5 Things You Can Only Find In Switzerland (Content Upgrade)
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5 <strong>Things</strong> <strong>You</strong> <strong>Can</strong> <strong>Only</strong> <strong>Find</strong><br />
in <strong>Switzerland</strong><br />
<strong>Switzerland</strong> is well-known for its alpine beauty, but certainly, mountains are not unique to the<br />
country, so here I present to you 5 extraordinary things (in alphabetical order) you can only<br />
find in the Swiss mountains. Just in case you needed any more reasons to travel to <strong>Switzerland</strong>!<br />
1. Creux du Van, Neuchâtel<br />
A great big cirque.<br />
2. Earth Pyramids of Euseigne, Valais<br />
Strange pointy rock formations.<br />
3. The Great St. Bernard Pass and its dogs, Valais<br />
An interactive dog museum and home of the St Bernard.<br />
4. Tectonic Arena Sardona, Glarus<br />
An upside down mountain formation.<br />
5. Trummelbach Falls, Bernese Oberland<br />
A mighty subterranean glacial waterfall.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
Creux du Van, Neuchâtel<br />
Photo from Neuchatel West<br />
This perfectly amphitheatre-shaped rocky cirque is an incredibly<br />
beautiful sight to see. At 1,400 meters wide and 150 meters deep,<br />
this impressive cliff was created by natural water erosion from a<br />
glacier and is found in the heart of a nature reserve perfectly<br />
suited for exploring on foot.<br />
<strong>You</strong> will find here an exceptional and unusual local climate with both forests and arctic-alpine<br />
flora and fauna. Look for chamois, ibex, lynx, marmots, deers, and birds of prey throughout the<br />
reserve.<br />
For an arduous and rewarding experience, follow the 14-kilometer trail along the edge of the<br />
arena. This 4.5-hour hike requires medium technique and a high fitness level. Something<br />
unique to also look out for is a source of spring water in the middle of a sink hole called<br />
Fontaine froide -the water here is only 4C degrees all year round.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
Earth Pyramids of Euseigne, Valais<br />
Photo by Matt Rees<br />
The erosion of an ancient glacial moraine has created a unique<br />
line of pointed pyramids right in the centre of this incredibly<br />
beautiful alpine valley that takes up most of the southwest<br />
quarter of the country. These bizarre skinny white pyramids are<br />
strangely capped each with a large boulder, dark in colour.<br />
Though earth pyramids can be found elsewhere in the world, they are rare and each have a<br />
unique look to them. One factor that makes these interesting is how the locals have carved out<br />
a tunnel under the formations to pass the principal valley road right through it!<br />
For an impressive view, you can follow a path off the road which leads to the foot of the<br />
pyramids. It’s only a short 20-minute walk away.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
The Great St Bernard Pass and its dogs, Valais<br />
The Saint Bernard is a well loved dog breed known for its heroic<br />
and caring personality and has been the Swiss national dog since<br />
1884. Discover the source of this breed at their place of origin,<br />
high up in the mountains where you will find a museum<br />
recounting their acts of bravery during avalanche-rescue missions<br />
and their rise to fame.<br />
<strong>You</strong> will also have the opportunity to walk among and play with the resident dogs and their<br />
puppies. The best opportunity you can have interacting with the dogs is offered every July and<br />
August, where you can take a 90-minute hike accompanying them. This unique hike is<br />
available every day at both 10am and 2pm.<br />
This is the only dog museum in the world that is both interactive and at the breed’s birthplace.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
Tectonic Arena Sardona, Glarus<br />
Of the 3 natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in <strong>Switzerland</strong>,<br />
this one is the most unique. It stands out because this mountain<br />
provides a remarkably clear and plain view of the formation of Alpine<br />
mountains and valleys that occurred millions of years ago. At the<br />
peak of Sardona, there is a very clear horizontal line between older<br />
rock strata above and younger rocks below that can be seen from a distance.<br />
This unique formation has perplexed geologists the world over for many years and the cause<br />
was only determined in the very recent past. As the continents of Africa and Europe collided,<br />
the Alps began to tower up over millions of years, with older rocks being pushed upon younger<br />
ones in the process.<br />
This unique location offers geologists and enthusiasts a rich variety of evidence and traces of<br />
this remarkable force. <strong>You</strong> can begin your exploration at the Visitor Centre in the town of<br />
Glarnerland.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
Trummelbach Falls, Bernese Oberland<br />
Photo by Fribourg West<br />
<strong>In</strong> the valley of 72 waterfalls, Trummelbach Falls is extraordinary<br />
as it is Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls with 20,000 litres<br />
of water carried down per second. These are also the world’s only<br />
glacier waterfalls that are accessible underground by lifts,<br />
galleries, tunnels, paths, and platforms.<br />
These waters are so powerful that 20,000 tonnes of boulders and scree is carried down per<br />
year, causing the entire mountain to shudder and make thundering noise.<br />
<strong>You</strong> can visit these impressive falls in the warmer months, between April and October.<br />
Admission is 11 francs per person or 4 francs for children 6-15 years’ old and doors are open<br />
between 9 and 5pm daily.<br />
www.hillsandvalleystravel.com
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