Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

On the Slopes
Switzerland’s peaks have always presented a
welcome challenge to engineers. Europe’s first Did You Know?
ever cogwheel mountain railway opened on
Rigi mountain in 1871, while the Pilatusbahn, White Turf,
built in 1889, is still the steepest cogwheel in the horse racing event
the world. Switzerland hasn’t stopped leading on Lake St Moritz,
the way ever since. The new Matterhorn has been held
Glacier Ride cableway was named the world’s since 1907.
highest when it opened in October 2018, and
the Stoosbahn in Schwyz (p226) became the
world’s steepest classic funicular
when it opened in 2017. As it
climbs, the cylindrical
carriages rotate, DISCOVER Switzerland Your Way
keep ing its riders
upright as it
reveals the
spectacular
views below.

The Stoosbahn
funicular railway
on the way up to
the village of Stoos
Skaters spilling out on
frozen Lake St Moritz,
TOP ALPINE a natural, public ice rink
3 ARCHITECTS

Herzog & de Meuron SWITZERLAND
The work of this
renowned Swiss duo
can be seen all over ON THE WATER
their home city of
Basel, but they also
designed the summit
restaurant and cable car In a country of around 7,000 lakes, a shortcut to blending in with the locals
station at Chäserrugg. begins with heading to the water. Although landlocked, Switzerland offers
riverside beaches, glistening lakes, frozen lagoons and mile-high waterfalls.
Mario Botta
The Ticino-born Whether you hop on a boat or strap on your skates, the water’s fine.
architect has tackled
Switzerland’s challeng- Top of the Lake
ing landscape several Paddle steamers cruise crescent-
times, including shaped Lake Geneva (p138) and
designing the three- Lake Lucerne daily, in season,
storey building at the while on Lake Maggiore (p234)
top of Glacier 3000.
speedboats ping-pong between
Locarno and lakefront stunner
On the Rails The Rhaetian Bearth & Deplazes Ascona. For wild swimming at its
In Switzerland, obstacles only make Railway route (1915–1959) best, follow the scenic 90-minute
your train journey more interesting. passing the In an extraordinarily hiking trail into the Santis massif
The UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Bernina range isolated location, the to the unforget table Seealpsee.
Railway takes passengers through Monte Rosa hut was
55 tunnels and over nearly 200 viaducts and bridges, while desig ned by this firm
the Jungfraubahn burrows through the infamous north face from Chur as a contem-
of the Eiger (p97). No less impressive is the 57-km- (34-mile-) porary version of a A boat cruising along the
long Gotthard tunnel (p233) under the Saint Gotthard massif, medieval donjon. picturesque Lake Lucerne
which is the world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel. in Central Switzerland
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