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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
BUVETTE de JAMAN, mountain restaurant, Switzerland
BUVETTE de JAMAN is among the cutest mountain restaurants we have visited and with outstanding views from the tables in front of the restaurant when the weather allows sitting outside. During our last visit to Montreux we took the train from the main railway station in direction of Rochers-de-Naye but jumped off a couple of stops before at Jaman. It is just about a 40…
CHEESE-FONDUE IGLOO, Adelboden, Switzerland
OMG! It was an incredible experience, sitting in Europe’s largest igloo – seating 200 guests in rooms of various sizes and with different decorations of ice sculptures or reliefs made directly in the ice-cold snow walls. The fondue-igloo is built on Engstligenalp at a height of 1964 meters high above Adelboden. The easiest access is by cable car from Unter dem Birg about 4 km…
LAUTERBRUNNEN, the waterfall valley, Switzerland
LAUTERBRUNNEN, in the valley of the same name, is another of our favorite villages in the Canton of Bern. The origin of its name is subject to many discussions, but we usually translate it to the “valley of many waterfalls” . And yes, there are 72 of them. Many, many years ago, there were iron and silver mines in the very end of the valley,…
