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Updated: Monday, December 9, 2002 1:09 AM |
| The German-speaking northeast of
Switzerland extends from the wooded hills of Schaffhausen
in the north, almost surrounded by Germany, to the wild and beautiful
alpine scenery of William Tell country in the south. The city of Zurich is
more than just a financial centre, sharing this part of Switzerland with
the ancient cities of Zug and Schwyz. |
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Schaffausen straddles the Rhine and has a gem of an old town, famous
for its oriel windows and the striking medieval frescoes adorning its
ancient houses. 3 kms outside the town are the Rheinfalls, magnificent waterfalls of
awe-inspiring power. Visit Stein-am-Rhein, an almost
perfectly preserved medieval town about 20 kms east of Schaffausen.
Another 20 kms east brings you to the first arm of the Bodensee (Lake Constance), with numerous
castles dominating the shoreline. The lake narrows at Konstanz which, although actually in Germany,
is worth visiting for its old town. All along the shores of the Bodensee
are small resort towns where you can swim and enjoy the watersports
surrounded by rolling hills, orchards and
meadows. |
| Saint Gallen is an ancient university
town with a bustling old town and a famous library. As well as its
impressive cathedral the streets of the old town contain thriving shops in
beautiful old buildings with picturesque oriel windows. The Walensee is a beautiful calm lake at
the foot of the lovely Churfirsten peaks. Together with the Toggenburg valley this area offers
wonderful opportunities for winter sports, watersports, and walking
amongst stunning scenery. In the far corner of this part of Switzerland is
the principality of Lichtenstein, with its pretty villages and
excellent mountain walks. |
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Lake Lucerne, the Vierwaldstattersee, must be
one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere, and excellent holiday country in
summer or winter. The name means the lake of the four forest cantons, and
in this part of Switzerland many of the important events in Swiss history
took place. William Tell is commemorated in several spots, notably Altdorf and the Rutli Meadow at the far end of
the lake. From here the road ascends to the bleak St Gotthard pass, now bypassed by a
tunnel. The lake itself has the pleasant resorts of Weggis, Vitznau and Gersau on the north shore. Behind is the
Rigi mountain with lovely meadow walking
and a superb view of the Alps across the lake. On the southern shore is
the Burgenstock and Beckenried, again with good walking among
wonderful scenery. All these resorts are served by steamers based in
Luzern which criss-cross the lake and connect efficiently with cable cars
and funicular railways. Take the cable cars to the summit of Mount
Pilatus with marvellous views of the
Alps and Lake Lucerne, or venture deeper into the mountains to the summit
of Mount Titlis with its amazing
revolving cable car. Below is the ski area of Obermatt, centred on Engleberg. |
| Contrary to
expectations, Zurich is a very
attractive city, with a jumble of buildings set in the twisting alleys of
its old town, and a distant panorama of snowy peaks beyond Lake Zurich.
The town has its share of museums and fine buildings, and the main
shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, testifies to Zurich's wealth. Plenty of
nightlife on the right bank of the river, and relaxing walks along the
lakeside promenades. Zug, about 30 kms
south of Zurich, has its own attractive lakeside and a small but
interesting old town. Further south again is the historic town of Schwyz, which gave Switzerland its name,
with many grand old houses and its Bundesbriefmuseum. |
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