I am a photographer and I am planning to visit Switzerland to photograph for the Fall colors and foliage. It will be my first time and I appreciate if you can share with me your experience. Is Berner Oberland the best place for Fall Colors? If so, when is the best week for the colors? Will it be the first week of October instead of the third week?
Someone also told me about Engadine. Do you know about this area? Is it similar to Berner Oberland? Does the changing of colors in Engadine happen more or less the same time as Berner Oberland or is it later?
I also read that there are mountain huts to stay where one can catch the sunrise and sunset shots. Is it affordable to stay in those places? Are there places you would recommend for easy access in catching the sunrise/sunset? I am planning to visit the hostels in the area and wonder if you have stayed in any of those before and find them assessable in doing photography at dawn or dusk, when I understand has the best lighting...
When is the best time to see Fall Colors in Berner Oberland?
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Topping this for you and assume you have seen this:
http://www.photoseek.com/2011/switzerland/
Yes, I visited the site before, but thanks for posting it
I don't think the Bernese Oberland is the best place for foliage. The higher elevations have mostly evergreen trees, so no foliage there at all. I was not very impressed with the colours in the lower elevations, either. Also, in the lower elevations you might run into fog/low hanging clouds which happens often from October on (which is the best time for foliage) through winter there.
Yes, I much prefer the Engadine. The villages/towns are at higher elevations, there are many larch trees there which change to a wonderful golden colour. Also, you can make day trips to neighbouring valleys like the Bregaglia valley (Soglio!) with chestnut and other trees that provide brilliant colours, too.
Best time in general is early - mid October, it depends on the weather, of course. But I'd go rather later than earlier.
Larch trees are beautiful in the autumn! Regarding the chestnut trees, I'm no expert, but a friend who lives in Europe said that the chestnut trees have been hit hard by a blight. She sent me photos of some very sad chestnut trees in France
And I read articles like this in the news: http://news.yahoo.com/great-chestnut-trees-europe-dying-080321320.html
Are the chestnuts in Switzerland avoiding the problem -- does being at a higher elevation help? And how would the Jura be for fall foliage?
Never been to the Jura in fall, so cannot comment. There are different kinds of chestnut trees, the "Edelkastanien" (in German) in the Bregaglia valley are different from those all over the cities and countryside in central Europe. I know, in my city the chestnut trees look brown and like they were dying, too (But they don't.)