Life on the Piste - The Swiss Traveller's Guide.

  Experience. Wonder. Marvel. What could be more obvious than to build a railway on the famous and popular viewing mountain? Completed in 1898, the Gornergrat was the first electric rack railway in Switzerland, and third in the world. Having said that, the Chemin de fer de Salève (France 1892) and the Barmer Bergbahn (Germany 1894) were both dismantled in 1937 & 1959, making the Gornergrat the oldest existing electric rack railway in the world Gornergrat Railway – 125 years of fascination The walk from Zermatt to Hotel Riffelhaus (built in 1854) took around 1½ hours - although it took Mark Twain much longer in his amusing book of his ascent! Palanquin bearers estimated about 4 hours and other options were by horse or mule. The opening of the Gornergrat Railway meant that people could travel by train to over 3000m² in altitude for the first time in Europe, replacing the Brienzer Rothorn Railway which previously held the record in Switzerland at 2252m². From 20th August 1898 to t...

With over  thirty top Swiss ski resorts to choose from at  www.otp.co.uk , it can be hard to know which one is right for you.  So, to help you decide, we will be doing a blog focusing on a particular resort and its merits. This week, we take a look at Andermatt. Andermatt is a very diverse resort in Central Switzerland. It consists of two very different ski areas which span across the cantons of Uri and Graubünden. These two areas are the Gemsstock mountain and the Andermatt-Oberalp-Sedrun area. Whilst the former is an absolute haven for freeriders, the latter provides a more leisurely experience with wide, intermediate pistes, two nursery slopes, three toboggan runs and a whole host of mountain restaurants.  Initially a sleepy Swiss village, the area has been transformed by the construction of the award-winning luxury hotel, the Chedi Andermatt, in 2013. Fortunately, though, the village has managed to retain its Alpine charm throughout its redevelopment....

With over  thirty top Swiss ski resorts to choose from at www.otp.co.uk , it can be hard to know which one is right for you.  So, to help you decide, we will be doing a blog focusing on a particular resort and its merits. First up, Laax! Laax is an expansive and slightly unique ski resort in the canton of Graubünden. Its eastern location in Switzerland means that it is an easy resort to get to, only taking ninety minutes from Zurich.  With over 235 kilometres of piste, Laax has plenty of variety in its slopes and is suitable for all groups and abilities. From skiing on the Vorab glacier, the highest point of the resort at 3,018 metres, to eating at excellent mountain restaurants, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The connected resorts of Flims, with its extensive network of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and Falera, an authentic Swiss village, really add to the diversity of the ski region.  That being said, Laax is pa...

Bern   SwissPasses.com are the exclusive online ticket suppliers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland. See more of the country and experience these amazing sites. We will focus on one on each blog and today: Old City of Bern Founded in 1191, the Swiss capital Berne features a historic Old Town quarter renowned for its medieval magic, impressive cathedral and attractive arcades.      Highlights : Visit the Zytglogge in the old city of Bern and learn more about the impressive tower from the 1300s. Discover the first Western city gate and enjoy an incredible view of everything from the city to the Alps. Admire the golden inner workings of the clock and see an incredible puppet show Visit the Zytglogge in the old city of Bern and learn more about the impressive tower from the 1300s. Discover the first Western city gate and enjoy an incredible view of everything from the city to the Alps. Adm...

Grindelwald V Project goes ahead Ready for winter season 2019   The Grindelwald V Project has given the final go-ahead, a 400 million-franc project that will cut travel times from the village of Grindelwald up to the Jungfraujoch railway station by 47 minutes.   At 3,454 metres above sea level, the Jungfraujoch station is the highest in Europe and is a hugely popular destination for tourists: over a million people used the station in 2017, up 13.6 percent on a year earlier, thanks in part to its popularity as a destination among Asian tourists.  Currently, rail tourists travelling to the station from the Grindelwald Grund railway station must first take the train to Kleine Scheidegg and then change for the Jungfraujoch service.    The Männlichen gondola is also being replaced with state-of-the-art 10-person seated gondolas so speed up access to this brilliant ski area.   Trains from Interlaken Ost will pass through a new Grindelwa...

Bellinzona SwissPasses.com are the exclusive online ticket suppliers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland. See more of the country and experience these amazing sites. We will focus on one on each blog and today: Three Castles of Bellinzona Three Castles of Bellinzona The three imposing castles of Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro - are among the most significant examples of medieval defensive architecture. The three imposing castles of Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro - are among the most significant examples of medieval defensive architecture. Opening hours Castelgrande museum: November-March/April - from 10:30 to 16:00 March/April-November - from 10:00 to 18:00 Castello di Montebello and Sasso Corbaro museums: March/April - November: from 10:00 to 18:00 November - 7 January 2018 - from 10:30 to 16:00 From the 8th of January 2018 to M...