The Alpine ridge stretches from France along the whole southern part of Switzerland to Austria. In its centre the Gotthard massif divides the waters of the Rhine and the Rhone. The Rhone flows west through Valais to Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean. The Rhine goes down through Grisons northeast to Lake Constance. Striking mountain ridges and majestic four thousand metre peaks accompany these rivers, which are fed by hundreds of mountain streams from deep side valleys. The water comes from the glaciers and the perpetual snow.
In the north of the Alpine ridge are the Bernese Alps with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as their most famous peaks. Parallel to these are the Valais Alps to the south. These go up the valley of Valais to the Gotthard massif. The famous Matterhorn is the emblem of the Valais Alps. To the east of the Furka (a pass in the Gotthard massif) are Grisons’ Alps.
The Swiss Travel System makes the Bernese Alps accessible from Berne, Thun and Interlaken, and also from Montreux and Lake Geneva through the Golden Pass Line. The fastest way to Valais is from Berne through the new Lötschberg tunnel (for example, 1 hour 15 minutes faster than before to Zermatt). However, if you want to go less quickly, but with more views, you can take the Lötschberg mountain route via Kandersteg and Goppenstein to Valais. The valley route into Valais is the Simplon line from Lausanne or Montreux on Lake Geneva. It runs along the Rhone up to Brig. The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway connects the Valais Alps with Grisons’ Alps through the Furka tunnel. The world famous Glacier Express makes this tip in an unforgettable 7 hours, during which you are guaranteed never to be bored. You get from anywhere in the Central Plateau on the InterCity route from Zurich to Chur and then with the Rhaetian Railway up to the mountains. If you want to go further up, the Swiss Travel System won’t leave you in the lurch. Many railways and bus routes take you above the tree line, where there is often snow even in summer.
Two rail routes go through the Alpine massif from north to south. One is the Lötschberg line from Berne through the Lötschberg tunnel via Brig and then through the Simplon tunnel to Domodossola in Italy. Even there you are still on the Swiss Travel System if you take the Centovalli Railway to Locarno in Ticino. The second way through the Alps is from Lucerne on the Gotthard line, which quickly conquers the Alpine massif in one step through the Gotthard tunnel and brings you into Ticino and to Locarno. The romantics choose the William Tell Express for this trip. It’s not the fastest method, but it’s the most beautiful way to get to Ticino. You start with a steamboat ride from Lucerne over the whole of Lake Lucerne to Flüelen. From there you go with the Gotthard Railway to the south. More on Ticino, Southern Switzerland >
