Page 587 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

SWITZERLAND  585

The Alps in Summer
Long before skiing became popular, foreign visitors
were coming to Switzerland’s alpine areas for quiet,
relaxing holidays full of fabulous vistas and fresh air.
In general, alpine resorts are quieter in summer
than during the ski season, but there are good
outdoor activities provided in most areas. Some
resorts, such as Verbier and Gstaad, host summer
music festivals of some note. Most cable cars and
mountain railroads operate throughout the
summer, transporting hikers and sightseers.

Hikers and mountain bikers are very well-
catered for in summer, as Switzerland has
thousands of kilometers of designated footpaths.
Trails are well-marked and maintained, with
regular refreshment stops en route.

Désalpe, a traditional Swiss festival, celebrates the return of herds
of cows from the high mountain pastures at the end of summer.
In alpine valleys and the Jura, lines of groomed and festooned
cattle are herded down the country roads, stopping off at village
cattle troughs and fountains for refreshment, on their way back
to the lowland farms.

The Alps in Winter
Switzerland has ski resorts to suit most tastes and budgets,
from the chic, five-star hotels of St. Moritz, where celebrity
spotting is almost as popular as skiing, to family-oriented
resorts with facilities and slopes for all abilities such as
Grindelwald. Some are predominantly modern – Verbier
has grown from the unvisited hamlet of 50 years ago into
the largest ski area in Switzerland. Others, such as Zermatt –
with its historic town center, alpine museum, and slow pace of
life – are more traditional.
Davos is the largest
resort in Switzerland,
attracting visitors from
all over the world. The
twin towns of Davos
Dorf and Davos Platz
offer a wide choice
of activities off piste, Edward Whymper
with an indoor sports
center and many An illustrator by profession, the
bars, nightclubs, mountaineer Edward Whymper
and restaurants. (1840–1911) was one of a long
line of British climbers who
Winter snow is what came to the Swiss Alps in the
draws most visitors to 19th century to scale hitherto
the Alps, whether for unconquered peaks. In 1865,
traditional skiing or he reached the peak of the
snowboarding. More Matterhorn at 4,478 m
bizarre sports include (14,688 ft), together with two
horseboarding (like Swiss guides. Today, despite
water-skiing with a remaining a difficult ascent,
horse) and “zorbing” more than 2,000 climbers
(tumbling down the scale the Matterhorn in a
slopes strapped to the good summer.
inside of a balloon).

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