Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

DISCOVER Switzerland Itineraries 1 3

2
A WEEK

in Valais 4

Day 1 east along the Rhône Valley to Leuk. From
From Geneva, take the train to the Rhône here the postbus will take you up the
Valley beside Lake Geneva, which affords twisty mountain road to one of the spas
fabu lous views of the French Alps and the of Leukerbad (p106), such as Les Sources
Lavaux vineyard terraces. The train skirts des Alpes (www.sourcesdesalpes.ch).
the castle at Chillon (p140), the back drop
of Lord Byron’s poem, The Prisoner of Day 3
Chillon. Dis embark at Martigny (p102)
to visit the impressive Fondation Pierre Spend a lazy morning recuperating in a
Gianadda, which hosts changing world- thermal spa, followed by a wander round
class art exhibitions. Come evening, watch the historic village. Fuel up on some fine
the sun set over the ruins of the Roman char cuterie in the brasserie, before test-
amphithe atre, then dine on traditional ing your fitness on the former trading
wood-fired raclettes. route to the Gemmipass, which zigzags
up the mountain, offering ever-wider
Day 2 views. At the top is the historic Berghotel
Schwarzenbach (www.schwarenbach.ch),
After breakfast, take the branch railway which inspired Guy Maupassant’s short
from Martigny to Le Châble for the cable story L’Auberge. Head back to your hotel
car to the famous ski resort of Verbier and go for a quick plunge in the pool
(p102). For even more dramatic views, back at the spa before dinner.
brave Europe’s largest cable car to Mont
Fort. In the winter test your mettle on Day 4
bunny slopes and monster moguls,
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
for equally good hik ing trails and bike resort of Zermatt (p86) and its iconic
paths. Return to Martigny and continue mountain, the Matterhorn. The facinating
28

028-029_EW_Switzerland.indd 28 14/11/2018 10:10

EW Itineraries template v1.3 – 20th July 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho
Gothic Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224