Bern identity
Alpine vistas, lake views, cityscapes mark Swiss escape
Sometimes exceptional travel experiences simply demand a repeat.
After visiting the magnificent Lake Geneva area of Switzerland a few years ago, my husband and I resolved to return to this beautiful country to continue our voyage of discovery. This time around we opted to visit the Canton of Bern, famous for its jaw-dropping Alpine scenery, and the cosmopolitan and historical city of Basel, situated on the shores of the river Rhine.
Just getting to our first destination, the enchanting town of Murren — which happens to be built on an Alpine outcropping at 5,500 feet — was definitely a travel adventure in its own right.
It began when we arrived at the Lauterbrunnen train station and gazed at the majestic mountain peaks surrounding us. It’s no wonder this spectacular valley has the reputation of being one of the world’s most Instagram-worthy places. A short bus ride brought us to the cable car, the only way to reach our mountain retreat, since Murren is closed to vehicular traffic.
Nothing quite prepared us for our next day’s activity — a 20-minute cable car ride to the spectacular Schilthorn summit, home to 007 Bond World, the original set of the 1969 James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” An interactive exhibit takes the
visitor behind the scenes of this movie’s production, which featured hair-raising skiing footage on the slopes that was undoubtedly an unprecedented video achievement for its time.
We spent hours on the many observation decks available to visitors, gazing at the incomparable vistas of what is lovingly known as the “Swiss Skyline,” the spectacular panorama of the towering Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains. Since we were blessed with a cloudless day and endless blue skies, we were given the thrill of seeing the tip of Mount Blanc in the distance, the highest mountain in the Alps.
The next day brought us to Interlaken, a region famous for its two connecting lakes surrounded by yet more stunning Alpine peaks. We opted to ride the ferry across the lake to our next destination, the medieval city of Thun, sailing through turquoise blue waters and past medieval castles and charming towns along the way.
A friend’s travel tip alerted us to a relatively littleknown phenomenon on the shores of Lake Thun, the St. Beatus Caves. This is a ferry stop on the lake, and a series of paths and stairs take you up to the site, a former monastery. The cave tour led us past stalactites and stalagmites, spectacular grottos, subterranean waterfalls and otherworldly scenes that were millions of years in the making. It’s no wonder that these caves inspired J.R.R. Tolkien, who visited the area as a youth, to write his vision for the “Lord of the Rings” fantasy world of Rivendell.
Thun is located on the pristine river Aare, just a short walk from the ferry stop. We spent a lovely day strolling through the town’s picturesque cobblestone streets, which included a visit to the formidable Thun castle that dates back to the 12th century.
It was time to leave the Canton of Bern and head off to our final destination, the historic and cosmopolitan city of Basel.
Strolling through the medieval streets of Basel quickly became our favorite activity, as each turn on the cobblestone passageways brought us to another historic site and another photo opportunity. The 500-yearold town hall that dominates the city market place is dazzling with its deep red and golden facade. It’s no wonder it is one of Basel’s most visited attractions.
Basel is no doubt a city of the arts and boasts more than 40 museums representing a broad spectrum of subject matter. We would have loved to visit them all, but due to our short time in this fascinating city, we had to narrow it down to two. The Basel Historic Museum leads you back in history from the city’s prehistoric roots to today’s modern age, featuring fascinating exhibits from every century of the city’s existence. Another highlight was viewing the 20th century collection of classic modernism at the Fondation Beyeler, located a short tram ride from the city. Its exhibitions of renowned artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries have brought the museum international recognition and established it as one of Switzerland’s most popular art museums. For more information on Basel, go to basel.com/en; for Murren and Schilthorn/ Bond World, go to www.muerren.swiss, www.schilthorn.ch; and for the Canton of Bern, go to madeinbern.com.