THE SWISS ALPS by TRAIN Date and Price To Be Announced ZURICH LUCERNE click on a city INTERLAKEN to jump there. LOCARNO ZERMATT We will explore this wonderland of Touring Switzerland is almost like scenic peaks, valleys, villages and visiting all of Europe in one small lakes in the Swiss Alps, traveling by country. This country is a fascinat- first-class rail and staying in some ing mix of French culture in the west, of the most charming places in the German in the east and Italian in country. the south. Most Swiss also speaks The itinerary includes several nights English, so you will have no trouble in each place, which gives you time communicating. to have a good look around. Our cus- You will discover cobblestone lanes tomized itinerary has been carefully for pedestrians winding past ancient created to include the most scenic buildings that have the most modern parts of the Alpine region, and the shops inside, with everything spot- most beautiful towns. Picture in your lessly clean and well organized. This mind a vision of the Alps with their is the land of efficiency and charm, majestic pinnacles towering over with very friendly people. The best green foothills, with little villages of both worlds, old and new nestled at their base in green mead- ows. We shall see it all in our visit. Price includes hotels, breakfast, first-class rail between cities, escort. Not included: air; trips to mountain peaks, tips, boat rides. pg 1 1 very pleasant in May, reaching the off the winter snow, complete the on the other by a hillside and ancient 60s and 70s, for Lucerne sits at an picturesque scenario. Automobiles fortified wall, which you can climb. elevation of just 1,300 feet. Some are not allowed into this large Feel free to wander. of the nearby mountains do reach historic zone, so you can wander 10,000 feet, with snow-covered the cobbled lanes without fear of TWO COVERED BRIDGES: glaciers, but the temperatures in getting run over. The shopping is town are very comfortable. Many fun, with many items that are pure In the heart of Lucerne is its major restaurants and cafes have outdoor Swiss in character, like music boxes, landmark, the 560-foot long Chapel seating in fair weather, some of them chocolates, watches, cuckoo clocks, Bridge, or Kapellbrucke, the oldest on the beautiful banks of the Reuss covered bridge in Europe, first built River that flows through town, so it in 1333. But in 1993, after 660 years, LUCERNE is really nice to sit in the fresh air and this Lucerne icon was destroyed enjoy your meal. by fire, only to be rebuilt by the Our visit begins in Lucerne, one efficient townspeople within a year of the world’s prettiest towns, set Day One: walking tour in the Old in the original style — and by now on a beautiful waterfront, along Town. Day Two: trip to the top of Mt. has weathered to a mellow patina the shores of Lake Lucerne and the Titlis; afternoon free for shopping that once again looks hundreds River Reuss, surrounded by majestic alternative options, boat ride and of years old. The heroic rise from mountains. They truly have it all. excursions to Rigi, Pilatus. ashes symbolizes Swiss pride in Lucerne is deservedly the most cowbells, beer steins, hand-carved popular destination in Switzerland, wooden statues, costumed dolls, famous for its well-preserved Old cheese, knives, embroidery, linens, Town, consisting of many blocks of music, and you can also find very medieval buildings richly decorated good deals on clothing. The two with painted murals showing village main watch shops are Bucherer, life in olden days, making this like an a multi-story extravaganza, and outdoor art gallery. Gubelin, facing each other on the lakefront at Schwanenplatz. their past and modern ability to You can’t get lost in this small place get things done. Even here, it DAY ONE: Explore the town. — the Old Town is surrounded on sometimes takes forever to repair one side by the river and lake, and old buildings or construct new ones, We will arrive in the afternoon, and but the quality upon completion is after resting up at the hotel, take an unsurpassed. Adjacent to the bridge orientation walk. The historic center is the 110-foot high Water Tower, of Lucerne is an extensive pedestrian also nearly 700 years old, the most Two days will be plenty of time to zone, filled with interesting shops, photographed image in town. For enjoy Lucerne, using it as your home restaurants, and ancient buildings. the best picture, lure some swans base for travels by train and boat to The steep gabled roofs, covered with into your foreground with the bridge nearby sights. Temperatures are strong wooden shingles to ward and tower behind. 2 pg 1 pg 1 3 three of them open free to the public, carvings and wrought-iron works, and a section of wall you can walk and a cloistered courtyard next door. along for the most spectacular view looking down on the town. This is SMALL LANES AND PLAZAS: worth your effort, and easy to find, with a path just beyond the Mill Walk the few blocks back into Bridge that takes you there. the center of town along the main pedestrian shopping street, Hertenstein-Strasse, and head for The Mill Bridge is a smaller covered LION MONUMENT: consider having a gourmet meal the Kornmarkt, a small square with bridge two hundred yards south here on one of your nights in town. The other landmark we shall see along the river, built around 1408, With its traditional half-timbered on our orientation is the huge Lion notable for its series of paintings, wooden beam construction dating Monument, carved deeply into the “The Dance of Death,” whose back to 1859, this is truly a landmark jangling skeletons of the Black of Lucerne. They serve the best Death make you feel lucky to be Wienerschnitzel, sinfully sautéed alive. The clever Swiss have once with a stick of butter right at your again harnessed the waterpower that table, or superb fresh fish from the originally gave this bridge its name, lake, and many other items from and created a modern electricity- an extensive menu. Comfortably the Old Town Hall, built in 1602 with generating turbine, underwater and elegant, the cozy interior is a perfect two distinctive styles that mirror completely invisible. Both bridges setting for a memorable meal. Swiss cultural heritage: Italian in the also served as part of the medieval The Hoffkirche, or Collegiatelower section, echoing the Florentine fortifications that surrounded the sandstone cliff to commemorate the Church, is another attraction in this Renaissance, and a Bern farmhouse 1792 death of 786 Swiss mercenary part of town, on a hill overlooking wooden shingle pitched roof. An soldiers that were trying to defend the lake, four blocks south of the excellent restaurant for simple Swiss King Louis XVI in Paris. Completed restaurant. This Catholic church was sausage meals is here, Pfistern, with in 1821, it depicts a noble, mortally built in the gothic and Renaissance a rustic wooden interior, or tables wounded lion, regal but dying from styles during the 17th century outside on the lower terrace along a spear thrust in the ribs, making a and has a rich interior with many the river. The Picasso Museum is grand tragic statement of historic also on Kornmarkt, with a display of pride carved in stone. Mark Twain prints and 8 paintings. toured Lucerne and called this “the town. saddest and most moving piece of You will discover several other peaceful small plazas in the middle The old fortification wall still survives rock in the world.” of the Old Town, where cobblestone from the Middle Ages, built around The Old Swiss House, one of the best pedestrian lanes come together and the same time as the two bridges, restaurants in Lucerne, is located form a charming open area, ringed between 1350 and 1408. Called the in front of the Lion Monument, by ancient buildings and sidewalk Musegg Wall, it has nine towers, so have a look at their menu and cafes, with a fountain in the middle. 4 pg 1 pg 1 5 Small independent shops, and a few Tuesday and Saturday mornings the snow. It is cold enough that the department stores, make this the you will see the farmers’ market, snow never melts, but in the summer prime retail section of town. with cheeses, breads, fruits, produce with typical sunshine you will feel and pretty flower stalls, which stay comfortable with just a light jacket. DAY TWO: Train to Mount Titlis; open through mid-day. After the There are also some big inner tubes boat ride. refreshing sunrise excursion head you can ride down a side hill. For back to your hotel for breakfast and more fun on the trip down, get off Enjoy your rich buffet breakfast at prepare for your day’s activities. the cable car at the next-to-last stop our deluxe hotel and relax over coffee. and rent a scooter ($5) to coast down Be sure to try the dark breads if you MOUNT TITLIS: if you want to clown around. In the final mile. are a whole-wheat fan, made fresh Engelberg follow the signs and walk The most exciting, convenient a couple hundred yards to the cable We return to town the same way, excursion out of town is to Mount car lift that will take you on the enjoying the scenery a second time in Titlis, where you get a chance to 45-minute ride up the mountain.