Page 585 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

SWITZERLAND  583

7 Zermatt
Valais. * 6,000. £ n Bahnhofplatz
(027-966 8100). ∑ zermatt.ch
Switzerland’s most famous
resort, Zermatt sits directly
below the Matterhorn, a
peak of 4,478 m (14,688 ft),
which has been a mountain-
climbing legend for the best
part of two centuries. In
addition to mountaineering,
Zermatt offers top-quality
skiing and hiking. Skiing is
possible all year round at this,
the highest of Swiss resorts, and
Interlaken cruise ship moored by the banks of the Thunersee there are miles of well-marked
trails accessible to all walkers.
6 Interlaken and and another to Jungfraujoch, The most scenic way to arrive
the Jungfrau at 3,454 m (11,332 ft), Europe’s in Zermatt is via the Glacier
highest train station. Open all Express from St. Moritz, but
Bern. * 5,700. £ @ n Höheweg year round, a thrilling cable car most tourists arrive by train
37 (033-826 5300). ∑ interlaken.ch ride from the Stechelberg from Täsch, 5 km (3 miles)
parking area in the Lauter- down the valley. Taxis from
Interlaken, as its name suggests, brunnen valley rises to the Täsch to car-free Zermatt cost
lies between two lakes – the Schilthorn peak and its James about the same as the train.
Thunersee and the Brienzersee Bond revolving restaurant. The Hinterdorf is the most
– in the foothills of the Alps. region is perfect skiing and historic part of town. The parish
To the south is the classic hiking territory, with walking church and cemetery contain
landscape of the Jungfrau trails to suit all ability levels. some poignant reminders of the
mountains – one of the first A few kilometers east of Brienz, dangers of the high mountains.
regions of Switzerland to be the main town on Brienzersee, The displays at Zermatlantis,
opened up to tourism in the lies the Swiss Open Air Museum an alpine museum near
middle of the 19th century. (known as the Ballenberg). the church, reflect the
Tourism is virtually the only Original buildings from all over importance of the region’s
industry in town, which caters the country have been brought mountaineering tradition.
for skiers in winter and to this living museum. A special Gornergrat is probably the
sightseers by the busload in bus runs from Brienz train best viewing point for the
summer. A funicular, built in station to the Ballenberg. Matterhorn, and can be reached
1906, takes visitors up to the by taking a cog-wheel railroad.
summit of the Heimwehfluh E Ballenberg You can carry on by cable car to
(680 m/2,230 ft), a wonderful Tel 033-952 1030. Open Apr–Oct: the Stockhorn peak for more
vantage point above Interlaken. daily. & 7 8 ∑ ballenberg.ch mountain views.
From here, you can walk along
woodland paths, visit an open-
air model railway, or take the
bob-run all the way down to
the base station in Interlaken.
There is also a restaurant and
a children’s play area.
Environs
One of the Alps’ most famous
peaks, the 4,158-m- (13,642-ft-)
Jungfrau lies 20 km (12 miles)
to the south of Interlaken. The
almost equally high Mönch and
Eiger mountains are neighbors
and the stretch between
Interlaken and the mountains is
full of pretty alpine valleys and
villages. From Wengen or
Grindelwald, you can take a
train up to Kleine Scheidegg, Cog-wheel mountain railroad, with the Matterhorn peak rising behind

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