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Hiking and viewpoints in TICINO
ASCONA and LOCARNO in TICINO can be starting points for many excursions and hikes. After parking next to the cable car station Orselina, north of the two cities, the cable car took us to the first stop at Cardada in 5 minutes. At Cardada, at 1340 meters above sea level there is a viewing platform, stretching out over the treetops, with perfect views over Ascona,…
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WEG der SCHWEIZ II, The Swiss Path II
Another stage of Weg der Schweiz, The Swiss Path. This time we hiked the short but beautiful part from Bauen to Isleten. The whole part of this trip is almost flat as it follows the shore along the Urnersee, but sometimes through old and dark tunnels, which is actually the originally old road to Bauen. In some of these tunnels, there are “windows” with…
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Vertical cliff hike at Galerie Défago, Switzerland
After our first interesting short hike along the Vièze River, we had also planned another hike in the area, being of a completely different character. The first part of the Galerie was opened in 1864 by the local entrepreneur Emmanuel Défago, thus the name. The view over the valley, to the Vièze River and Champéry is fabulous. Most of the trip is secured by a…
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Hiking by the Vièze River, Switzerland
The VIÈZE River is a just 22 kilometers long tributary of the River Rhône. Despite its size, it was still a devastating river in the 16th-18th century with massive floods around Monthey until it was channeled. From Champéry, in the western part of the Canton Wallis, there is a 4 kilometers roundtrip hike of which about half of it is along the Vièze River. After…
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Tiny villages in Tessin, Switzerland
Arcegno, Fontana, Roseto, Ritorto, Sabbione, Fontana, Faèd, Sonlerto…..all names of some of the beautiful, small villages in the Bavona Valley in Ticino. There is so much more to explore in the valley in addition to the most well-known villages. The Bavona Valley is a really different place from any other place on earth!! All houses are built from local rocks, even the roofs. Open spaces…
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LAUTERBRUNNEN from above, Switzerland
LAUTERBRUNNEN, and the valley, is probably best known for the many waterfalls, mainly the very impressive Staubbach fall. But with the many hiking opportunities offered in the area, there is so much more to explore. During one of our many visits, we went for a short hike to the fields over Lauterbrunnen – and what a completely different view there was – so we wanted…
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Hiking on WEG der SCHWEIZ, The Swiss Path
WEG der SCHWEIZ, The Swiss Path, is a 35 km long hiking route along with Lake Uri. It is divided into three sections, from Rütli to Brunnen, but it is, of course, possible to walk any desired distance. It is even possible to start parts of the hike by taking a boat to one of the starting points. The path was constructed to celebrate the…
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MEDIEVAL CASTLES in Switzerland, Canton Solothurn
CASTLES and medieval castle ruins are present in all areas of Switzerland, some built by rivers, some placed in old town centers, and others built on top of rocks and thus very easy to defend from enemies. This post is about four of these medieval castles and ruins, all in the area within and around Balsthal, in the Canton of Solothurn. It is possible to…
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OESCHINENSEE, Lake Oeschinen, Switzerland
OESCHINEN LAKE in the summertime is a completely different experience as in the wintertime. The last time we visited was for the Ice Walk – fantastic! But this time it was without snow and together with good friends. Again, with the cable car from Kandersteg to the mountain station and then just 1,4 km almost flat hike to one of the restaurants, the Zur Sennhütte,…
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SIMMENFÄLLE Waterfalls, Switzerland
SIMMENFÄLLE, the Simmen Waterfalls, is a series of waterfalls just outside Lenk im Simmental. Arriving at the restaurant, of the same name, at the end of the paved road, you will already see the first part of the falls. Then there is only a short and bit steep hike (exactly 1 km) upwards to Barbarabrücke (bridge) where the stream can be crossed and the view…
