Seeing a bit of Switzerland
Sep 8th, 2003 | 06:36 PM
#1
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Seeing a bit of Switzerland
Just curious if anyone had some recommended places they enjoyed in Switzerland? My work is taking me to Annecy France and I want to bring my wife along. She wants to see Switzerland so we'll do a little trip there. Thank you!
Sep 9th, 2003 | 05:15 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
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Hi Trippin4,
I'm going to assume that you'll have a car. Though I usually recommend trains for Switzerland, for your situation I think a car would be much faster and easier.
Of course, the closest area of Switzerland for you will be around Lake Geneva, the towns of Montreux and Vevey or the vineyard villages of Rivaz, St Saphorin, and Chexbres. Montreux is about 1 1/2 hours away.
Also close by are the mountains of the Vaud alps, seen from the towns of Villars-sur-Ollon (two hours) or Les Diablerets (just over two hours). In the Valais, the classic Swiss mountain village, Zermatt, is 3 1/2 hours. Luzern, in central Switzerland, is also just over three hours away. Grindelwald in the Berner Oberland is also just over three hours away.
So, I have two recommendations for you. One would be to spend a weekend in Zermatt. Though it's not my personal favorite, it is charming and rustic, and of course has those views of the Matterhorn!
The second recommendation would be a kind of jaunt through central Switzerland -- if you can get a few days off. Go first to Montreux, stroll the lakeside promenade and visit the castle of Chillon. From Montreux, go up to the mountains of Gstaad or one of the nearby villages of Chateau d'Oex, Saanen, Schoenried, Saanenmoeser, or Gsteig (about an hour farther). Stay overnight. These are classic alpine villages, and many folks think the Saanenland is one of Switzerland's most beautiful areas. The next day, drive on to Luzern, about a two-hour drive. Spend the day riding ferries around the lake and exploring the historic old town; spend the night here. The next day go on to Lauterbrunnen (just over an hour's drive) and park in the huge parking lot. Decide if you want to go up to the peak of the Schilthorn or the Jungfrau, and spend the night in Muerren (close to the Schilthorn) or in Wengen (close to the Jungfrau). The next day's drive from Lauterbrunnen to Annecy will be about three hours.
I guess I have a third recommendation -- do the Montreux to Gstaad to Luzern piece and spend a day or two in Luzern. You can see the peaks of the Titlis, Rigi, and Pilatus, and you can enjoy the tiny lakeside villages of Weggis and Vitznau. Returning from Luzern to Annecy will take just over three hours.
To get driving distances and routes, see www.mappy.com or www.viamichelin.com. For more information on all of these towns & cities, do a text search here -- there's loads on all of them!
Let me know if I can help further!
s
I'm going to assume that you'll have a car. Though I usually recommend trains for Switzerland, for your situation I think a car would be much faster and easier.
Of course, the closest area of Switzerland for you will be around Lake Geneva, the towns of Montreux and Vevey or the vineyard villages of Rivaz, St Saphorin, and Chexbres. Montreux is about 1 1/2 hours away.
Also close by are the mountains of the Vaud alps, seen from the towns of Villars-sur-Ollon (two hours) or Les Diablerets (just over two hours). In the Valais, the classic Swiss mountain village, Zermatt, is 3 1/2 hours. Luzern, in central Switzerland, is also just over three hours away. Grindelwald in the Berner Oberland is also just over three hours away.
So, I have two recommendations for you. One would be to spend a weekend in Zermatt. Though it's not my personal favorite, it is charming and rustic, and of course has those views of the Matterhorn!
The second recommendation would be a kind of jaunt through central Switzerland -- if you can get a few days off. Go first to Montreux, stroll the lakeside promenade and visit the castle of Chillon. From Montreux, go up to the mountains of Gstaad or one of the nearby villages of Chateau d'Oex, Saanen, Schoenried, Saanenmoeser, or Gsteig (about an hour farther). Stay overnight. These are classic alpine villages, and many folks think the Saanenland is one of Switzerland's most beautiful areas. The next day, drive on to Luzern, about a two-hour drive. Spend the day riding ferries around the lake and exploring the historic old town; spend the night here. The next day go on to Lauterbrunnen (just over an hour's drive) and park in the huge parking lot. Decide if you want to go up to the peak of the Schilthorn or the Jungfrau, and spend the night in Muerren (close to the Schilthorn) or in Wengen (close to the Jungfrau). The next day's drive from Lauterbrunnen to Annecy will be about three hours.
I guess I have a third recommendation -- do the Montreux to Gstaad to Luzern piece and spend a day or two in Luzern. You can see the peaks of the Titlis, Rigi, and Pilatus, and you can enjoy the tiny lakeside villages of Weggis and Vitznau. Returning from Luzern to Annecy will take just over three hours.
To get driving distances and routes, see www.mappy.com or www.viamichelin.com. For more information on all of these towns & cities, do a text search here -- there's loads on all of them!
Let me know if I can help further!
s
Sep 9th, 2003 | 11:35 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,264
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I agree! swandav, do u have these excellent examples archived? Readied to be "copied and pasted" when needed??
I wish I was going to Switzerland so I could use this great info! Now you are a great example of a 'selfless' Fodorite!
JOHN
I wish I was going to Switzerland so I could use this great info! Now you are a great example of a 'selfless' Fodorite!
JOHN
Sep 9th, 2003 | 01:01 PM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,508
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Ahhhhh shucks!
You guys 'r so nice! I do have lots of stuff about Switzerland saved for posting here, but Trippin4's request was too specific for my canned material. The truth is that I am such a freak about that country that I just love to research journeys -- even someone else's!
I'm in the middle of tracking down minutia for my next trip in January to Saanen; so next year I may have lots and lots of detailed suggestions for the Saanenland.
Yup, this is my idea of fun! Sigh.
s
You guys 'r so nice! I do have lots of stuff about Switzerland saved for posting here, but Trippin4's request was too specific for my canned material. The truth is that I am such a freak about that country that I just love to research journeys -- even someone else's!
I'm in the middle of tracking down minutia for my next trip in January to Saanen; so next year I may have lots and lots of detailed suggestions for the Saanenland.
Yup, this is my idea of fun! Sigh.
s
Sep 13th, 2003 | 05:02 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yes, S', this is just what I needed to read with my first cup of coffee and rain pouring down outside and a test waiting to be composed. Actually, I'm so thrilled that you're heading to Saanenland in January that one would think I were going too.
http://www.huesy.ch/scherenschnitte.htm
Have you seen this site? It's a gallery/restaurant in Blankenburg that features the art of papercutting. On my list of places to visit someday. I know I've gone on and one about the beautiful papercuts by Johann-Jokob Hauswirth that I saw at the folk museum in Chateau d'Oex. Later, folks. J.
http://www.huesy.ch/scherenschnitte.htm
Have you seen this site? It's a gallery/restaurant in Blankenburg that features the art of papercutting. On my list of places to visit someday. I know I've gone on and one about the beautiful papercuts by Johann-Jokob Hauswirth that I saw at the folk museum in Chateau d'Oex. Later, folks. J.
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Sep 13th, 2003 | 07:41 AM
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,508
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--Pardon us please T4S --
Hello j!
Yes, I've heard of the Huesy though I haven't seen that website! Thanks so much; I'll check it out in a few minutes. I got the name of the restaurant from the "Luxury & Design" theme-route brochure from myswitzerland.com. Lots of good info in that thing!
ah well. It'll be January soon. Right????
See ya,
s
Hello j!
Yes, I've heard of the Huesy though I haven't seen that website! Thanks so much; I'll check it out in a few minutes. I got the name of the restaurant from the "Luxury & Design" theme-route brochure from myswitzerland.com. Lots of good info in that thing!
ah well. It'll be January soon. Right????
See ya,
s
