Swiss Alps Explorer

Switzerland: history

Switzerland dates its beginning to 1291, when three mountain communities made a pact to defend each other. Its national day is 1 August. The country's neutrality was recognised in 1815, and the modern federal state was formed in 1848.

The railway to the Jungfraujoch opened in 1912. Its station is the highest in Europe, at 3,454 metres. Many Indian films were shot in these mountains, and Interlaken has a statue of the director Yash Chopra.

Switzerland: tourist attractions

• JungfraujochThe 'Top of Europe', with a view over the longest glacier in the Alps.
• Mount TitlisA revolving cable car, snow and a cliff walk, from Engelberg.
• Lake Lucerne cruiseA boat trip below the mountains.
• Chapel Bridge, LucerneA covered wooden bridge from the 14th century.
• Lion MonumentA lion carved into a rock face in Lucerne.
• InterlakenA resort town between two lakes.
• LauterbrunnenA valley of high cliffs and waterfalls.
• Rhine FallsThe most powerful waterfall in Europe.
• ZurichThe old town and the lake.

Switzerland: excursions nearby

• Mount Pilatus from LucerneThe steepest cog railway in the world.
• Mount Rigi from LucerneA gentler mountain by boat and train.
• Bern about 50 minutes by train from InterlakenThe old town of the capital, a UNESCO site.
• Zermatt about 2¼ hours by train from InterlakenA car-free village below the Matterhorn.
• Montreux on Lake GenevaChillon Castle and lakeside promenades.

Distances are approximate. Tell us which excursions you want and we add them to your quote.