Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

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PILATUS

! D3 ⌂ 45 km (28 miles) SW of Zürich
The rugged outlines of Pilatus, whose highest peak reaches an altitude of 2,132 m
(7,000 ft), rise on the southwestern side of Lake Lucerne. Various legends shroud
EXPERIENCE Central Switzerland and Ticino The massif has plenty to entertain Walking up
the mountain, including claims that it is both home to a dragon and that its
heights are haunted by Pontius Pilate, who unleashes violent storms.

visitors, including walking trails to
its various peaks, a rope park
and paragliding, as well as
plenty of restaurants and
a signposted
two hotels. Getting to the
trail to the
summit is an adventure
marker on
in itself. The first stage is
Oberhaupt
a boat or train ride from
Lucerne to Alpnachstad,
near the foot of Pilatus,
from where you can
either take the cogwheel
railway, a gondola or a peak
cable car called the “Dragon
Ride” (www.pilatus.ch) from
Schlossweg 1 to Pilatus Kulm,
the upper station. The mag nificent
views from Pilatus’ summit reward
the journey.

COGWHEEL RAILWAY
Completed in 1889, the cog railway that
climbs from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm
is, at an average gradient of 48 per cent,
the steepest in the world. Designed by
engineer Eduard Locher, the railway is
almost 5 km (3 miles) long, and the jour­
ney takes 30 minutes. Originally driven
by steam locomotives, the railway was
electrified in 1937. One of the original
steam railcars can be seen at the Swiss
Museum of Transport in Lucerne (p208).

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