It’s a relief to lay my rucksack down, plunge hot feet into the cool stream and pause to revel in the fairytale surrounds. Foxgloves stand tall against a cornflower-blue sky, ferns look almost luminous, the water glints in the early summer sunshine. A patch of moss-covered ancient forest provides shade, a cuckoo calls in the distance, mountains layer on the horizon.
Rail route of the month: cheese, chocolate and a magical ride to the Swiss town of Gruyères
02.04.2024 - 11:27 / theguardian.com / Lake Lucerne / Lake Geneva
It was a handpainted sign on a wooden barn that piqued my interest in Gruyères. I was travelling from Emmental to Montreux last year, following the wonderful Golden Pass rail route. Our train paused at Montbovon, the start of a steep climb up to the line’s final dramatic mountain pass. There was the prospect of stunning views of Lake Geneva ahead. To the right of the railway, I spotted the bold sign: “La Gruyère vous salue” (the region, like the cheese, lacks the village’s final “s”).
With time to spare earlier this month, I returned to Montbovon to explore the branch railway that runs from there down the Sarine valley to Gruyères and beyond. This time I arrive on one of the new Golden Pass trains which now run through from Montreux to Interlaken, relying on some technical magic to slip from narrow-gauge to standard-gauge tracks along the way. The tourists in the posh prestige class are tucking into platters of charcuterie accompanied by Swiss wine. The climb up from Montreux is as magical as ever, twisting and turning up into the hills with Lake Geneva far below. Forty minutes out from Montreux, the train makes its first scheduled stop. This is Montbovon, a village that my old Baedeker guide advises is “noted for good cherry brandy”. I am the sole passenger alighting from the train, which after a brief stop is on its way again, now following the Sarine valley upstream towards Gstaad.
On a side platform, another train awaits. It is a humble local service, with none of the flair of the Golden Pass train, which can be heard tooting its horn as it climbs up the ravine carved by the Sarine River. The local train is signed for Palézieux via Gruyères. Soon we are on our way and within a minute rattling right down the main street of Montbovon, passing the dairy and the baker to our left.
So perhaps this isn’t a train at all! Is it really a tram that masquerades as a train while waiting by platform 3 at Montbovon station? It is in fact a hybrid, sometimes running alongside roads, but elsewhere looping through forests and skirting chasms and gorges. These hills are the Prealps, a series of folded ranges that give real character to Switzerland’s Fribourg Canton. Not quite the real deal, you may think, but very special in their own way. The journey of 27 miles from Montbovon to Palézieux skirts the eastern, northern and then the western flank of Le Moléson, one of the most prominent peaks of the Fribourg Prealps. For Baedeker, Le Moléson was “the Rigi of western Switzerland,” an allusion to the mountain by Lake Lucerne that achieves no great height but affords stunning views of many Alpine ranges. You don’t need to climb to the summit of Le Moléson to appreciate the scenery. Even from the train there are
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
travelpulse.com
16.04.2024 / 21:59
AHLA Rallies Industry Behind The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is encouraging the hospitality industry to support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act today with an industry-wide Tax Day of Action to prompt the Senate to support the bill.
forbes.com
11.04.2024 / 20:39
Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2024: Europe’s Finest Farm-To-Table Dining Experiences
As Mother’s Day approaches, consider giving the gift of quality time paired with a unique culinary experience. These nine restaurants, set in picturesque locales across Europe, offer more than just exceptional food—they promise unforgettable getaways where culinary art, sustainability and ambiance blend perfectly to celebrate this special occasion.
forbes.com
11.04.2024 / 18:35
Why Oakland Airport’s Rebrand Is Ruffling Feathers In San Francisco
Prince did it. Twitter did it. Meta and WW and KFC have all done it. Now Oakland International Airport wants to do it, too.
insider.com
11.04.2024 / 01:35
I finally had the chance to stay in a snow hotel along the Arctic Circle this year. I didn't last the night.
Sleeping on a bed made from ice, surrounded by walls made from ice, within a building made from ice, had been on my bucket list for years. I'm what you might call a snow tourist, a habit that started while I was living in the Middle East, where it never snows — back then, the ski slopes inside shopping malls just didn't cut it.
insider.com
08.04.2024 / 19:19
I paid $500 extra to upgrade my room on a 30-hour Amtrak ride, and I thought the additional 20 square feet was worth every penny
In 2021, I traveled on Amtrak trains from NYC to Miami and back. The rides took about 30 hours each way, and I had a private cabin in a sleeper car on both journeys.
forbes.com
05.04.2024 / 23:41
5 Of The Best Hotel Bars In Halifax (And What To Order)
There’s magic in a good hotel bar—you never know who is coming or going or what interesting things they might be getting up to pre- or post-cocktail. Hotel bars are one of the best ways to cultivate a feeling of travel at home, or on the other hand, enjoy a nightcap before heading up to your hotel room or a refreshment before exploring your destination.
forbes.com
05.04.2024 / 15:45
Slow Algarve: The Best Way To Enjoy Portugal’s Magical Southern Coast
Portugal’s sun-soaked south-meets-west coast comes into its own in the summer months. It’s a gloriously varied and enticing landscape—a seemingly never ending series of rocky coves and luminous beaches, sleepy villages, thumping tourist towns, world-class seafood and clifftop bars.
forbes.com
04.04.2024 / 17:07
There’s Still Time For A Trip To See The Total Solar Eclipse In Ohio
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible within parts of North America. If weather is permitting and there aren’t cloudy skies, total visibility will start along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. In the United States, the path of totality, which is the narrow ribbon of places where the full eclipse can be viewed, goes from Texas to Maine. NASA is offering a map that shows the path of totality as well as a timetable of when the eclipse should appear in some of the major locations where it can be viewed.
traveldailynews.com
03.04.2024 / 12:20
Founders of Death & Co and The Ramble Hotel debut new hospitality brand, Midnight Auteur, and its inaugural hotel in Savannah
The cocktail-centric hospitality company, Midnight Auteur, unveils its first boutique hotel in the Hostess City of the South, opening early 2025
traveldailynews.com
03.04.2024 / 12:15
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays take off to Tivat and Nice for the first time from London Stansted Airport
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are offering a huge programme for Summer 24, with 45 sun and city destinations on sale from London Stansted Airport. This offers local customers and independent travel agents with unrivalled choice and flexibility when it comes to booking or enjoying a much-needed getaway to their favourite summer destinations.
traveldailynews.com
03.04.2024 / 12:13
Marriott Hotels and Manchester United's reimagined “Suite of Dreams” revives the magic of the ‘90s
One lucky fan can stay overnight at Old Trafford for an immersive experience that celebrates the football, fashion, and culture of Manchester United’s most iconic era, only through Marriott Bonvoy.