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You are here: Home Life in Blogs & photos A day at Rigi, the queen of the mountains

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19/06/2009A day at Rigi, the queen of the mountains

View our blogger Z’s photo essay of Swiss mountains in springtime.

For many, Switzerland might be all about mountains with snow

Scheiddegg Lake

and the related snow sports.

Scheidegg

My preferences tend towards the mountains after the winter.

Crocuses

Preferably around lakes and some of the most beautiful visions are to be found in the area around the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne to you and me). A favourite day trip we do with visitors is to travel to Lucerne and from there take a steamboat (astonishingly, I don't have any appropriate photo from this region to insert here) to one of the access points for the mountain called Rigi. The village of Vitznau is one such location, and a cog railway climbs its way up to the top of Rigi.

Tracks

There are several intermediate stops, each of them leading to the hiking trails that are all over the mountain.

Paths

These trails are part of a network that spans all of Switzerland and most of them are marked with Wegweiser signs similar to this one.

Wegweiser

Along the trails are opportunities for quiet reflection.

Bench

Or, quiet paragliding if that's more your thing.

Paragliding

On the Vitznau-Rigi stretch is the resort area of Kaltbad that's worth a stop if you're looking for some sustenance. There's a cluster of restaurants there but the best view is from the terrace at the Bergsonne. Culinarily it is rather a fine restaurant (and on the expensive side) but it is also very relaxed.

Bergsonne

This summer there are some special vehicles to be found on Rigi as the Swiss Transportation Museum in Lucerne celebrates its 50th anniversary. For example, this old steam locomotive No 7 which started its service life in 1873.
Loco 7

Complete with the conductor at the back with his Swiss-red satchel. Adieu! Bye bye!

Loco 7

Text and photo credits: Z in Villigen / Expatica 2009


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