Which is athe best small fairytale church in a small village in Switzerland?
Which are the best small village/ towns in Switzerland?

Visiting in April 10.

There are too many to list them all. And everyone's image of "the best" one is different. Given your itinerary I'd say Saanen in the Bernese Oberland is a good idea. April is not a good time to travel in the mountains, though.

For us it was the Protestant Church in Tagerwilen. It started as a convent in 700 and expanded to a church in the 1200s and has gone through several renovations. My grandparents were married there in 1889 just before coming to the states.

We were fortunate enough to visit it three years ago. We were given a grand tour and a copy of the page where my grandparents registered on their wedding day.

The other one we enjoyed seeing was in Kandersteg.

It must be a great feeling to come back to your roots.
Where are Kandersteg & Tagerwilen?
Saanen pictures look good.
What are the morning temp. in these mountains in 3rd week of April?

Use mappy.com or google maps to locate Kandersteg and Tagerwilen.

And I'd bet you could google Kandersteg average temperatures to find out average temperature there in the 3rd week of April.

If those mountain towns, however, are like those where I live (the U.S. Rockies), then in late April there's not really enough snow to ski, but too much to do much else, such as walk or hike in the mountains.

Hi Paragkash,

Yes, as Ingo says, there are too many to note. And some additional considerations are whether you want to be high in the Alps, in the rolling hills of the Prealps, or somewhere in the flats -- all have beautiful, charming, alluring villages.

One thing that may help is knowing where you'll be coming from and where you'll be going to. We can help you find a great spot that will be on your route or not requiring a huge detour. The more information you can give us, the more specific and helpful our advice will be.

In addition to using google for basic questions, also use google maps to find towns and villages others may name. It's an incredible tool. Just enter "kandersteg switzerland" or wherever, and it'll take you right there.

Hope to hear!

s

Hi Swandav,
Thanks for the support I am getting from you all in the Forum.
I am 44 and have travelled a bit in Europe and around since I was 21. The difference now is that I want to leave little to chance, with my wife and kids(13-15) with me. Earlier I used to study a bit and just travel with an LP guide, without hotel reservations etc.
Both types have pros and cons.
I guess with the growing age and responsiblity of family, the approach changes.
I want my kids to see and experience various things and places.
I have a Timeshare week at a mountain resort at Torgon, in valais region; 40 min. bus from Aigle, near Montreux.
We are buying Swiss rail pass for 8 days.
It involves extensive travelling. but in Switzerland, it's fun.
My rough itinerary starting 16th April 2010 is as follows:

1. Land at Geneva- check-in and relax
2. Geneva Local sightseeing- leave at 3 pm for Torgon
3. Berne ???
4. Zermatt, Gornergrat- Lunch at IGLOO VILLAGE
5. Chamonix- mont Blanc
6. Golden Pass route to Interlaken- Ballenberg- Swiss folk Museum- Overnight at Interlaken ( Travel with only a hand bag)
7. Luzern 1/2 day sight seeing - Back to Torgon resort
8. GRUYERES, BROC CHOCOLATE FACTORY
9. Aigle Castle and Montreux- Chillon Castle- Wine tasting and Boat trip- Overnight at Geneva Hotel
10. Fly out of Geneva

We want to see architype quaintessential swiss villages along the way.
I am missing out on Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, as suggested by many fodorites.
Is it worth visiting these 2 places without goung to Jungfraujoch ( we will have seen Mont Blanc and Matterhorn)
I can increase 1 day at Geneva in the begining, where I need not validate my rail pass.
Please comment on the itinerary..

Hi again,

Thanks so much for giving us all this great info; it will help us, I think, help you!

I think you've come up with a good plan, given your constraints (lodging at Torgon).

Yes, I do think you would enjoy taking the time to see some villages of the high Alps and even ascending the Top of Europe (Jungfraujoch), even though it is expensive. It is a singular experience. In fact, I think it would be more interesting and more dramatic than spending time in Luzern (which is a nice enough city, but still only a city).

I also really love the town of Gstaad and the rolling terrain around it, so I would break the journey there to stretch my legs and maybe get something to eat. April around Gstaad can be very pretty, with yellow wildflowers dotting the fields.

So here are some changes that I persoanlly would make.

6. Golden Pass from Montreux to Gstaad, get down, stroll around, have a bite to eat. Maybe walk to Saanen along the Philosopher's trail, then catch the train again. Continue on to Interlaken & Ballenberg, overnight at Interlaken.

7. Ascend the Jungfraujoch (or the Schilthorhn) first thing, stroll around Wengen or Mürren, have lunch, then go on back to Torgon.

Anyway, hope you have fun!

s

Are you aware that the latest public transportation back to Torgon is a bus leaving 6.20 pm from Aigle, railway station? This limits your day trips and also the overnight trip to Interlaken/Lucerne. You need to get back *way* early.

Also, the first bus departing from Torgon runs only 8.24 am - meaning you'll only catch trains out of Aigle later than 9 am. Also quite a restriction on your day trips.

Hi
Thanks so much again.
I will change my itinerary and post it back for your approval.

Ingo, you are right. These are the disadvantages of owning a timeshare. Sometimes you dont get (actually most of the times) preffered dates and locations. But plus point is that you are anchored in some place for 6-7 days. Feels like home. The places are far off, but beautiful, which one would not see on a tourist trail. my Scotland, Germany, Athens, Amsterdam experiences were really wonderful.
I am doing a bit of research on transport to resort.
What we are planning to do is set one of our clocks as per our home country, India, and pace the day accordingly. Use the time on train to relax, eat and write travelogues. Good family time in great surroundings. So we take the the 1st bus on most days at 6.36 (11am Ind time) and take the second last or last bus at 18.20( 11pm Ist) making it a 12 hrs day out. Try to sleep by 9pm, so we are fresh for the next day. It is possible that we may skip one day's programme and just laze around, but that's OK. If kids are tired, we may skip Berne or Aigle.(actually Aigle- Montreux is good for a lazy day- 1 hr. ride)
Will it be very cold or dark at 6 .30 am in the mountains?
We will skip 1 night at Torgon and will spend 1 N- 2 days in Interlaken area on the last 2 days, and proceed to Geneva Hotel at night, as per rev. itinerary.
Does anyone know if Montreux station has luggage lockers, as we can put our bags there and roam for 2 days with a day bag.
Let me go back to my drawing board ( we are architects) to redesign my itinerary. Please let your suggestions flow. It helps a lot. Actually, the joy of planning is more than the trip itself, isn't it.

Hi again,

Yes, there are luggage lockers at the Montreux station.

Have fun!

s

The most fairy-tale looking church is easy.
Lungern:
http://www.tripwolf.com/de/galleries...iz/Lungern?n=1

Just want to encourage you to alter your itinerary so that you definitely go to Wengen on one side of the valley and through Murren to the Schilthorn on the other side of the valley. You do not have to go to the Jungfraujoch to make this trip worthwhile! To get to these villages and to the Schilthorn, you take various funiculars and cable cars. I especially encourage you to include these pedestrian villages in your itinerary because of the ages of your children who will LOVE the cable cars and funiculars and the stunning walks between them with the sweeping heart-stopping views of the mountains. Regarding churches, there is a sweet Anglican church in Wengen. When we went there, our children were about the ages that your children are now, and they are still talking about Wengen, Murren and the Schilthorn.

Now ask about the best minarets....

I will ask about the minarets...
(It's good that there are none in Switzerland)
but in the Turkey Forum, as I am planning to visit Istambul after this.

canyonjane, Thanks .
I will definitely try and visit Wengen and Murren.
I hope we will be able to all this in one day from Interlaken.

(It's good that there are none in Switzerland)>>>

Ah good - a racist going to a country he'll be welcome.

Perhaps all these dodgy countries could form some sort of alliance, or axis if you prefer.

C_W, always looking to stir up a little trouble, and right here at the holidays, too...
But whatever would we do without him.

There is no racism here.
It's aesthetics---
Architecture---
Try and visualise which forms go well with wich ones.
I love what is there in Switzerland, the way it is.
I will like what is there in Istanbul, the way it is.

There is no racism here.>>>

Oh yes there is.

Have a word with yourself.

I don't know you. I'm sure a decent fellah who doesn't think of themselves in that way - but I'm afraid you're showing the symptoms.

As I said - have a think.

Sermon over. No fatwas issued.