Tim Cumming praises Switzerland’s peaks and says the breathtaking beauty of these mountainous destinations will live with you forever
Think Swiss, think mountains, think peak experiences. Think exclusive hideaways for Hollywood royalty – indeed, all kinds of royalty.
And then, think yourself there too, in prospect of the Matterhorn, the awesome summit with the world-famous resort of Zermatt at its side.
Whether you’re a hiker, a skier or a recliner, Switzerland’s mountain regions are once seen, never forgotten. For walkers, there’s the natural giant amphitheatre that is Creux du Van, while the 170sq km National Park is packed with fantastic hiking paths and nature trails. Elsewhere you can revel in the approach to Titlis and its mountain-top glacier park, reached by revolving cable car, or take Europe’s oldest mountain railway through the “queen of the mountains”, Rigi, set between the three stunning lakes of Lucerne, Zug and Lauerz.
Wherever you go in the Swiss mountains, you’ll find endless opportunities for world-class skiing, hiking, dining and relaxing.
Each metre of this magical 4,478m pyramidal peak shrieks “iconic” – it is the mountain of mountains, its famous outline an example of perfection in nature you won’t find anywhere else. For skiers, its Glacier Paradise is Europe’s highest summer ski region, while for Instagrammers the best look-out spots to view the Matterhorn are at Gornergrat and Rothorn.
For walkers, the Tour of Matterhorn is often hailed as the most beautiful trek in all the Alps, taking in meadows, glaciers and larch forests. OK, it’s a 10-day trek, but those may be some of the best days of your life.
With the Matterhorn’s peak towering over the village, it’s hard to separate the ski life from the rest of life in Zermatt, and its surrounding 360km of slopes across 38 peaks, ranging from beginner’s level to adventurous off-piste snowboarders.
The apres-ski is world-class, too – try one of the welcoming mountain huts on the low slopes of the Matterhorn – while heli-skiing offers the kind of eagle’s-eye views you get in your dreams. There’s even an igloo resort, Iglu-Dorf, home to the world’s largest snow igloo.
The “Other Grand Canyon” of Creux du Van in the Jura & Three-Lakes region is an extraordinary natural rock amphitheatre, its sheer sides rising 160m over a 4km-long valley basin. It will take you most of the day to walk its perimeter, through pristine forest and fragrant alpine flora, but fear not: there are restaurants to stop at, including Ferme Robert, housed in a 1750s farmhouse.
Climb to its bottom, and crouch at the Fontaine Froide spring for waters that flow from the ground at 4C – that’s the temperature of your fridge. Refreshing, yes, but not as enlivening, perhaps, as the regional speciality of absinthe. The Maison de L’Absinthe in nearby Motiers is a fascinating museum experience that ends with a tasting.
Founded in 1914, Switzerland’s national park in the Graubünden region is the oldest in the Alps, with 100km of hiking paths and nature trails at altitudes of 1,400m to 3,200m, and it’s a natural thriller of a wilderness. You never know what fantastic creature may cross your path next, being home to the country’s largest ibex population, as well as chamois, marmots, bearded vultures and golden eagles.
There are trails for everyone, from young kids to seasoned hikers, bikers and nature explorers. You can even stay the night at the amazing Hotel Parc Naziunal Il Fuorn, whose building dates from the 15th century, or the Chamanna Cluozza log cabin, which is open from June to October.
The Titlis Cliff Walk in the Lake Lucerne Region is Europe’s highest suspension bridge, and it’s one to cross to truly broaden your horizons. There’s also a unique way to get there: by revolving cable car from Engelberg, taking you 3,302m into the permanent snow on its peak.
As well as the suspension bridge, there’s the Ice Flyer chairlift that carries you over the glacier into Glacier Park, where the snow – to date – has never melted. A glacier cave even takes you into the ice itself, while down below at Trubsee, the cable car’s mid station, you can go boating on the lake or experience a spectacular zipwire.
They call it the “queen of the mountains”, and Rigi’s views are so regal it drew artist JMW Turner to paint the sunrise there – three times. They are hailed as his greatest watercolours, and you can enjoy some of the world’s greatest views simply by following in his footsteps, as well as those of Goethe and Mark Twain, who were also drawn to Rigi’s “view to a thrill”.
You can hike, bike, ride, ski, float or sledge – but with Europe’s oldest cogwheel mountain railway, the Rigi Bahnen, you can climb aboard for a magical trip taking you from the shores of Lake Lucerne up to vista viewpoints of the Jura mountains and the Black Forest, with glistening Lake Zug far below.
Switzerland’s unique mountain scenery is as iconic as its watches, cheese and chocolate.
Connecting with its natural beauty on skis or snowshoes is as rewarding as experiencing the urban flair and quality of life synonymous with Swiss cities.
So whether you’re travelling now or planning ahead, discover Switzerland at myswitzerland.com
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