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If you are interested in Switzerland, its people, history, economy and geography, visit our section:
Switzerland
Country Facts
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Tips
on driving, facts about health care and other Tourist Tips
for traveling in Switzerland can be found
here. |
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Switzerland's Famous Matterhorn |
The Matterhorn dominate the Alps and it is the desire to see of this famous,
crooked, peak up close that
attracts so many visitors to Switzerland. The view shown above is from Zermatt, a
village at the base of the Matterhorn.
Although it is hard to image a better view, we think we have one the captures
the grandeur of the Mountain and the village when the sun goes down. For a
view of the Matterhorn and Zermatt at twilight,
click here. (The image is spectacular,
but quite large. It is well worth viewing, but we put it on a separate
page in consideration of the download time it would have added to this page.)
The village of Zermatt is at the heart of one of Switzerland's major ski areas and
surrounded by many of the country's tallest peaks. Zermatt is a car-free resort and the
closest you can get by car is Täsch, about three miles away. Staying
in Zermatt can be pricey, but it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
You can get to Zermatt using the Täsch-Zermatt shuttle train connects the town.
If you drive, fee-based
parking in Täsch is available while you visit Zermatt. (See the
Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn website for more
information.) You can, also, take a train from Visp or Brig, but you will need
to transfer to the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn in Täsch for the final trip into
town, or take one of the taxis that are allowed to travel the route into Zermatt.
The town of Zermatt, the Matterhorn and the surrounding Alps make a
beautiful scene at any
time of the year. For more vacation-oriented information on the Matterhorn and Zermatt, visit the
Zermatt Tourism website.
The prominent mountain just right of center is the Jungfrau. To the left are Mönch
and the Eiger. The photo was taken from Schilthorn (above and to the
west of Murren) (All photos © ThereArePlaces or its Suppliers) |
There are a number of famous mountains in the Alps, but few more famous
than "The Virgins". The Eiger (the Ogre) is west of the Mönch (Monk)
and the Jungfrau (Young Woman).
Climbing the North
Wall of the Eiger is regarded as significant accomplishment for skilled
mountain climbers.
The
Jungsfraubahnen
(railway), runs from Kleine
Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch, a region known as "The Roof of Europe".
The train runs in a tunnel for most of the trip, which burrows beneath the Eiger and
Mönch to reach the summit. There are two brief stops along the way
that provide views from windows cut through the mountains. Note: the
cost of the train is expensive, although you find significant discounts if
you have the
Swiss Card
The north slope of the Eiger |
(All photos © ThereArePlaces or its Suppliers)
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| For Switzerland's national tourism site, click
here. |
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