Sights and Activities
Below are the places we saw and activities completed while visiting Switzerland:
St Moritz
We spent a few hours exploring this posh town surrounded with beautiful mountains and a picture-perfect lake. We also overnighted in an elegant four-star hotel (and the most expensive accommodation of our trip) and dined with class. Although our wallets were hurting after our visit, it was nice to splurge!
Bernina and Glacier Express
During our time in Switzerland, we traveled by train from town to town passing through magnificent landscapes of white-capped mountains, crystalline lakes, roaring rivers, and incredible man-made structures such as bridges and tunnels. Two specific train routes we took are part of the panoramic routes in Switzerland and World Heritage Sites. The first is the Bernina Express where we started from Tirano, Italy to St. Moritz, Switzerland that passes the Swiss Edgadin Alps. The total trip on the Bernina Express crosses 196 bridges, through 55 tunnels, and across the Bernina Pass at 2,253 m (7,392 ft). The second is the Glacier Express where we made special seat reservations to sit on panoramic coaches with enlarged windows and audio guides. The Glacier Express runs from St. Moritz to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The total trip duration was 7.5 hours and crossed 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels, and across the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 m (6,670 ft).
Zermatt
Gornergrat: we rode on a cogwheel train to this summit of 3,090 m (10,138 ft) to experience amazing views of the Swiss Alps, including 29 peaks over 4,000 meters high (13,123 ft) and uninterrupted views of the famous Matterhorn. We hiked back down about 15 km (9.3 miles) to the village of Zermatt.
View from Gornergrat
Matterhorn Museum: the museum is dedicated to life in the Swiss Alps prior to the tourism boom and the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn. On July 13, 1865, after 32 hours Edward Whymper climbed the Matterhorn, but the descent was marred by tragedy when four team members crashed to their deaths in a 1200m fall down the north face. The cause of the disaster was a rope failure which remains of it along with other equipment can be viewed in the museum.
Interlaken
The surrounding area of this town is a hiker’s paradise! But before we started on our day hike we took a dip on one of two crystal-blue lakes. We spent a day hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alp mountain ranges and with the help of trains and cable cars we were able to visit picturesque Swiss villages complete with Swiss houses and cows!! We passed the villages of Lauterbrunnen, Grutschalp, Winteregg, Murren, Gimmelwald, and Stechelberg. The most memorable part of the day was hiking to Sprutz waterfall while picking wild strawberries along the way and feeling in mesmerized by the pure beauty of water. The hiking trail runs behind the fall and makes for an adrenaline rush adventure.
Bern
Houses of Parliament: we viewed the front façade of this 1902 Bundeshäuser, home of the Swiss Federal Assembly.
Zytglogge (clock tower): located in medieval old town, this clock tower is famous for the revolving figurines, but unfortunately we were not able to watch.
Munster Cathedral: this 15th century gothic cathedral contains Switzerland’s tallest spire.
Einstein Museum: his former house now turned museum about the life and history of Albert Einstein. This is where he lived while working as a clerk in the local patent office.
Barengraben: Bern was founded in 1191 by Berchtold V and named for the unfortunate bear (bärn in local dialect) that was his first hunting victim. The bear remains the city’s mascot and since 2009 the bears have lived in this riverside park.
Murten: we took a day trip to this medieval town located adjacent to a lake. We walked around the town’s streets, city walls, and lakeside. The red roofs of the buildings give feeling we were on a medieval movie set.
Gurten Hill: we went up a funicular to the top of this hill to try to catch views of the city. Unfortunately the day was really cloudy and there was not much of a view.
Zurich
Grossmunster: we went inside this protestant church that was inaugurated around 1220 to admire the unique stained glass windows in shapes of rocks.
Fraumunster: this 13th century church has a greenish spire and located adjacent to the Limmat River.
St Peterskirche: another 13th century church with Europe’s largest clock face.
Museum fur Gestaltung: we viewed an exhibition on underground spaces in this design museum. The exhibit touched on topics of motivation, shifting location, conversion, days without daylight, density, dramatic presentation, and design of underground spaces particularly subway stations.
Letten: we spent a relaxing afternoon along the Limmat River in this riverside swimming area. The laid out on wooden platforms that run along the river, took a dip in the water, jumped from bridges, and let the river current do the swimming for us!
