Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Switzerland is a small country located in west central Europe, bordered by France, Italy, Austria and Germany. When one thinks of Switzerland many cliches come to mind, such as Swiss chocolates, Heidi, neutrality, yodeling, Swiss banks, Swiss army knives, Swiss watches, the Matterhorn and the Alps, Swiss cheese, skiing, and on and on. Switzerland is a country with breathtaking scenes of mountains, idyllic farms, and small villages with cobblestone streets, and its also a country of superb engineering and modern technical advances. Switzerland has four national languages, French, Italian, German, and Romansch, with German being the most widely spoken language. If you go to Switzerland, youll find many attractions, and here are some of the most interesting.
Lucerne is a magnificent, centrally-located Swiss city, bordering on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by mountains. Lucerne has an Old Town with buildings dating from medieval times, cobblestone streets, fountains, and markets. One of its most well-known attractions is the Kapellbrucke, the oldest road bridge in Europe. You can cross the Reuss River by walking across the Kapell Bridge, which dates from the 14th century. In the middle of the bridge is the Wasserturm, a long-time symbol of Lucerne. In 1993, a fire started at the Wasserturm (a meeting house) and burned most of the bridge; since then the bridge has been reconstructed to be as close to the original as possible. The old bridge had 111 painted roof panels that were decorated with scenes in the 17th century; Panel 31, for instance, has a picture of William Tell shooting the apple off his sons head.
There are ten museums in Lucerne; three of the most interesting are the Swiss Transport Museum, Picasso Museum, and a museum in the home of composer Richard Wagner. The Swiss Transport Museum, or Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, has astounding exhibits. There are dozens of huge locomotives, an exhibit on the digging of the Gotthard tunnel, airplanes and plenty of hands-on activities for children. Theres also an IMAX theater, a planetarium and a section dedicated to over 300 works of Swiss artist Hans Erni.
Lucernes most visited attraction is the Lion Monument. Carved out of a cliff by artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, it was dedicated in 1821 to the memory of 700 Swiss guards who were massacred in Paris during the French Revolution. The Guards had been hired to protect the Tuileries, palace of French king Louis XVI, and were killed in 1792 by French revolutionaries. The carving depicts a sad, dying lion, draped over his shield with a broken spear in his side. Theres a pool in front of the monument, and its quite a beautiful and peaceful site; however, its often crowded with tourists, especially in summer.
Mt. Pilatus, close to 7000 feet high, is one of the mountains surrounding Lucerne, and a fun day trip can be had by traveling up the mountain. Queen Victoria made the trip on a mule in 1868, but you can now go up a little faster. Theres a cog railway, the steepest in the world, that will take you on a half-hour trip up, and a 40 minute trip down, and there are cable cars and gondolas that will do the same. Theres a hotel and four restaurants at the top of the mountain, and Ive seen snow a couple of feet deep on top in July. Going up and down the mountain is pleasant; on a cloudy day when visibility is limited, you can still hear the cowbells on the cows and goats running around on the mountain. On a clear day youll have an amazing view of the Alps. See the longest playable alphorn in the world, enjoy some fondue made with the finest Swiss cheese, or take a toboggan ride if youre visiting in summer.
Other Swiss cities to visit include Geneva, also situated on a lake, Zurich, which has a wonderful blend of the old and the new, and Bern, the capital city and one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Basel has a Carnival that begins the Monday after Ash Wednesday; parades and music abound during the festivities. Hiking in the mountains, skiing at Gstaad, Zermatt, or St. Moritz, visiting castles and cathedrals, or boating or strolling around the lakes are all enjoyable activities, as is riding the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz. This train passes through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges, and you will see some of the most beautiful scenery ever on the seven hour trip.
Switzerland is a country of extreme beauty, orderly transportation, and wonderful food and shopping. There are many attractions in all seasons, and you can find a nice blend of medieval history and modern engineering in nearly every town. Check websites or visit your local bookstore or library for additional information on Switzerland.
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