Switzerland. Selection 2021
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SWITZERLAND. SELECTION 2021 42 HIGHLIGHTS UNTAI MO N Switzerland is situated in the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe. 02–11 WATER Water from the Alps flows into the Atlantic, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. 12–21 HOUSE The Swiss are bridge-builders and have world-class architects. Cover image 22–31 01 PEOPLE Chapel Bridge A city favourite There’s little doubt that the most famous bridge in Switzerland has earned its reputation. It is not just a beautiful structure with 110 The residents of the Alpine valleys 16th-century images under its roof, all speak their own language. but also the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. On the night between 32–42 17 and 18 August 1993, however, the people of Lucerne almost lost their landmark to the flames. Thanks to the work of a dedicated SERVICE rescue team, the most important Roads parts of the bridge were saved. Rail Map Cover image: © Natapong Supalertsophon/Moment via Getty Images A B C D E Border Mountain SWITZERLAND 1 Water House 15 33 28 2 31 25 29 38 22 34 41 26 3 20 1 11 32 8 10 37 35 14 4 23 17 30 7 40 3 12 24 13 19 36 5 18 6 FRANCE 2 6 Grand Tour of Switzerland D3 E F G 01 Chapel Bridge SWITZERLAND 02 Matterhorn C5 ERMANY G 03 Schilthorn C4 04 Davos F3 05 St. Moritz C4 06 Saas-Fee D5 07 Jungfrau D4 08 Pilatus D3 09 National Park G4 10 Stoos E3 29 11 Creux du Van B3 27 22 12 Aletsch D4 13 Jet d’Eau A5 39 14 Aare C3 15 Rhine Falls D2 CHTENSTEI 42 LIE N 16 Lake Cauma E3 26 AUSTRIA 17 Mürenbach Falls C4 18 Lago Maggiore E5 19 Fountains 10 20 St. Peter’s Island B3 21 Gandria E5 16 4 22 Kunsthaus Zürich D2 9 23 Gruyères B4 24 Château de Chillon B4 25 Habsburg Castle D2 5 26 Einsiedeln Abbey E3 27 Abbey Library F2 28 Fondation Beyeler C2 29 Technorama E2 30 Plate forme 10 B4 31 Tinguely C2 18 21 32 Watches and clocks C3 33 Basel Carnival C2 34 Absinthe Bar C3 35 Yodelling 36 Raclette 37 Wilhelm Tell E3 ITALY 38 Street Parade D2 39 Silvester kläuse Grand Train Tour The most beautiful panoramic 40 Winegrowing routes in Switzerland 41 Chocolate 42 Alpine descent Grüezi. Come a little closer. I’d like to show you around Switzerland. We marmots know the country better than anyone else – even though we spend the summers eating and the winters sleeping. We’ve been living above and below ground here since the last Ice Age, looking after our families and enjoying mountain life. No wonder so many of us have made our home in the Alps. This magazine will take you to some of Switzerland’s most beautiful sights. It is divided into four chapters that together characterise the country: “Mountain” and “Water”, as the defining elements of the Swiss landscape, and “House” and “People”, as the traditions of those who live here, either enshrined in the past or kept very much alive. All highlights at a glance: Map on the last page. Find more inspiration at: MySwitzerland.com NTA MOU IN The majestic mountains are an iconic landmark of Switzerland. They dominate the landscape and exude a dignified strength that colours the experiences of visitors and locals alike. All highlights at a glance: Map on the last page. Find more inspiration at: MySwitzerland.com/mountain 02 Matterhorn Ski slopes for every taste The Zermatt ski area is like a sprawling breakfast buffet in a five-star hotel: you’ll find anything you could wish for here. After all, the 360 kilometres of slopes have something for every taste. Begin- ners can enjoy gentle slopes, while adventurous types can try one of the deep-snow slopes, and more meditative souls can join a ski tour group to get closer to the impressive mountain landscape. The name “Matterhorn ski paradise” is well deserved indeed. MOUNTAIN 03 05 07 Schilthorn St. Moritz Jungfrau In the footsteps of James Bond The rich and the beautiful An unreal panorama A few years ago, James Bond was In the heart of the magnificent Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau: the seen speeding down the slopes of Upper Engadin mountains, the in- three striking peaks in the Bernese the Schilthorn with a bunch of vil- ternational high society meets with Oberland are usually mentioned lains on his heels. This has resulted much glitz and glamour for winter in the same breath. Nonetheless, in a love affair between the action sports, evenings with friends and the “first among equals” is definitely hero and the mountain, which con- family in the best gourmet restau- the Jungfrau. The reason for this tinues to be celebrated rants or top-class events in the is probably the glazed observation to this day. powder snow. platform on the Jungfraujoch, which offers visitors a magnificent panoramic view of the unique mountain world and the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Aletsch 04 06 Glacier that hovers somewhere Davos Saas-Fee between cheesy and surreal. Elite cross-country trails A paradise for freestylers Classic, on skates, or even by moon- 18 majestic 4,000-metre peaks light: cross-country skiing fans with many and various slopes on will love the cross-country trails their flanks ensure snow sports in Davos. Since 1972, elite cross- enthusiasts are kept happy at all country skiers have been meeting at times. Between July and Novem- the Davos Nordic each winter and ber, snowboarders can let off competing for valuable World Cup steam in the Freestyle Park at a points on over 175km of trails. height of 3,600 metres. 08 09 10 Pilatus National Stoos The place that dragons once A hiking paradise for called home Park everybody A realm of Alpine wilderness Legend has it that Lucerne’s local The world’s steepest funicular mountain was once inhabited An outing to watch animals in the railway takes visitors up to the by dragons. Presumably they also oldest national park in Central sunny plateau where the car-free loved the rugged Pilatus for its Europe is an exciting experience, village can be found. The scenic view of Lake Lucerne, glistening since bears, ibex, deer, bearded hiking area offers not only chal- in the sun down below. vultures, marmots and thousands lenging trails but also lots of easy, of other animal and plant species family-friendly routes. are at home in the Alpine wilderness. 11 Creux du Van The other Grand Canyon The chain of hills near Lake Neu- châtel is a wonderful hiking area, which comes to an abrupt end at the spectacular Creux du Van rock are- na. From the top of the 160-metre- high vertical walls you can enjoy a fantastic 360-degree view of the Alps, stretching as far as France. WATER Life emerges from the Alps in the form of a fresh bubbling stream that splashes down the rocks towards the sea, passing through lakes and broad rivers heaving with fish. All highlights at a glance: Map on the last page. Find more inspiration at: MySwitzerland.com/water 12 Aletsch A transient monument Measuring almost 23 kilometres in length and over 80 square kilo- metres in area and weighing 11 bil- lion tonnes, the Aletsch Glacier is a colossus of ice with no equal in the Alps. But even giants like this won’t last forever, and more and more of them are disappearing into the Mediterranean. WATER 13 Jet d’Eau A towering column of water Bridges, castles, houses, churches, squares – as a rule, city sights are usually associated with historic or modern architecture. Not so in Geneva: literally the biggest local tourist attraction is a 140-metre water spout that towers over the whole of Geneva. Visible for miles around, the fountain is known as the Jet d’Eau. The view of the water spout from the English Garden is particularly beautiful. 14 Aare Go with the flow On hot summer days there’s plenty going on down on the Aare between Thun and Bern: you can float gently down the river in a boat and enjoy time with friends as the world passes you by. A meditative and pleasantly cooling experience between the Alps and the Swiss capital. 15 Rhine Falls A natural spectacle up close A viewing platform juts out above the water into the spray of the larg- est waterfall in Europe – with up to 600,000 litres flowing over the edge every second! The raging torrent is like an overwhelmingly deafening round of applause – an unforget- table spectacle. 16 Lake Cauma An idyllic bathing spot Lake Cauma lies in the heart of the verdant Flimserwald forest, and with its turquoise-blue, crystal-clear waters is one of nature’s real gems. This is the perfect place to cool off. The rocky island in the middle of the lake, dominated by mighty fir trees, is also heaven on earth. 17 Mürrenbach Falls In the valley of 72 waterfalls The highest waterfall in Switzerland plunges 417 metres over the mighty rock walls of the Mürrenfluh into the depths of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. You can enjoy a good view of the huge masses of water on the aerial cableway ride from Stechelberg up to Mürren. 21 Gandria A jewel with a story to tell The little village of Gandria is nestled idyllically between Lake Lugano and the flank of Monte Brè, which is covered in a tangle of sweet chestnut trees.