Can you see the Matterhorn at all from Bellinzona Switzerland?
 

We have a train switch in Bellinzona Switzerland in June. Is it possible to get a glimpse of the Matterhorn from there?

Are you kidding?

I think that is a "no"

Of course not...

How tall are you?

I prefer kindness, please dont respond to my questions again. I have never been to Switzerland so I dont think its a crazy question. Very rude.

welcome to Fodor's and not all Fodorites are rude - please give us another chance with other questions - some find it hard to put themselves in the shoes of a yes naive foreign tourist unfamiliar with the terrain and geography so that question invited such comments - but again they are unwarranted and a polite 'no it is way too far would have sufficed.'

I know most of these posters and they are usually polite and helpful.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

To you it did not see to be a crazy question but to folks familiar with Switzerland it was - like asking can you see the Empire State Building from Washington DC.

Bellinzona is at the crossing of three deep valleys, you can see only the very closest mountains. In order to see the Matterhorn from Bellinzona you should be at an elevation of about 2000 meters, so obviously you could see it only from a plane over Bellinzona. But if you checked a map or Google Earth that would have been quite easy to realize.

The only Alpine peak that can be easily seen from a distance is Monte Rosa, close to Matterhorn but larger, higher and more exposed; it can be seen from the Milan plain. You need a very clear day (say, only a couple per month qualify) and an elevated point of observation - a window no lower than an 8th floor looking north west, or the Duomo roof.

I really do not think it a dumb question as many seem - Bellinzona if high enough could possibly afford a view of the Matterhorn like it does Monte Rosa - after having been to Switzerland a zillion times I would not know how to answer that question.

It is a naive question. And one would assume that someone really interested would look at google maps to get an idea of distance and altitude.

ah the good ole Fodorgarch rudeness continues - be proud of yourself!

Bellinzona is one of the lowest places in Switzerland and even from high vantage points Matterhorn is elusive. From the top of Mt. Generoso south of Lugano you can clearly see Monte Rosa but Matterhorn is barely visible. As for the rudeness, there are as many trolls as rude people around....

Well . . . I personally don't think it's a good idea to reward ignorance/laziness.

I teach college English, and I see this problem almost every day with (some of) my students, who either don't read my instructions or don't understand them. They ask questions that are answered in the instructions, or they turn in their assignments violating the very basic requirements. If they have a question that requires a bit of research (college policies for instance), they are utterly helpless.

College used to be a place where students learned how to think, but now it's a place where (some) students make the minimal effort and expect the highest grades.

There are consequences for what people do or don't do. So, if someone doesn't want to make the effort to do basic research with google maps, then that person is open to our reaction. We are not obliged to be polite; we are free to give our honest and open reaction.

In the best possible world, that person will learn something and will be able to find answers to the rudimentary questions him/herself.

s

In the best possible world, that person will learn something and will be able to find answers to the rudimentary questions him/herself.>

Yes but the answer does not need be rude - does it? I guess you are condoning rudeness - surprising coming from you!

What is rude about the answers? Considering that the question shows that the poster has never even bothered to look at a map and check the distances? Better get used to European sense of humour...

Thank you PalenQ for your kindness and helpful information. I appreciate you.

A simple, "check google maps, you will find your answer there", would have been easy enough. I would have appreciated that information, as I have never had a reason to use google maps before.

Considering that the question shows that the poster has never even bothered to look at a map and check the distances>

it does not show that - could well looked at a map and seen it is not that far as the crow flies.

Keep up the Fodorgarch rudeness - well done - be proud of yourselves.

No, I'm not condoning rudeness, PalQ. I'm only saying that if you do "x," don't be surprised if folks say, "Hey, that's x!" I don't think we should expect folks here to ignore that big old "x" or to pretend it's not there; that would be neither honest nor real.

Again, the things folks do have consequences.

For "x" insert "stupid," "lazy," "w/o common sense," "ignorant," etc.


s

I am sorry if the OP thinks my own response is "rude" as I was simply trying to be helpful. "Are you kidding?" can means all sorts of things. Even "no" around this place can sometimes mean all sorts of things.

In terms of what is "obvious" that is irrelevant since there are "most favored posters" who, if they had asked the same question, would have been GIVEN all sorts of "help."

I do not see any rudeness in this thread. The original question was bizarre, it simply got bizarre replies - and not rude at all.

Again, the things folks do have consequences.

For "x" insert "stupid," "lazy," "w/o common sense," "ignorant," etc.>

so you calling the OP these words is not rude?

Well my definition of rudeness is different form yours. We do not have to call an OP "stupid", "lazy" "ignorant:, etc - to me those are downright rude - sorry you do not see it as such. I really did not expect this from the likes of you.

PalQ, now I think you are being deliberately argumentative.

I did NOT call the OP those words. I was talking in general terms, when a poster says "x." Not this poster, any poster. Any post. And any "x." Then, for whichever situation applies, one could insert "stupid" if you felt that poster was lazy, or another time insert "ignorant" if you thought another poster was ignorant.

So, if some poster sometime somewhere said something "stupid," that poster should not be surprised if folks respond and say, "that's stupid."

s

So, if some poster sometime somewhere said something "stupid," that poster should not be surprised if folks respond and say, "that's stupid>

If the poster knew it was a stupid question then yes - but a sincere question should not be meant by "stupid", etc - we have different senses of what rudeness is.

When you said: <Well . . . I personally don't think it's a good idea to reward ignorance/laziness.>

I found it a rude comment - sorry you do not. You are assuming the OP is ignorant and lazy - well that could apply to many questions folks ask here - practically any question actuallty - you answer should always be "do your own research - don't be lazy - we will not answer because we do not want to reward laziness.

No, PalenQ, as I said above -- I think folks should be able to answer basic questions themselves. Basic questions. Just as my students should not have to ask questions about things when I've already given the information.

Of course, we're all human. I myself have asked stupid questions (is there a Monoprix near "xx" address. . .?) and realized with the answers that it was easy to find that information on google or google maps. I was really grateful for the kindness offered . . . but would NOT have been offended or hurt if someone had (rightly) said -- "Hey, stupid, google it!!"

Sometimes we need to be reminded or encouraged to use our own brainpower -- that's immensely more useful than just supplying an answer that could well be obe as the trip planning unfolds.

s

I think there is a different point. As somebody (maybe Malcom Gladwell?) said, if someone says 2+2 is 5, well, that is a mistake - if someone says 2+2 is 748 you should try to understand a wholly different logic.

Matterhorn and Bellinzona are almost unrelated subjects. Just try googling them together and this very thread will come out as your main source of wisdom. Also, if there is any chance to see the Matterhorn from Bellinzona, you could be sure guides would write about it and you would not be the first asking the question. You should even wonder why somebody is taking the pain to go all the way to Zermatt, the most expensive place in Switzerland, if Matterhorn can be seen from such a wide range.

Now, the original poster wrote she is switching trains in Bellinzona - this means she is going to/coming from Lake Maggiore area - no other reason to switch trains there - and she is not completely clueless as Bellinzona is a fairly specific stop and not a particularly touristy area. One wonders where such a question is coming from. Really, I was first thinking to a clever troll. It looked a more likely explanation than plain naivety.

The whole alpine chain from Gran Paradiso/Mont Blanc up to Molnte Rosa (Matterhorn included) can be seen by fine weather from the following viewpoints more or less close to Bellinzona:
Cimetta: train to Locarno plus cablecar, gondola and chair lift
Monte Lema: train to Magliaso, bus to Miglieglia, chair lift
Monte Generoso: railway line closed
Sasso del Ferro: train to Laveno, cableway
Mottarone: train to Laveno, ferry to Intra, boat to Stresa, gondola.
But be aware that seen from these places, Matterhorn is a very small peak, best seen by binoculars. I suppose you know that Matterhorn seen from the South has a completely different shape than the Northern face seen from Zermatt.

swandav2000 I refuse to argue with you, as I see it is something you enjoy. But so you understand why I asked this forum the question in the first place I will explain. We had wanted to take a train to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn but our itinerary just wont allow for it. When finding out that we had a train stop in Bellinzona I decided to look up pictures to see if it would be a worth while stop to lay over a little longer before heading on to Locarno. As I viewed the photos on the website I noticed a mountain peak in the distance on some of them and wondered if possibly it could be the Matterhorn. A forum is for asking questions, so the obvious thing for me to do was ask the question. Our journey is 3 weeks long and has entailed ALOT of planning that I am doing without a travel agent. To look up every little detail on my own is something I don't have the time for, therefore I thought a forum would be nice for that. I'm not as lazy and dumb as you like to think, I just have too many details I am already dealing with, accommodations, trains, planes and automobiles, site seeing reservations, etc. etc.


People like you are just

.....

While we are at it, this is the sight, on a very clear day, from Monte Generoso, a little south of Lugano, 1700 meters high on sea level and so about 1400 meters (that is 4600 feet) higher than either Lugano or Bellinzona. The huge mountain marked 1 is Monte Rosa, the tiny peak marked 2, barely visible, is the Matterhorn. Monte Generoso is at present not accessible as there are works to the top house and the rack railway does not run. Bellinzona would be on the right, well out of the photo, at the foot of some of the green ridges.

http://www.naturamediterraneo.com/Pu...8%20829bbc.jpg

So it is plausible to see the Matterhorn from the Lugano area - I guess it was not such a stupid question after all!

And this photo is even more explicative. Still looking from Monte Generoso. The city on the lake shore on the right is Lugano, the town by the mid-lake dam is Melide. Bellinzona would be on the right, past a ridge and at the same elevation of Lugano. You can still see the Monte Rosa on left top of the photo. Matterhorn is just at the right of Monte Rosa, but the photo is not clear enough and you can barely guess it is there. This explains very clearly why you cannot see the Matterhorn from Lugano. Bellinzona is in a more narrow valley than Lugano.

http://www.amici-del-leader.it/Home/...roso%2011g.JPG

But it seems that if one can seen Monte Rosa it is plausible that one could see the Matterhorn - not such a stupid question after all!

Well, you can see with your own eyes: Monte Rosa is much larger and massive than Matterhorn. By the way, why is everybody concerned with Matterhorn and nobody knows about Monte Rosa?

Toblerone? :-)

If it is of any relevance.. I live on the Northern side of the Alps and had no clue if or if not one was able to see the Matterhorn from Bellinzona.

If Sarah Palin can see Russia from her Alaska home... well now we are talking about a stupid person...

As someone who has spent hours trying to figure out how far past Namche Bazaar I would have to climb to be able to see Mount Everest, I thought it was an interesting question. And now I know I would have to be 4600 feet tall to see the Matterhorn from Bellinzona.

Can I see the Matterhorn from Zermatt? Often no as it is not unusually shrouded in clouds or fog or mist, etc.

Alps need time. Even in summer, only two or three days in a week have acceptable weather, only few days in a month have really good weather - the kind of weather that makes hiking a pleasure, you can really see the landscape, shoot photos, etc.

I can see in almost all the Swiss threads here crazy plans like on Monday morning we will climb there, in the afternoon we will visit another place, and on the way home we will stop there. And so on day by day. You can do it if you are lucky and find a week of good weather - they happen, not all weeks of course, sometimes you do not get a good week in the whole summer. If you find intermediate weather (and most days in the Alps begin on the sunny side and it is raining before night) half of the plans are unfeasible. And if somebody is crazy enough to take a mountain hike on a bad day because so the plan was - well, this is positively dangerous and accidents happen for this very reason.

As I wrote in another thread, if you try to cram all possible sights in a short time, city sightseeing is for you. If it rains you can always go shopping. Over the Alps, if it rains you can just drink coffee and play cards.

Ri-co-laaaah!!!