, Bernese Oberland

Ride up to the Männlichen either by gondola from Grindelwald or by 

cable car from Wengen. At the top station, follow the path to the summit 

at 2,343 metres, a walk of about 20 minutes. The photo location is a 

few steps from the summit.

Summit rides 

Playground 

for pioneers 

Words: Lucas Roos 

Beginning of a boom: Vitznau-Rigi railway. 

A model for the world: the Wetterhorn cable car. 


Niklaus Riggenbach (1817–1899) 

As tourists began discovering the Alps in the mid-19th century, 

Swiss engineers devised ever more ingenious methods for carrying 

them to the summits. Soon, Switzerland was leading the world in 

the construction of cog railways and cableways. 

I 

n the first half of the 19th century, travel in the Swiss 

Alps was arduous: the only way up most mountains 

was on foot. But the first tourists, especially the 

British, spared no effort to reach the summits. The 

extraordinary appeal of the mountains for foreign 

visitors was not lost on Swiss engineers, who recognised the 

potential of summit railways. Many curious ideas finally led 

to a successful project: the Vitznau-Rigi railway, inaugurated 

on 21 May 1871. The innovative technology devised by engineer 

Niklaus Riggenbach led to a boom in the construction 

of mountain railways, which reached a climax around the 

turn of the 20th century. Swiss pioneering spirit and inventive 

genius produced no fewer than four systems of cog traction, 

all of which are in use to this day: Riggenbach, Strub, Locher 

and Abt. The Jungfrau railway runs on the Strub system, 

while the Pilatus cog railway, the world’s steepest since it 

opened on 4 June 1889, runs on a traction system invented by 

Eduard Locher, by which two horizontal cog wheels engage 

on either side of a toothed rack. 

Cables instead of cog wheels 

It soon became apparent that cog railways suffered a major 

disadvantage: the locomotives were heavy, and most systems 

could not tackle gradients steeper than 25 per cent. Only 

Eduard Locher’s invention could cope with steeper inclines – 

up to 48 per cent on the Pilatus railway – but such systems 

were expensive to build and operate. The solution lay in the 

use of cables. The world’s first cable railway for tourists 

opened on 21 July 1879, linking the shore of Lake Brienz 

with the Hotel Giessbach. This was also the first funicular to 

use a system invented by Roman Abt, whereby both cars run 

on the same pair of rails, except at a passing section halfway 

up the slope. It was the invention of the cable car, however, 

that enabled engineers to access truly remote pinnacles. Switzerland’s 

first passenger cable car for the public opened in 

Grindelwald on 27 July 1908, to carry visitors up the Wetterhorn. 

It had to close in 1914, but remained the model for 

future cable cars, able to overcome deep gorges and high cliffs 

without difficulty. Other significant projects – such as the 

cable car from Beckenried to Klewenalp (1933) and the Säntis 

cable car (1935) – soon sealed Switzerland’s reputation as the 

land of spectacular mountain rides. 

Rotair and Cabrio 

Today, about 670 summer cable cars, funiculars and cog railways 

are key links in Switzerland’s transport network, as well 

as an important tourist attraction. In 1992, Rotair, whose 

rotating floor gives passengers 360° views, opened on the 

Titlis as the world’s first revolving cable car. The world’s first 

gondola with revolving cabins opened on the Hochstuckli in 

2005. Then 2012 saw another world first: the CabriO ® , a 

double-decker cable car on the Stanserhorn with open sun 

deck. It’s no surprise that Switzerland’s mountain rides are as 

popular as ever with visitors. 


Swiss Pass – 

one ticket for everything. 

With the Swiss Pass you can tour Switzerland by public transport with (almost) no restrictions. 

For the most memorable travel experiences by train, bus and boat – SwissTravelSystem.com

Rides to the top of the world. 

Steeper, higher, extremer: around 670 summer cableways and cog 

railways compete to promise passengers the biggest thrills. 

Spectacular views come included, needless to say. Here we pick 

eleven of the country’s finest mountain rides. 

Win a scenic holiday 

with the 


1 

CabriO ® cable car (Stanserhorn) 711–1,850 m 

Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region 

The CabriO ® is the world’s first and only double-decker cable car 

with an open upper deck. The innovative design allows passengers 

on the roof to enjoy glorious open-air views as they glide up the 

Stanserhorn. The cabin can take up to 60 people below, and around 

30 on the sun deck. Definitely a ride not to be missed! 

1 www.cabrio.ch 

2 

Gelmer funicular 1,400–1,850 m 

Bernese Oberland 

The Gelmer cable railway promises a guaranteed blast of adrenalin: 

with gradients of up to 106 per cent, this is easily the steepest 

funicular in Europe. Built in the 1920s as a works railway for 

construction of the Lake Gelmer dam, it opened to hikers and 

other visitors in 2001. Today, this wonder of technology offers 

an unforgettable experience of near-vertical travel. 

2 www.grimselwelt.ch 

3 

Vitznau-Rigi cog railway 435–1,752 m 


Europe’s first passenger cog railway, inaugurated on the “Queen 

of the Mountains” in 1871, scales 1,317 vertical metres over a total 

distance of 6,975 metres. Steam trains still ply the route regularly. 

The “Belle Epoque” salon car from 1873, featuring mahogany, plush 

fabrics and shining brass, offers a wonderfully nostalgic experience – 

a must for romantics. 

3 www.rigi.ch 

4 

Gornergrat cog railway 1,620–3,089 m 

Valais 

The railway from Zermatt up the Gornergrat opened on 20 August 

1898 as Switzerland’s first electric cog railway. It is also Europe’s 

highest open-air cog railway, and runs 365 days a year. The views 

from the summit station are spectacular, taking in 29 peaks 

above 4,000 metres including Switzerland’s highest mountain, 

the Dufourspitze (4,634 metres). 

4 www.gornergrat.ch 


5 

6 

7 

8 

Pilatus cog railway 

497–2,132 m 

Lucerne – 

Lake Lucerne Region 

A ride on this historic railway is 

guaranteed to set pulses racing: 

with a total distance of 4,6 kilometres, 

a vertical climb of 

1,635 metres and gradients of 

up to 48 per cent, this is the 

world’s steepest cog railway. The 

ascent of the Eselswand cliffs 

is particularly spectacular, while 

the views from the summit are 

breathtaking: way below lies 

Lake Lucerne, and all around, 

73 Alpine peaks frame the horizon. 

5 www.pilatus.ch 

Schwägalp – 

Säntis cable car 

1,350–2,472 m 

Eastern Switzerland / 

Liechtenstein 

The Säntis cable car was only the 

third to be built in Switzerland. In 

just ten minutes, it carries visitors 

effortlessly up the highest peak of 

the Appenzell region. From the 

summit of the Säntis, famous for 

its extreme weather conditions, 

you enjoy sensational panoramic 

views of mountains, lakes and 

over six countries: Switzerland, 

Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, 

France and Italy. 

6 www.saentisbahn.ch 

Jungfrau cog railway 

2,061–3,454 m 


Inaugurated in 1912, the Jungfrau 

Railway is one of the pioneering 

achievements of Swiss engineering. 

The cog railway leads from 

Kleine Scheidegg up to the “Top 

of Europe”, the Jungfraujoch – 

home to the continent’s highest 

railway station, 3,454 metres up, 

in a world of rock, ice and snow. 

Seven out of nine kilometres of 

the spectacular route lead 

through tunnel; in all, the railway 

climbs 1,400 vertical metres. 

7 www.jungfrau.ch 

Brienz Rothorn 

steam railway 

566–2,244 m 


The Brienzer Rothorn has 

been one of the most popular 

excursion destinations in the 

Bernese Oberland since the 19th 

century. Steam-powered cog 

trains still carry visitors to the 

spectacular summit viewpoint 

today. The locomotives take 

about an hour for the climb of 

1,678 vertical metres – plenty of 

time to enjoy the gradually 

unfolding views of Lake Brienz 

and the mountains beyond. 

8 www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch 


9 

Cardada Cimetta 200–1,340 m 

Ticino 

A ride from Locarno on the nostalgic funicular up to Orselina 

is the start of a charming trip in time. After a leisurely glide past 

Mediterranean-style villas and gardens, at Orselina you step 

into the future – the first cable car by an internationally renowned 

designer. The station building, cable car cabins with glass floors 

and the summit station in Cardada are all by the Ticino architect 

Mario Botta. 

9 www.cardada.ch 

10 

Rochers-de-Naye cog railway 372–2,042 m 

Lake Geneva Region 

In three-quarters of an hour a cog train climbs from the palms of 

Montreux to the lofty heights of Rochers-de-Naye. The daring route 

chosen by the railway’s builders and the steep gradients make for 

an unforgettable ride. The views from the summit extend from the 

shores of the Vaud Riviera across Lake Geneva to a string of Alpine 

summits along the horizon. 

10 www.goldenpass.ch 

11 

Rhaetian Railway 563–2,253 m 

Graubünden 

The Rhaetian Railway is neither a cog railway nor funicular, yet it 

offers some of the country’s most spectacular train rides. One of 

the classics is the Albula / Bernina line, heart of a UNESCO World 

Heritage Site. Linking Thusis and Poschiavo, the route features the 

famous Landwasser viaduct and the highest rail crossing of the 

Alps, the 2,253-metre Bernina Pass, and is regarded as a masterpiece 

of railway engineering. 

11 www.rhb.ch 

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Discover other great Swiss mountain railways and cable cars: 

Webcode: AM25153 / Swiss Extend 


Panoramic city strolls 

Walks on 

the wild side 

Words: Reto Wilhelm 

The summit of Zürich’s Uetliberg reveals glorious 

views of the city lights, Lake Zürich and the Glarus Alps.

Visit any Swiss city and you’ll find nature on the doorstep. Just minutes 

from the downtown shops, museums and restaurants there’ll be a 

mountain peak offering panoramic hikes and sightings of local wildlife. 

Our writer explores three of Switzerland’s finest urban getaways. 

Lovely Lugano and its Monte Brè 

Aproper day in Lugano begins with an espresso on 

the Piazza della Riforma. Soon after, as if by 

magic, I see my first “sight”: spaghetti, handmade, 

1,2 metres long. Everything here seems 

bigger than normal. At Gabbani in the Via 

Nassa, oversize salami hang from the ceiling; at Muni I 

come across giant watermelons and huge porcini mushrooms. 

I find this city breathtaking, even before I’ve 

scaled its famous local peak, Monte Brè. The funicular, 

built in 1912, climbs 925 vertical metres in half an 

hour, over two stages. Lugano lies way below my feet, 

glittering in the bright sunshine; San Salvatore, the 

city’s own sugarloaf mountain, rises on the far shore of 

the deep-blue lake. The panoramic show is dazzling, all 

the way down the path and steps to the hamlet of Brè. 

Here it’s well worth calling in at the little museum displaying 

evocative paintings by Wilhelm Schmid, a Swiss realist artist 

and honorary citizen of Brè. I, too, feel inspired: beautiful 

Lugano with its mountains must be one of the most creative 

environments on earth. 

Views over a sleepy Zürich 

7.25 am, and the train on platform 2 is ready to depart. It sets 

off up Zürich’s Uetliberg mountain, affectionately known as 

“Üetzgi” to the locals. After only 20 minutes, I’m at the 

summit. A few last wisps of mist snake over the ridge, but the 

sun is already warming the air. Nearby is the start of the 

Planet Trail, a path that initiates walkers into the secrets of the 

heavenly bodies. I follow my earthly needs instead, and treat 

myself to a cappuccino and fresh Birchermüesli in the panoramic 

restaurant. Here, 871 metres up, I contemplate God, 


Best to take only 

empty suitcases with 

you on holiday. 

Frey is available in your Migros.

the universe and the waking metropolis below. A 

gentle breeze blows from the west as the sun’s first 

rays dance on the surface of Lake Zürich. My journey 

back down to the city leads me along twisting paths, past 

little waterfalls and lush mossy banks. The air is full of the 

sounds of splashing water and singing birds, just like in a fairytale 

forest. In an hour I have reached Triemli at the edge of 

the city. I ride the train back to the locker where I have left 

my other shoes. After all, I wouldn’t want to walk down the 

spotless Bahnhofstrasse in muddy hiking boots … 

A trip in time high above Bern 

For my trip to the Gurten, the mountain on Bern’s doorstep, 

I skip the funicular and opt for a gentle walk up instead. 

Within moments I’m overtaken by countless joggers. Surely 

not in Bern, where everything is supposed to be more 

leisurely? I carry on at my own pace. A voice behind me 

shouts “Wait, children!” as a class of schoolkids eagerly clambers 

up the steps alongside the funicular. I huff and puff, even 

if the Gurten is only 864 metres high. But I’m glad I’ve made 

the effort when I reach the lush green summit plateau and 

reward myself with a refreshing Gurten beer, which used to 

be brewed at the bottom of the funicular. Up here, time really 

seems to pass more slowly. A miniature train carries children 

around the park; families on checked blankets tuck into 

picnic hampers, just as they did generations 

ago. Soon after, I am back in 

Bern, strolling under the medieval 

arcades of the Old Town, still at Gurten 

speed. I linger in front of the parliament 

building, where a couple of elderly 

gentlemen are playing chess. In and 

around the Swiss capital, I’m glad to 

see, everything is just as it should be. 

Superb city views. 

e Geneva, Salève: the world city of Geneva, seen from above 

e St. Gallen, Säntis: panoramic view of the Alps from 2,502 m above sea level 

e Schaffhausen, Munot: fortress overlooking the Rhine, vineyards and the Old Town 

e Solothurn, Weissenstein: beyond the Swiss Plateau rise the mighty Bernese Alps 

e Biel, Bözingenberg: superb views over Lake Biel, Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel 

e Basel, Bar Rouge in the Messeturm: 105 m above the city in the Trade Fair Tower 

e Zug, Zugerberg: scenic mountain packed with attractions 

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: K25237 / 

Swiss Extend 


First ascent of the Matterhorn 

Pinnacle of 

achievement 

Words: Andreas Feuerstein Pictures: Zermatt Tourism 

Matterhorn live 

with the 


The conquering party, from left: 

Peter Taugwalder senior, Michel Croz, Charles Hudson, Francis Douglas, 

Robert Hadow, Edward Whymper, Peter Taugwalder junior. 


The Matterhorn, the symbol of Switzerland and the world’s most 

recognisable mountain, was long considered impossible to climb. 

In 1865, an unlikely team gathered in Zermatt to conquer the peak. 

The first ascent was a triumph – but also a tragedy. 

With good weather, summer nights are short 

at the Hörnli hut, up at 3,260 m. Soon after 

3 am the first wake-up calls sound – but 

that’s good. As many as 140 people on any 

given day are here to climb the Matterhorn, 

and most sleep only fitfully. They’re happy when it’s time to 

set off in the dark to walk to the foot of the towering cliffs. 

Today’s climbers are well prepared for the final ascent. The 

stakes are high, but they aren’t taking any risks. 

In 1860 things were different. Mountaineers such as the 

21-year-old Londoner Edward Whymper would risk their 

lives to conquer a peak. The 4,478-metre Matterhorn was 

thought to be unclimbable, but despite this – or rather, 

because of it – Whymper made it his personal goal in 1861. 

For four summers, every attempt to scale the mountain from 

Breuil-Cervinia failed. In 1865 Whymper realised the most 

promising way up was not from the southwest, but via the 

northeast ridge in Switzerland, with Zermatt as a starting 

point. In that year, the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) declared the 

conquest of the Matterhorn a matter of national priority – 

and in July 1865, a party of Italian climbers set off to climb 

the peak. When Whymper found out, he felt betrayed. He 

hurried to Zermatt to assemble a team to tackle the ascent 

immediately via the Hörnli ridge. On his ninth attempt, 

Whymper finally succeeded, accompanied by three mountain 

guides and three other British climbers. On 14 July 1865 the 

seven mountaineers reached the summit shortly before their 

Italian rivals: the Matterhorn had finally been conquered. But 

uneven levels of alpine experience and fitness within the team 

proved disastrous: on the way down, the young and exhausted 

British climber Robert Hadow slipped and fell, pulling three 

of the other mountaineers off the rock face. The quickthinking 

guide Peter Taugwalder senior threw the rope 

around a rock to prevent his comrades falling any further. For 

a moment they seemed to have been saved – but the rope 

snapped, and all four fell to their deaths. Whymper and 

the Zermatt guides, Peter Taugwalder, father and son, survived. 

Triumph turned into tragedy, and Whymper became the 

subject of bitter controversy. He was long accused of having 

cut the rope in order to save his own life; however, a court 

case cleared him and Taugwalder senior of suspicion. 

The first ascent, whose 150th anniversary is being celebrated 

on 14 July 2015, marked the beginning of a new era 

for Zermatt: the small village soon became one of Switzerland’s 

most popular and successful mountain resorts. 

The finest views of the Matterhorn. 

e Gornergrat – Riffelsee: the waters of the Riffelsee beautifully reflect the iconic peak 

e Rothorn: the Matterhorn at its most beautiful, especially when seen from the Five Lakes Walk 

e Schwarzsee: the path via Stafelalp to Furi showcases the mountain from below 

e Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: the observation platform at 3,883 m reveals 38 peaks above 4,000 m, 

including a fresh perspective on the Matterhorn 

e Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis: view of the old village with the Matterhorn 

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: 28413 / 

Swiss Extend 


Panoramic postbuses 

Roads 

to freedom 

Words: Matthias Mächler Pictures: Matthias Mächler, Christof Sonderegger 


Enjoy the film 

with the 


Markus Bösch has been driving 

postbuses through the Bernese 

Oberland for 26 years. But one scenic 

trip still gives him a special thrill 

every time: the Four Passes Tour 

through the central Alps. 

Two hundred metres before the corner, a smile 

spreads across Markus Bösch’s face. In a moment 

he’ll give his passengers a little fright. Another 

hundred metres. Fifty. He brakes gently. But 

instead of steering his 12-ton vehicle straight 

around the hairpin bend, he lingers during the manoeuvre 

and allows the coach to swing across the road markings, as if 

bound for the open sky above the Gadmen valley. Bösch 

knows his passengers, sleepy from the ride, are now wide 

awake again. 

Markus Bösch has been driving postbuses for 26 years. He 

started at the age of 29, when he wanted to switch from being 

a lorry driver to a job that would give him more time with 

his family. Today he is the longest-serving coach driver in 

Meiringen, and enjoys the variety his job offers: driving 

regional bus routes one day, taking children from remote 

farms to school the next, another time bringing visitors on 

excursions. But the entry he most likes to see on the work 

schedule is “Four Passes Tour: Markus Bösch”, which 

happens about every two weeks. “You might think that after 

26 years you’d be used to a ride like that,” smiles Bösch. “But 

two, three days beforehand, I always feel a tingle of excitement: 

the Four Passes Tour is definitely our top trip.” 

Dance with the steering wheel 

Bösch is a calm, reserved man, in his element at the wheel. 

The 55-year-old’s movements are so smooth that he looks as 

if he is dancing sitting down – probably the reason nobody 

feels queasy on the twisting route. When he speaks into the 



microphone to point out a waterfall or a famous hiking trail 

or to tell the legend of the Devil’s Bridge, he uses just a few 

pithy words – and always gets a laugh. Of course, Bösch also 

knows the departure times of every connecting train and cable 

car. And when an exhausted cyclist or a tired hiker boards the 

bus for the final stretch of climb up to a pass, Bösch greets 

them with a gentle humour that works wonders. 

Does he have a favourite among the four passes? No, he 

says: a diplomatic answer, perhaps, or maybe he really is 

equally fond of all four in their diversity – like a parent who 

does not want to favour one child over others. “I enjoy the 

beginning of the tour, when the day is still fresh and the passengers 

are really curious,” he says – in other words, the stage 

from Meiringen over the bare Grimsel Pass into Valais, past 

many mountain dams and reservoirs. But he also likes the 

Nufenen Pass, because it marks the highest point of the 

tour – 2,478 metres – and offers spectacular views of the 

Gries Glacier. Of course he loves the Gotthard, king of passes, 

because there are always vintage cars to be admired along the 

way – as well as the historic horse-drawn mail coach. 

The sound of Switzerland 

And finally comes this last stage, the drive from Andermatt 

over the Susten Pass back to Meiringen: “maybe the most demanding 

stretch, because it’s the longest,” says Bösch. 48 kilometres, 

25 bridges, 21 tunnels: the road makes enormous 

demands of the drivers, particularly as postbuses have become 

wider over the decades, as have the tourist coaches coming in 

the opposite direction. “It’s getting tighter and tighter on the 

road,” says Bösch, “and at the same time traffic is increasing, 

with more and more motorcyclists and drivers underestimating 

the difficulty of the drive.” So, before every blind curve, 

the postbus’s famous three-tone horn echoes around the 

mountains. For Markus Bösch, the nostalgic notes are the 

sound of his homeland – no doubt one reason why, as a boy, 

he wanted to grow up to be a postbus driver. 

Beyond the Susten Pass, Markus Bösch repeatedly sounds the 

horn as the bus winds its way through the soft evening light 

down to the valley. The passengers, pleasantly fatigued after 

an eventful day and their adventures up on the passes, have no 

inkling of the little joke he’ll shortly play on them at the 

hairpin turn. Of course, there’s no danger at all, even though 

perspective creates the impression that the bus is perched on 

the edge of an abyss. Markus Bösch waits for his passengers 

to take photos of the lush Gadmen valley, and smiles: “Sometimes 

it is the unexpected turns in life that produce the best 

prospects,” he says. 

4158 

Jungfrau 

2350 

Brienzer Rothorn 

Brienz 

Eiger 3970 

Mönch 4107 

Aletschgletscher 

Meiringen 

3503 

Sustenhorn 

Aare 

Oberwald 

4274 

Finsteraarhorn 

Engelberg 

3238 

Titlis 

One tour, four passes, 8,000 vertical metres: 

from Meiringen over the Grimsel to Oberwald, over 

the Nufenen to Airolo, over the Gotthard to 

Andermatt and over the Susten back to Meiringen. 

Reuss 

Andermatt 

Airolo 

Other famous scenic routes. 

e Glacier Express: from Zermatt to St. Moritz / Davos in a panoramic train, a journey of around 7 hrs 

e Bernina Express: from Chur to Tirano through the Albula-Bernina UNESCO World Heritage Site 

e GoldenPass Line: from Montreux through idyllic mountain scenery to Lucerne 

e Wilhelm Tell Express: from Lucerne to Flüelen by historic paddle steamer, 

then on by train through the Gotthard to Locarno / Lugano 

e Pre-Alpine-Express: from St.Gallen through the gentle Prealps to Lucerne 

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: 60314 / 

Swiss Extend 


Swiss National Park centenary 

100 years of 

pristine nature 

Words: Lucas Roos Pictures: Nico Schaerer 

Exactly 100 years ago, visionary conservationists founded the Alps’ 

first national park. Here, in 170 square kilometres of mountain terrain, 

nature develops without human interference. A half-day tour offers 

an enchanting glimpse of a magical natural world. 

When we reach the third mountain pine 

beyond the entrance to the Swiss National 

Park, warden Domenic Godly points up. 

“Often there’s a boreal owl staring out from 

that nest hole, which a black woodpecker 

originally made. But today it seems to have flown off.” Godly, 

who lives in the Engadine village of Brail and has worked for 

the park for 15 years, is accompanying us on the short but 

varied round walk from the Ofen Pass road to the Margunet 

viewpoint, 2,328 metres above sea level. The route is also 

known as the Bearded Vulture Path. Not far from Margunet, 

26 of these magnificent birds with a wingspan of nearly 

3 metres were released into the wild between 1991 and 2007. 

“Some of them still live in the park and breed in the region,” 

says Godly. “But normally we don’t intervene in nature, we 

let things follow their natural course.” 

The walk leads uphill through a forest of mountain pines. All 

around lie fallen trees, which are slowly rotting. The park 

warden points to a sapling with blue-green needles. “These 

Swiss stone pines are planted by our park gardener, the spotted 

nutcracker. It hides huge numbers of the pine nuts in the 

ground as a winter food reserve. About a fifth of them it 

never finds again, and those grow into trees.” Beyond the 

edge of the mountain pine forest we reach Alp Stabelchod; 

150 years ago this was a pasture for livestock, today it’s a rest 

area with a shelter for the wardens. Yellow pegs mark out an 

area for walkers to relax and enjoy their picnics. “If people 

leave the permitted areas, there’s a fine,” says Godly, “but most 

visitors behave very well and follow the park rules.” 

Beyond, the path becomes steeper, and follows a cascading 

river up the Val da Stabelchod. Maintaining trails and 

building bridges are two of the duties of the eight park 


Enjoy the film 

with the 


Three goals 

The Swiss National Park pursues three 

objectives. First, it allows flora and fauna 

to develop freely and natural processes to 

run their course without human interference. 

Second, it makes use of this rare 

patch of untouched natural landscape to 

run long-term scientific research projects. 

Third, it encourages people to take 

pleasure in nature, raising awareness of 

the importance of protecting it. 

An attractive programme of events celebrates 

the centenary in 2014. Find more 

information at: 

www.nationalpark.ch /centenary 


Pristine nature, as far as the eye can see: 

in the Swiss National Park, nature follows 

its course without human interference.

wardens; because of storm damage, they had to rebuild a section 

of path here higher uphill. After we pass another rest 

area, the views open up on the right to reveal vast slopes of 

scree on the flanks of the Piz Nair and spiky pinnacles of 

dolomite that look as if somebody planted them there. The 

dolomite soils also support a rich variety of plant life, including 

edelweiss and gentians. Every few steps, Godly points out 

a rare flower: a frog orchid, the rosy vanilla orchid, a shortspurred 

fragrant orchid, and many others you would normally 

only ever see on postcards or in botanical books. Plants are 

one of his passions. 

Most visitors, however, come to the Swiss National Park 

to see the animals, especially the four species of hoofed mammals: 

ibex, chamois, roe deer and red deer. They are the big 

stars, says Godly. Soon after, we appreciate why: we spot a 

chamois buck just a hundred metres away grazing among the 

scree – a magnificent sight. “He’s about seven to ten years 

old,” says Godly, “and needs to shed his winter coat, so he is 

seeking out just the most nutritious plants, rich in protein.” 

Later, below the Margunet viewpoint, we have a surprise 

sighting of red deer: a hind with her fawn. Among young 

visitors, alpine marmots are the big favourite: furry, comicallooking 

creatures that live in underground burrows and 

which are easy to spot throughout the park. 

Margunet reveals glorious perspectives: wild mountain 

scenery, vast slopes of scree, huge snowfields and 17 summits 

in Switzerland and Italy. Asked about the prospects for the 

Swiss National Park, Domenic Godly says: “I hope that the 

park will be like this for centuries to come – an untouched 

gem where visitors can enjoy pristine nature.” 

The beauty of a landscape in which only nature has a say. 

Park warden Domenic Godly: the park is an “untouched gem”. 

Beautiful viewpoints in Swiss parks. 

e Locarnese National Park*, Laghetto dei Saléi: 2¾ hrs from Spruga in the Valle Onsernone 

e Diemtigtal Nature Park, Grimmiwasser: 1¾ hrs from Grimmialp 

e Pfyn-Finges Nature Park, Schnydi: 1½ hrs from the top of the Torrent cable car 

e Thal Nature Park, Vogelbergfluh: 45 mins from the top of the Wasserfallen gondola 

e Jura Vaudois Nature Park, Dent de Vaulion: 2 hrs from Le Pont station 

e Doubs Nature Park, Les Roches de Moron: 2½ hrs from La Chaux-de-Fonds 

* National park project 

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: AN25153 / 

Swiss Extend 


SBB RailAway 

Man of leisure 

Interview: Marco Casile 

René Kamer is an expert on spending free time – other people’s 

free time. As head of SBB RailAway, his job is to devise 

original ideas for leisure excursions throughout Switzerland. 

The result: a vast range of great deals to suit every interest. 

René Kamer, 60, lives in Kriens 

near Lucerne, and has two daughters. 

He has been CEO of SBB RailAway 

for 15 years. Previously, he spent 

13 years at the Rigi Bahnen railway / 

cable car network, leaving in 1998 to 

develop a concept for a leisure 

subsidiary for SBB. This became 

Switzerland’s largest leisure provider, 

with about 65 staff and a turnover in 

2012 of 120 million francs. 

René Kamer, do you know what to 

do with your own free time? 

Of course – my interests are travel, 

sports and cooking, and I love spending 

time with family and friends. 

Do you know how other people 

spend their free time? 

Studies show that a lot of people 

don’t really know what to do in their 

spare time. Our task is to come up with 

ideas and specific offers involving travel 

by train, boat or postbus. These ideas 

are proving popular: every year, more 

than 1.5 million people book an 

SBB RailAway combined ticket. 

Where can I get excursion ideas 

from SBB Rail Away? 

Online at www.sbb.ch/en/leisureholidays 

on the SBB RailAway app and 

of course at all Swiss railway stations, 

where you can book any of the deals. 

What’s the advantage of 

organising outings with 

SBB RailAway? 

First of all, the combined deals are 

easy to book. Second, you save time: 

you get tickets for travel and your destination 

attraction – anything from 

Lucerne’s Swiss Museum of Transport 

to a musical show – in one go, at the 

station or online. And third, you make 

a saving on the whole package of anything 

from 10 to 50 per cent. 

What are the main deals 

offered by SBB RailAway? 

The winter Snow’n’Rail deals with 

42 Swiss ski resorts are very popular, 

and in summer we sell a lot of packages 

including rides up to panoramic 

peaks, lake attractions, festivals, zoos 

and the Swiss Museum of Transport. 

Do Swiss people and 

visitors from abroad choose 

similar excursions? 

More or less. But visitors from 

abroad tend to go for famous attractions 

such as the Jungfraujoch, the Glacier 

Express or cities such as Lucerne. Swiss 

people prefer smaller, lesser-known destinations. 

Which of your deals go best with 

this summer’s theme of “views”? 

Any of our combined tickets that 

involve travel to the mountains – such 

as round trips incorporating a ride on 

the Glacier Express or Bernina Express, 

or excursions on Switzerland’s lakes. 

The views from the water are spectacular, 

too. 

One last question: as a boy, 

what did you want to be when 

you grew up? 

A train driver, of course! We’ve 

been railwaymen for generations in my 

family. 

The full interview: 

Webcode: 182541 / 

Swiss Extend 


René Kamer’s favourite scenic trips 

2 

1 

Royal Rigi round tour, 


The trip starts in Lucerne with a cruise on a historic paddle 

steamer to Vitznau. Here you change onto a cog train for a 

ride on Europe’s first mountain railway, built in 1871, up to Rigi 

Kulm. The summit of the “Queen of the Mountains” promises 

glorious panoramic views of the Alps, lakes and the Swiss 

Plateau. Return on the beautiful alternative route via Arth-Goldau. 


3 

Swiss Extend 

Schilthorn, Bernese Oberland 

Some of the finest views of the Bernese Oberland’s spectacular 

mountains, including the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, 

are from the 2,970-metre Schilthorn. The 32-minute ride up in 

the panoramic cable car – past thundering waterfalls and sheer 

cliffs – is an unforgettable experience in itself; at the summit, 

the vista opens out to take in 200 peaks. 


Swiss Extend 

Four Lakes Trail, 


This walk from Engelberg to Melchsee-Frutt is a classic among 

the many spectacular high-altitude hikes of central Switzerland. 

Highlights include the mountain scenery around the glaciertopped 

Titlis, the views of the Bernese Alps, the rich flora and 

of course the four lakes: the mirror-like Trübsee, the deep-blue 

Engstlensee, the turquoise Tannensee and the picturesque 

Melchsee. 

Webcode: A57088 / 

Swiss Extend 

4 

Centovalli train trip, Ticino 

Train journeys don’t get much more spectacular than this. The 

narrow-gauge Centovalli railway leads for nearly 60 kilometres 

through 100 valleys, across giddy viaducts, along deep 

gorges, past thundering waterfalls and through colourful forests 

of chestnut and lush vineyards. Book accommodation for 

the following night in Locarno, and enjoy a relaxed evening by 

lovely Lake Maggiore. 


Swiss Extend 

5 

Lavaux vineyards, Lake Geneva Region 

The terraced vineyards of Lavaux overlooking Lake Geneva, a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a sight no one should miss. 

The “Train des Vignes” offers a comfortable way of exploring 

them. The blue-and-yellow train takes just 12 minutes to wind 

from Vevey through the vineyards up to Puidoux-Chexbres, 

where you can sample the superb local wines: virtually every 

cellar offers tastings. 


Swiss Extend 


We’re something 

you 

can all enjoy. 

450 times. 

Listen to your good taste if you like being selective. There 

are around 450 varieties of cheese in Switzerland. From 

extra hard, to soft and right through to cream cheese – plus goat’s 

cheese and sheep’s cheese too. There’s something to keep 

all connoisseurs happy. 

Switzerland. Naturally. 

Cheeses from Switzerland. 

www.switzerland-cheese.com

Scenic places to stay 

Rooms with a view. Snowy peaks, sparkling lakes, 

the rooftops of an old town: a fine view is the ultimate asset of any 

accommodation, from luxury hotel to mountain hut. MySwitzerland presents 

places to stay with vistas you’ll never forget. 

Hôtel Beau-Rivage Ä 

Geneva 

This luxury hotel, built in 1865, stands on the Lake Geneva shore, 

a stone’s throw from the shopping district, offering glorious views 

over the lake and snow-capped Alps beyond. The restaurant terrace 

is the perfect place from which to admire Geneva’s famous emblem, 

the Jet d’Eau water fountain. 

1 www.beau-rivage.ch 

Montagne Alternative 

Commeire, Valais 

In the charming, remote hamlet of Commeire, a group of mountain 

chalets renovated in traditional local style forms an original hotel 

full of character. The beautifully furnished chalets are surrounded 

by nature, and offer glorious views over the valley of the Great 

St. Bernard and the Mont Blanc massif. 

2 www.montagne-alternative.com 

Hotel Riffelberg Ô 

Zermatt, Valais 

The Hotel Riffelberg stands at an altitude of 2,600 metres, framed 

by Zermatt’s glorious mountain scenery. Opened in 1855, the historic 

hotel evokes all the charm of the pioneering days of mountain 

tourism. The views of the majestic Matterhorn are breathtaking: this 

is the profile of the peak that has become famous the world over. 

3 www.riffelberg.ch 

Hotel Eden Roc Ä 

Ascona, Ticino 

A superb location on Lake Maggiore, glorious views across the 

water to the Brissago Islands and stylish décor by the celebrated 

designer Carlo Rampazzi charm guests at this luxury holiday 

hotel. The Eden Roc stands in extensive grounds with pool, private 

beach and boat jetty, close to Ascona’s delightful piazza. 

4 www.edenroc.ch 


Be our guest 

Hôtel du Pillon – Relais du Silence Ô 

Les Diablerets, Lake Geneva Region 

Built in 1860 for British visitors drawn by the region’s famous glaciers, 

this historic hotel oozes period charm. Located just above the village 

on the old pass road to the Col du Pillon, it offers spectacular views 

of the mountains and glaciers of Les Diablerets. Today, it is the last 

surviving grand hotel of the era. 

5 www.hoteldupillon.ch 

Parkhotel Bellevue À 

Adelboden, Bernese Oberland 

As the hotel’s name suggests, the Bellevue enjoys beautiful views – 

of the mighty Wildstrubel and the famous Engstligen Falls. A delightful 

location above the pretty village and an enchanting garden complete 

with heated outdoor salt-water pool contribute to making this a 

blissfully relaxing base for a break. 

6 www.parkhotel-bellevue.ch 

Gleckstein hut (Swiss Alpine Club) 

Grindelwald, Bernese Oberland 

This well-appointed Swiss Alpine Club hut, built in 1854, boasts a 

spectacular setting high on the slopes of the Wetterhorn. The views 

of the pristine mountain landscape, taking in 4,000-metre peaks, 

glaciers and the Grindelwald valley, are breathtaking. With luck, you’ll 

also see some of the horned ibex that live nearby. 

7 www.gleckstein.ch 

Jugendstil-Hotel Paxmontana Ã 

Flüeli-Ranft, Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region 

Built in Art Nouveau style on a scenic hilltop in Flüeli-Ranft and 

recently renovated, the Paxmontana offers a beguiling combination 

of period charm and modern comfort. The Veranda restaurant 

with its impressive 47-metre glass façade reveals gorgeous views 

of the Sarneraa valley and the Glaubenberg. 

8 www.paxmontana.ch 

Rigi Kulm Hotel 

Rigi Kulm, Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region 

Situated just below the summit of the “Queen of the Mountains”, 

the Rigi Kulm offers sublime views over the lakes and peaks of central 

Switzerland. The hotel makes an ideal base for experiencing 

the Rigi’s famous sunrises and for exploring its extensive network 

of panoramic footpaths. 

9 www.rigikulm.ch 


Scenic places to stay 

Hotel Wassberg Ô 

Zürich-Forch, Zürich Region 

The Wassberg, a country hotel built in 1837, stands on a high 

plateau with fine views across the sparkling Greifensee and the Zürich 

highlands. The lush, tranquil setting, fresh air and the hotel’s elegant 

decor, with classic pieces of furniture, make this an idyllic location for 

a break, just 15 minutes from Zürich city centre. 

10 www.hotel-wassberg.ch 

Alter Säntis mountain guest house 

Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein 

This traditional Appenzell mountain guest house at the summit of 

the Säntis offers an intimate experience of nature as well as a taste of 

genuine local hospitality. On a clear day, from the highest point of 

the Säntis just behind the guest house at 2,502 metres, you can see 

up to 2,000 peaks in six countries. 

11 www.altersaentis.ch 

Terri hut (Swiss Alpine Club) 

Obersaxen, Graubünden 

Located at 2,170 metres in the Greina Plateau nature reserve, the 

Terri hut boasts an elegant extension of natural stone by the 

renowned architect Gion A. Caminada as well as glorious views of 

the Tödi. The refuge makes an ideal base for hikes through this 

pristine, tundra-like landscape, rich in wildlife. 

12 www.terrihuette.ch 

Hotel Waldhaus Ö 

Sils-Maria, Graubünden 

With its five stars, long history and commanding position overlooking 

the pretty village, sparkling Lake Sils and the valley of the Upper 

Engadin, this hotel radiates monumental grandeur. Inside, guests are 

charmed by the personal and welcoming way the Waldhaus has 

been run for five generations. 

13 www.waldhaus-sils.ch 

Discover other scenic accommodation: 

Webcode: AP25153 / Swiss Extend 

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Yann Arthus-Bertrand 

Switzerland 

from above 

Words: Florence Michel Pictures: Yann Arthus-Bertrand / Altitude 

In August 2013, the award-winning 

photographer and environmentalist Yann 

Arthus-Bertrand flew over Switzerland to 

gather footage for his new film, “Human”. 


54 Views

Yann Arthus-Bertrand 

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is an awardwinning 

French photographer. 

His book “Earth From Above”, first 

published in 1999, revealed a 

bird’s-eye view of the blue planet and 

its natural treasures, and became an 

international bestseller. His documentary 

film “Home” (2009) also used 

powerful images to make audiences 

aware that the human race bears 

responsibility for repairing the devastation 

it has inflicted on nature and 

must halt further destruction. In 2005, 

Yann Arthus-Bertrand created the 

GoodPlanet Foundation, of which he 

is president, to raise awareness 

of environmental issues and to 

encourage humanity to protect its 

natural heritage. 

www.yannarthusbertrand.org 

Yann Arthus-Bertrand, last summer 

you photographed and filmed 

Switzerland from a helicopter. 

What were your impressions? 

I loved the variety of landscapes, 

mountains and valleys, glaciers and 

lakes. The Rhine Falls took my breath 

away – it’s the most beautiful waterfall 

I’ve ever seen. I was also impressed by 

the agricultural landscapes of the region 

of La Gruyère. The views of a waterfall 

near Lauterbrunnen were magical: we 

could make out an ancient, gnarled face 

in the rock. And as we flew over the 

Matterhorn we saw two mountaineers 

who had just reached the summit and 

were embracing: that was beautiful and 

unexpected. 

What did you find 

particularly striking? 

The blue of the lake water, the 

green of the grass – you see that it rains 

a fair bit in Switzerland! I appreciated 

the fact that there aren’t advertising 

billboards in the streets or fences 

between the houses, and that everything 

is so clean. 

Were you already familiar 

with Switzerland? 

No, I only knew the region around 

Geneva. I travelled across the country 

as a child, and remember the smell of 

cows – a very pleasant smell, actually! I 

believe few French people visit Switzerland 

in summer, they mostly come to 

ski – but in fact there’s plenty to 

discover. Next year I’m going to spend 

a week in Switzerland with my wife. 

Why did you come to 

Switzerland? 

Switzerland was one of the filming 

locations for “Human”, my latest project. 

I’ve been travelling around the 

world now for two and a half years with 

my cameraman, Bruno Cusa. In September 

2015 the film will be released 

and the website will go live. I want to 

show the world’s most beautiful places, 

letting people speak for themselves – 

because living together means listening 

to one another. It’s a plea for peaceful 

coexistence, for love for the earth and 

the life all around us. 


mySwitzerland 57 Views 

Preceding pages: Lavertezzo, 

Verzasca valley, Ticino. Large 

image, left: Piz Scerscen, 

Graubünden. Above left: 

farmland in the Fribourg Region. 

Below left: Port de Chevroux, 

Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Geneva 

Region. Below: Rhine Falls, 

Schaffhausen, Eastern 

Switzerland / Liechtenstein.

A la carte 

House speciality: delectable views. 

Switzerland’s mountain restaurants and inns offer treats in double portions: 

authentic homemade cuisine, often featuring local alpine produce, served 

alongside spectacular scenery. MySwitzerland presents eight panoramic 

venues with a feast for the eyes as much as for the taste buds. 

Auberge de Sonchaux 

Veytaux, Lake Geneva Region 

This mountain restaurant an altitude of 1,260 metres is well known 

for its fabulous views over Lake Geneva and the surrounding 

mountains – and for its delicious “charbonnade” (table-top barbecue). 

Rösti dishes, fondues and homemade cakes are also highly popular. 

Open all year. 

1 www.aubergedesonchaux.ch 

Chalet du Soldat 

Jaun, Fribourg Region 

Located at 1,752 metres with glorious views of the dramatic Gastlosen 

pinnacles, this traditional restaurant serves delicious Fribourg dishes 

such as Fondue de l’Armailli, Gastlosen Rösti and meringues with 

Gruyère clotted cream. The chalet is open daily from 1 June to the 

end of October, and most weekends the rest of the year. 

2 www.chaletdusoldat.ch 

Le Ferrage 

Morgins, Valais 

Le Ferrage is a small, rustic mountain restaurant boasting superb 

views of the serrated Dents du Midi. The chalet is famous for its Valais 

specialities such as air-dried meat, Valais platters (dried meat and 

cheese), homemade sausages, fondues and a wide variety of other 

cheese dishes. 

3 www.leferrage.ch 

Hüsliberg restaurant 

Zweisimmen, Bernese Oberland 

This small family venture, located above Zweisimmen at an altitude 

of 1,669 metres, has an enthusiastic following for its delicious 

homemade cheese dishes and air-dried meat. The cakes and 

desserts are superb, too! Open from mid-June to mid-September. 

4 www.gstaad.ch 


Mountain cuisine 

Restaurant Grosser Mythen 

Grosser Mythen, Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region 

The 360° views from this hut on the summit of the Grosser Mythen 

extend from the Säntis to Germany’s Black Forest. After the onehour 

climb to get there, enjoy specialities such as Älplermagronen 

(potatoes, pasta, cheese and cream), cordon bleu or game dishes 

in autumn. Open from May to November in good weather. 

5 www.grosser-mythen.ch 

Grotto Borei 

Brissago, Ticino 

At this “grotto” or traditional Ticino inn high above Lake Maggiore, 

the food is as enchanting as the views. Homemade ravioli, braised 

beef with polenta, risotto with mushrooms, game dishes and 

vegetables from the garden taste sublime matched with a range 

of exquisite local wines. 

6 www.osteriaborei.ch 

Aescher-Wildkirchli restaurant 

Ebenalp, Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein 

The Aescher-Wildkirchli is famous for its spectacular location, 

squeezed against the Ebenalp cliffs; the views from the terrace over 

the Alpstein massif are equally impressive. The food, too, is superb, 

from Appenzell cheese specialities to Rösti and gorgeous meringues. 

Open from May to 31 st October. 

7 www.aescher-ai.ch 

Alpenrose mountain restaurant 

Medergen, Graubünden 

Located two hours’ walk from Arosa at 2,004 metres, this atmospheric 

restaurant offers lovely views over the Schanfigg valley and the 

surrounding mountains. Specialities include homemade Käsespätzli 

(cheese dumplings), Graubünden barley soup, sausages and fruit 

pastries, freshly baked daily. Open mid-June to mid-October. 

8 www.arosa.ch 

Discover other tempting mountain restaurants: 

Webcode: AO25153 / Swiss Extend 

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Picked for you 

Take a deep breath … Hike in the Swiss mountains 

and before long you’ll come across a suspension footbridge. These filigree 

constructions spanning gorges and ravines save walkers a long detour, offering 

breathtaking views – and a thrill of excitement. MySwitzerland presents the 

longest, the highest and the most spectacular. Just don’t look down! 

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Panoramic: 

Titlis Cliff Walk 

Lucerne – 


Europe’s highest-altitude 

pedestrian suspension bridge 

stands above Engelberg, near 

the top of the Titlis cable car at 

an altitude of 3,020 m. The views 

of the mountains all around 

and into the abyss at your feet 

are breathtaking. 

Heavenly: 

Raiffeisen Skywalk 

Lucerne – 


At 374 m long, the pedestrian 

suspension bridge at Sattel- 

Hochstuckli is Europe’s longest. 

It’s also high – up to 58 m above 

the bottom of the Lauitobel 

gorge – and wide, making it 

suitable for wheelchairs and 

pushchairs. 

Dizzy: 

Salbit bridge 

Lucerne – 


The 90-m Salbit bridge spans 

the Stotzig Chäle gorge overlooking 

the Voralp valley, west of 

Göschenen. Modelled on classic 

Nepalese rope bridges, it is best 

suited to experienced mountain 

hikers with a good head for 

heights. 

Steep: 

Traversinersteg II 

Graubünden 

This suspension bridge across 

the Viamala gorge is built in the 

form of a flight of steps: as you 

cross the 56-m span, you also 

climb or descend 22 vertical 

metres. The view into the depths 

of the gorge is dramatic – as 

well as a little scary. 

4 www.traversinersteg.ch 

1 www.titlis.ch 

2 www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch 

3 www.salbitbruecke.ch 


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Airy: Sigriswil 

panoramic bridge 


The 340 -m suspension bridge 

over the Gummischlucht gorge 

between Sigriswil and Aeschlen 

is notable for the beautiful way it 

blends into the landscape. Part 

of a panoramic path around Lake 

Thun, it offers superb views over 

the lake and mountains beyond. 

5 www.brueckenweg.ch 

Spectacular: 

Trift bridge 


The Trift bridge spans a lake at 

the foot of the Trift Glacier, north 

of the Grimsel Pass. 170 m long 

and 100 m above the ground, 

the suspension bridge was built 

in 2009 to access the Swiss 

Alpine Club’s remote Trift hut. 

6 www.trift.ch 

Sweeping: Aletsch 

suspension bridge 

Valais 

Located between Belalp and 

Riederalp at the gateway to 

the Great Aletsch Glacier, this 

suspension bridge is 124 m 

long, 50 m above the Massa 

gorge – and guarantees hikers 

a nerve-tingling crossing. 

7 www.wanderwegriederalp-belalp.ch 

Glorious: 

Passerelle à Farinet 

Valais 

About an hour’s walk from the 

thermal spa resort of Saillon, this 

97- m suspension bridge offers 

superb views of the Rhone valley 

and the surrounding vineyards. 

It spans the river Salentse as it 

winds through a gorge, 140 m 

below. 

8 www.saillon.ch 

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Further information: 


Swiss Extend 


Swiss made 

Land and people. The Swiss 

photographers Monika Fischer and Mathias Braschler 

have a talent for capturing the character of their subjects – 

such as the winemaker Daniel Berthat from Epesses in Vaud, 

pictured here. In their book “The Swiss”, they present 

emblematic figures from all regions of the country – from a 

mountain-hut warden to a Lake Constance fishing family 

and a private ski instructor in Gstaad. 

www.hatjecantz.com 

The nation’s favourite. No other Swiss 

drink has given so much energy to so many people of all ages: 

Ovomaltine, a favourite here for 110 years, and today one of 

Switzerland’s best-known brands. Still based on the magic formula 

devised by Dr. Albert Wander, the drink continues to delight 

generations of fans with the unmistakable taste of malt, cocoa 

and pure goodness. 

www.ovomaltine.ch 


Cool case. Light, slender and elegant smartphone cases from 

dschember beautifully evoke the pristine nature of the Graubünden mountains. 

Made from aromatic Swiss stone pine wood, inlaid with dark walnut and 

hand-oiled, the cases are a pleasure to hold and use, with screen, buttons and 

ports all easily accessible. The smartphone cases are made in Samedan 

by the company dschember in collaboration with the Engadin workshop for 

apprentice joiners. 

www.dschember.ch 

Pure Swissness. Chocolat Frey’s souvenir 

assortment boasts a design that’s typically Swiss, with 

a white Swiss cross on a red background. This authentic 

miniature milk churn is filled with Napolitains of the 

finest milk chocolate, each one individually wrapped 

and carrying a beautiful photo of one of Switzerland’s sights. 

The ideal gift for fans of genuine Swissness. 

www.chocolatfrey.ch 

Pure pleasure. A very special cheese has been 

made by hand in the Vallée de Joux for more than 100 years: 

Vacherin Mont-d’Or AOP. It matures in traditional finishing cellars 

to acquire its delicate, mild flavour, while a wooden band around 

the cheese, made of local pine, imparts a subtle hint of tannin. Like 

a fine wine, the cheese reveals its full flavour when brought to room 

temperature a few hours before serving. 

www.vacherin-montdor.ch 


Swiss made 

A Swiss original. 76 years ago, in Eglisau in 

canton Zürich, a Swiss cola was born: Vivi Kola. For five decades 

it was bottled at the town’s own mineral springs, but production 

stopped in 1986. In 2010 a native of Eglisau, Christian Forrer, brought 

Vivi Kola back to life – fresher and bubblier than ever. There’s even 

a sugar-free version now, too: Vivi Kola Siro. 

www.vivikola.ch 

Taste of goodness. Swiss quality and natural goodness 

have a name: Ricola. The company, founded in 1930, is one of the 

world’s most modern and innovative manufacturers of herb drops, famous 

for their unique flavour and soothing effect on the mouth and throat. 

All the herbs used are cultivated organically in the Swiss mountains. 

www.ricola.com 

Mountain style. 

Hand-fashioned from cowhide and 

decorated with metal emblems depicting 

motifs such as herdsmen, the sun and 

cows, Appenzell belts are part of Swiss 

mountain heritage. Today, they are made 

by just a handful of traditional saddlers. 

Once the decoration served to show the 

wealth of the wearer; today it’s a signature 

revealing the identity of the belt-maker. 

www.appenzeller-gurt.com 


Switzerland Tourism recommends 

Strategic Premium Partners 

Swiss chocolate 

chocolatfrey.com 

Train travel 

sbb.ch 

The airline of Switzerland 

SWISS.COM 

Publisher 

Switzerland Tourism 

Tödistrasse 7 

Postfach 

8027 Zürich 

Switzerland 

Editor 

Eveline Feier, Switzerland Tourism 

Telecommunications 

swisscom.com 

Strategic Partners 

Financial services 

ubs.com 

Design 

Festland AG, St. Gallen / Zürich 

Switzerland Tourism, Zürich 

Photos 

Cover: 

Lorenz Andreas Fischer 

Page 2: 

Angel Sanchez 

Pages 12–13: 

Foto Fetzer, Andreas Gerth, 

Roland Gerth, Stephan Engler 

Pages 34–37: 

Roger Canali, Reto Wilhelm, 

Antonio Ravazza, Terence du Fresne 

Pages 62– 64: 

By kind permission 

of the manufacturers 

Other photos: 

By kind permission of our partners 

Videos 

Cover, pages 40–41, 45 

Switzerland Tourism 

Printer 

galledia ag, Flawil 

American Express 

in Switzerland 

americanexpress.ch 

The trade association of 

the Swiss hotel industry 

swisshotels.com 

Switzerland Cheese Marketing 

switzerland-cheese.com 

Offi cial Partners 

Watches Jewellery Gems 

bucherer.com 

Exquisite Swiss 

speciality biscuits 

kambly.ch 

SWISS ARMY KNIVES | 

TIMEPIECES | TRAVEL GEAR 

victorinox.com 

Car rental 

europcar.ch 

Association for Swiss 

non-hotel accommodation 

stnet.ch/parahotellerie 

Gateway to the Alps 

zurich-airport.com 

Swiss herb drops 

ricola.com 

Print run 

500,000 copies 

Languages 

The Swiss holiday magazine 

mySwitzerland is published twice 

a year in German, French, Italian, 

English, Dutch and Spanish. 

appenzellerbier.ch 

swisstravelcenter.ch 

axpo.com 

intersportrent.ch 

flyer.ch 

grimselstrom.ch 

gastrosuisse.ch 

mammut.ch 

marche-restaurants.com 

snowsports.ch 

swissinfo.ch 

topevents.ch 

visana.ch 

www.MySwitzerland.com /strategicpartners 


Tips to smooth the way 

Get advice and book. 

With our extensive knowledge of Switzerland, 

we can help you plan the best possible holiday. 

Call: 00800 100 200 30 (international toll-free*) 

*Local charges may apply. 

Travel in comfort 

Tips and information about travelling to Switzerland. Whether you plan 

to come by plane, train or car, Switzerland has the best possible 

international connections. 

p MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: 25321 / 

Swiss Extend 

Enjoy the ride 

Travel in comfort and enjoy every moment of the journey. A well-served 

public transport network makes exploring Switzerland fun – and offers 

total flexibility. 


Swiss Extend 

Find accommodation 

From stylish spa hotels to authentic mountain inns and rural farms, 

the choice of accommodation in Switzerland is vast. Booking 

is quick and easy. 


Swiss Extend 

Judge for yourself 

Find out about a hotel quickly and easily from personal ratings. 

After your stay, post your own rating – and help maintain the high 

standard of Swiss hospitality. 


Swiss Extend 

Stay informed 

Interested in Swiss current affairs? Visit our news and info website 

for the latest on Swiss politics, society, culture, the economy and 

science – in nine languages. 

p www.swissinfo.ch 


One click away 

Summer is one click away: 

MySwitzerland.com/summer 

All on 

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With the Swiss Mag app 

and our free e-brochures, 

exploring your Swiss holiday 

options is an adventure in itself. 

Experience the magic of the Swiss summer! 

Snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, charming 

villages and pristine landscapes – the perfect backdrop 

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Extend

At a glance 

Switzerland: small country, great diversity. 

Switzerland: 220 km from north to south, 348 km from east to west, 

with tremendous cultural and scenic diversity in between. Eight million 

people live in an area of just 41,285 km 2 , speaking four official languages 

(German, French, Italian, Romansh) and countless dialects. 

The largest city is world-famous Zürich, but the capital is Bern. 

Switzerland is home to more than 120 glaciers, 11 UNESCO World 

Heritage Sites, two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and 48 mountains 

above 4,000 m. The Dufourspitze in Valais is the highest peak, 

at 4,634 m, while Lake Maggiore is the lowest point in the country, 

at 193 m above sea level. 

A 

The regions 

H 

A Basel Region 

B Bern Region 

C Bernese Oberland 

D Fribourg Region 

E Geneva 

F Lake Geneva Region 

G Graubünden 

H Jura & Three-Lakes 

I Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region 

J Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein 

K Ticino 

L Valais 

M Zürich Region 

FRANCE 

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D 

B 

C 

Special 

F 

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360° panoramas 

Pages 14– 27 

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1 Creux du Van 

2 Segantini hut 

3 Eggishorn 

4 Moléson 

5 San Salvatore 

6 Les Diablerets 

7 Männlichen 

E 

L

GERMANY 

M 

AUSTRIA 

J 

I 

LIECHTENSTEIN 

G 

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2 

3 

K 

ITALY 

5 

Motorway 

Main road 

Railway 

Car transport by rail 

Airport

Our partner regions 

www.MySwitzerland.com

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