SWITZERLAND
The fairytale vistas of Switzerland in winter must be seen to be believed. Glistening white mountains, chocolate-box villages and world-class fondue are just three reasons to get your skis on and go!
There are so many great reasons to get on your skis and visit the winter wonderland.
With its soaring snow-covered peaks, pristine lakes and postcard-pretty towns, Switzerland represents the ultimate snow experience and is the perfect place for a ski safari. In the warmer months, Switzerland blooms with a panorama of beautiful landscapes. Rustic timber chalets with flowerboxes adorning windowsills that offer views over idyllic green valleys with the clang of cowbells from contented cattle ringing out. Majestic mountains that rise to the heavens, attracting hikers and bikers and climbers and daydreamers.
And then there are the lakes with their glassy surfaces reflecting nature’s backdrop – only gently interrupted by boats chugging here and there on schedule, as they carry locals and visitors off to yet another gorgeous town.
Winter brings with it a world of white glistening in the sun, as skiiers and snowboarders from around the world come to slide and shred in some of the best resorts on the planet. Afterwards, they dive into rich fondue, accompanied by a Swiss craft beer or a fine wine – a symphony of snow lovers all high on the experience that Switzerland delivers.
Before or after your snow extravaganza, spend some time in one of the gateway cities to the Alps, Interlaken or Lucerne, both with a feast of things to do, wonderful places to dine and ethereal beauty.
ON A HIGH AT JUNGFRAU
It has to be one of the best day trips around, a journey up to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. Set out from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen up to Kleine Scheidegg, then board the cog railway that has been taking visitors up to the highest railway station in Europe for over a century. The train comes to a stop inside the Eiger mountain, with views out through the
North Face to the Aletsch Glacier, before the hardy train climbs to the summit. Up here, take in the breathtaking views over mountains, ice and snow from the Sphinx, or venture inside the Ice Palace to see some beautiful ice carvings.
The cog railway up the Jungfrau was an engineering marvel when it was built. That tradition is continuing with the new V-Cableway set to be up and running by December 2020. From a new base in Grindelwald, there are two elements – the new Eiger Express tri-cable gondola which will take 26 people up to the Eiger in just 15 minutes, and the new 10-person Männlichen gondola which will carry skiers and riders up to the Männlichen ski and hiking area in 19 minutes. The Jungfrau is just one of several imposing peaks in the region that takes its name, with the resort towns of Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen the best places to base yourself for a week or two of winter wonders.
Sitting above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the only way to access the village of Wengen is by train. It is like something out of Swiss fairytale, with traditional chalets sitting pretty on the sun-drenched terrace. Car-free Wengen has a tranquil vibe with a setting that could not be more romantic.
Grindelwald is the biggest resort town in the area and has the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch peaks as high-rise neighbours. Mürren sits at the base of the Schilthorn peak, which has some Hollywood cred; it features the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant that was featured in the James Bond movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and now has the Bond World 007 exhibit. To retrace a bit more Bond, tackle the Bob Run, a 3km toboggan run that runs from Allmendhubelbahn down to Mürren and also featured in the movie. Another plus for the Jungfrau region is that it can be reached by rail from Lucerne, on the LucerneInterlaken Express, which is part of the GoldenPass Line. If there is more skiing to be done, it’s a 45-minute train ride from Lucerne to Engelberg.
ON A SKI SAFARI IN ENGELBERG/TITLIS
Switzerland is totally spoilt for choice when it comes to ski resorts and one of the places flying a little under the radar is Engelberg-Titlis. Engelberg is an historic town, known for its cheeses, its activities all year round and its Benedictine Monastery founded in 1120. Monks still live, work and teach in the monastery today, and it is a go-to place for visitors keen to see the beautiful Baroque church, its stunning grounds and the Show Cheese Factory – the only cheese factory in Switzerland situated in a monastery. Don’t miss the Alpine Cheese Dairies and the Valley Museum.
The Engelberg-Titlis area has magnificent skiing options from the sunny Brunni area to the smaller Bannalp and Mt Titlis, which delivers high-altitude, high-octane skiing along with excellent activities. Titlis sits at 3,239 metres, and even getting up there is an adventure, with the
Titlis Xpress gondola taking you from Engelberg to the mid station and then the Titlis Rotair travelling the rest of the way to the top. The Rotair is the world’s first revolving aerial cableway, and opens the door to skiing or snowboarding on the glacier, or you can take the 12km run back to Engelberg, before heading up and doing it all again. Once at the top, whether skiing or sightseeing, there are several worthy attractions. Visit the Glacier Cave, tackle the Cliff Walk – the highest suspension footbridge in Europe – or ride the Ice Flyer chairlift over the glacier to the Glacier Park, where you can enjoy a number of fun activities including snow tubing.
While skiing down from the top might be for more advanced skiers, Titlis has a beginner-friendly area. The Titlis Ski Experience is located at Trübsee, halfway up the mountain, and is the perfect place to strap on skis for the first time as it has a very gentle slope.
Zermatt is one of the prettiest places in the world to ski. Front and centre is the Matterhorn, the worldfamous peak sitting at 4,478 metres. Zermatt is at the foot of this giant, with both part of a 360-kilometre ski playground with three different ski areas, accessed by 54 cable cars and lifts. The area around the Matterhorn is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, open for skiing year round.
ON TRACK IN ZERMATT
Catch the Zermatt Bergbahnen cable car up to Europe’s highest mountain station, located at 3,883 metres. The view will knock your socks off. The Sunegga-Rothorn and the GornergratStockhorn areas cater for all levels of skier while advanced skiers or board riders seeking adventure can ski into the Italian ski region of BreuilCervinia and Valtournenche, or try paragliding or heli-skiing. The less adventurous can enjoy a fondue dinner up on the Rothorn then ski down the slopes in the moonlight, in the company of a guide. Fondue is also on the menu for lunch at the Igloo Village, where you can dine in an igloo and have a drink at the outside bar with 360° views of the 29 surrounding peaks. Even getting to the Igloo Village is fun, taking in a ride on the Gornergrat Railway.
Sign up for dog sledding in the shadow of the Matterhorn, or visit the Julen family sheep barn, with its flock of adorable black nose sheep in a traditional barn on the edge of Zermatt. For an experience that combines a foodie tour with a scenic walk, the Findeln Gourmet Trail is out of this world. This 2.5-hour walk through spectacular scenery leads to five restaurants in Findeln, which boast 42 Gault-Millau points between them. Think Michelin star and you’ll be on the right track.
The Glacier Express is definitely the right track to Zermatt, linking the pretty town with another Swiss ski giant – St Moritz. The train takes visitors on a scenic journey, across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels on what’s known as the slowest express train in the world. The phenomenal views out the panoramic windows take in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Abula, the famous Landwasser Viaduct, Rhine Gorge, Oberalp Pass and the Nikolai Valley – the deepest cleft valley in Switzerland. It most definitely is the window to the Alps. myswitzerland.com/winter
VISIT MiNDFOOD.COM
Better known as a winter wonderland, Switzerland in summer is the perfect time to enjoy its stunning waterways and rivers. mindfood.com/go-with-the-flow
“CAR-FREE WENGEN HAS A TRANQUIL VIBE WITH A SETTING THAT COULD NOT BE MORE ROMANTIC.”