Check out gorgeous views in Switzerland

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/08/2019 (2397 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Landlocked Switzerland — bordered by France, Italy, Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein — has long been a through-way for transporters and trekkers.

The endless variety of trails winding through the Swiss Alps, over rolling hills, and across meandering meadows make it the ideal destination for walkers and hikers of all ages and abilities. With 2019 dubbed the ‘Year of Hiking’ by Switzerland Tourism, travellers continue to discover why it’s one of the best places to go and get moving.

It’s easier to get to Switzerland from Canada these days, too, with Air Canada providing non-stop seasonal flights from Vancouver to Zurich. The service operates five times per week from June through October aboard the Boeing 787-Dreamliner with seating that is actually spacious and comfortable, and a smooth ride transporting you high over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.

The most convenient option for travelling around Switzerland is the Swiss Travel Pass. It allows you to journey by rail, bus and boat, wherever and whenever you please, including panoramic trains, public transportation in more than 90 cities and towns, free admission to more than 500 museums, and 50 per cent off mountain excursions.

The historic town of Brig is an ideal homebase for day-tripping, with over 150 kilometres of marked hiking trails nearby and an abundance of cycling routes. Brig’s Stockalper Palace, built in baroque style between 1658 and 1678, was the biggest private construction at that time. Brigerbad, one of the largest open-air thermal baths in Switzerland, boasts the longest alpine thermal waterslide in all of Europe.

Lausanne is surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes on the edge of Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman. The city combines the feel of contemporary cosmopolitan with cozy resort town, and has headquartered the Olympic Committee since 1914. In the heart of the old town, the majestic Lausanne Cathedral overlooks the city. Considered the spiritual capital of French-speaking Switzerland, it was consecrated in 1275 and is the country’s most impressive display of early Gothic architecture.

The must-do Golden Pass Panoramic Express with stunning 360-degree views takes you up-and-over Brünig Pass at 1,000 metres before heading back down again to the valley below, passing through forests and farmlands, and alongside lakes and quaint villages. German-speaking Gstaad is one of the stops along the way, home to what can be nothing but the Holy Grail of cheese.

The Cheese Grotto, hidden 25 metres underground in a former water reservoir tank, is an astounding monument to the regional traditional craft of cheese-making. For cheese-lovers, it’s akin to discovering the birthplace of the universe. It’s a somewhat sacred experience, too, as you descend down beneath the ground — on stairs at first, and then stepladders. The further you go, the cooler and dimmer it gets. The faint sound of organ music slowly grows louder.

Descending the final ladder into a cold dark room lit only by flickering candles, you turn around, look up, and witness there before you over 3,200 10-kilogram wheels of cheese, stacked floor to ceiling, shimmering in the candlelight. It was quite something, and quite a surprise! I wasn’t expecting anything like it, and hereby must declare it to be the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen.

And most likely written.

RoseAnna Schick is an avid traveller who seeks inspiration wherever she goes. If you’d like her to visit and write about your Manitoba event, email her at rascreative@yahoo.ca