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TRAVELLER
easyJet
flies to...
Zürich from London and Manchester. See our insider
guide on page 180. Book online at easyJet.com
Buildingmaterial
was carried up
usingmanpower
from the town of
Lauterbrunnen
CITY HILL WALKS
LYON
At the top of Fourvière Hill is the
extravagant, late 19th-century basilica Notre
Dame de Fourvière, with panoramic views of
the westernAlps. It can be reached on foot,
by bus or via funicular.
SALZBURG
Hohensalzburg Castle,
first built in 1077, dominates Festungsberg
Mountain.Walk up Festungsgasse for
spectacular views from the ramparts,
or take the Festungsbahn funicular.
ZÜRICH
It’s a 20-minute train ride
on the S10 line from the main station
to Üetliberg, with its viewing tower and
hotel with café.Walk the ridge to the cable
car down and the S4 line back.
with a week-long illumination of the Jungfrau, as
works of light art are projected onto its slopes, and
more show-stopping events are also planned. Then,
on 31 March, the end of winter is marked by a concert
featuring KimWilde and Bryan Adams.
Not that you need an excuse to visit. It’s often so
cold that it’s impossible to stay out for long in the
biting wind, but this is one of Europe’s greatest views
– and an experience that increases one’s admiration
for those who choose to explore or climb it. Heading
inside, you could watch the short film in the cinema
about the mountain and the story of the railway. Or
venture deep into the glacier to the Ice Palace, where
you’ll find glistening ice sculptures of eagles, penguins
and polar bears created anew every year by talented ice
artists from Interlaken.
Or you could just take it easy, by enjoying lunch in
one of the restaurants overlooking the mesmerising
landscape. But a word of warning: most visitors feel
the effect of extreme altitude so you may want to go a
little easy on the wine.
This isn’t just a winter destination either. In the
summer, there are few more pleasurable things to do –
especially if you’re an active type – than taking on the
Eiger Trail hike, which you can join at Eigergletscher
station and finish at Kleine Scheidegg. While it doesn’t
compare in difficulty to the Eiger’s infamous north
wall, it’s still a worthy challenge. And it provides a
first-hand insight into what it must have been like to
face the mountain conditions head on, like those early
Alpine daredevils. The only difference is they didn’t
have a warm railway carriage waiting to return them
home afterwards.
Anthony Lambert is author of
Switzerland Without a
Car
(Bradt, £14.99 [€17.55]).
Intrepid hikers
tackle the
Eiger walk
PHOTOS © CORBIS, 4CORNERS
Threemore strolls fromaround the network
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