Page 27 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

DISCOVER Switzerland Itineraries 1 3

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1 Pretty houses lining Basel streets.
2 Schwyz’s church piercing the sky. A WEEK
3 A bridge crossing the Reuss.
4 Amazing vistas at Pilatus.
5 Views from the Gotthard train. in Valais
6 A funicular climbing Monte Brè. 4

Day 5 up to Monte Brè for long views of Lake Day 1
Take a steam-powered paddle boat to Lugano (p216) and the snow-capped From Geneva, take the train to the Rhône east along the Rhône Valley to Leuk. From
here the postbus will take you up the
Vitznau for a trip up to Mont Rigi (p224) mountains in the distance. Find a res- Valley beside Lake Geneva, which affords twisty mountain road to one of the spas
on Europe’s first rack railway. Pause for taurant with a terrace for lunch, whatever fabu lous views of the French Alps and the of Leukerbad (p106), such as Les Sources
time of year – cosy lap blankets are avail-
lunch at Rigi Kulm-Hotel (www.rigikulm.ch), able when temperatures plum met. Return Lavaux vineyard terraces. The train skirts des Alpes (www.sourcesdesalpes.ch).
Switzerland’s first mountain inn, and the castle at Chillon (p140), the back drop
enjoy one of many walks in the area. to the city centre and hail a cab to the of Lord Byron’s poem, The Prisoner of
Descend the mountain via Arth-Goldau small town of Montanola for a dinner Chillon. Dis embark at Martigny (p102) Day 3
for the train back to Lucerne. of dry-rubbed pork and a bowl of wine
at Grotto del Cavicc (p231) – a favourite to visit the impressive Fondation Pierre Spend a lazy morning recuperating in a
haunt of Swiss author Hermann Hesse. Gianadda, which hosts changing world- thermal spa, followed by a wander round
Day 6 class art exhibitions. Come evening, watch the historic village. Fuel up on some fine
char cuterie in the brasserie, before test-
the sun set over the ruins of the Roman
Take the Gotthard Panorama Express to Day 8 amphithe atre, then dine on traditional ing your fitness on the former trading
Flüelen and then a train to Bellinzona wood-fired raclettes. route to the Gemmipass, which zigzags
(p222) to visit Castelgrande, Sasso Fuel up on Italian pastries and neat shots up the mountain, offering ever-wider
Corbaro and Montebello. When hunger of espresso, at Café a Porter (www.cafe-a- views. At the top is the historic Berghotel
porter.ch), then enjoy a morning visiting
strikes at Montebello, sample some the Piazza Castello museum in the former Day 2 Schwarzenbach (www.schwarenbach.ch),
salame – a local specialty. Explore the After breakfast, take the branch railway which inspired Guy Maupassant’s short
pleasant historic town before taking the medieval palace of the Visconti family. from Martigny to Le Châble for the cable story L’Auberge. Head back to your hotel
short trip to Locarno to watch the sunset Take one of Switzerland’s most scenic car to the famous ski resort of Verbier and go for a quick plunge in the pool
railway journeys, the Centovalli. The
over Lake Maggiore. Stay at the gorgeous (p102). For even more dramatic views, back at the spa before dinner.
Belvedere (www.belvedere-locarno.com). narrow-gauge line to Domodóssola brave Europe’s largest cable car to Mont
crosses numerous valleys over hair-
raising bridges and viaducts, weaving Fort. In the winter test your mettle on Day 4
Day 7 through woods with views over the bunny slopes and monster moguls,
Take the south train to Lugano (p218) for river hundreds of feet below. Change at breaking for steaming mugs of hot choco- Continue east to Visp and take the handy
late. When it’s warmer the region is famed
narrow-gauge railway up to the car-free
a meander through its pretty cobbled Domodóssola, to return to Zürich or Basel. for equally good hik ing trails and bike resort of Zermatt (p86) and its iconic
streets. At Cassarete, catch the funicular paths. Return to Martigny and continue mountain, the Matterhorn. The facinating
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