Switzerland is a fantastically beautiful piece of land in the heart of Europe. There's much more here than ski resorts and chocolate.
It is great to explore Switzerland by train. You feel like in a moving gallery.
For example, here are two "artworks" made by nature at lake Brienz near the resort town of Interlaken in Jungfrau region in the centre of the country.
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| Lake Brienz (Jungfrau Region) seen from a train window |
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| Lake Brienz (Jungfrau Region) seen from a train window |
It is more alluring yet to wander through majestic and fairy Swiss landscapes. You are like a real vagabond among nature wonders, but at the same time you feel safe, as the system of hiking paths is very well organaized.
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| Tourists on a hiking path between Jungfrau Mountain and the resort village of Wengen |
When hiking in the mountains, you may run into some sort of "traffic jam".
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| Cow herd on a hiking trail between Matterhorn Mountain and the Swiss resort of Zermatt in Southern Switzerland |
This view could have been called "pastoral" (if not for power lines;).
The sheep are not unusual in Swiss landscapes too, as seen from this notice at the entry to a small mountain chapel.
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| Entry to the chapel near Schwarzsee (Black Lake) at the foot of Matterhorn Mountain (Southern Switzerland) |
Rhine Valley in the north-east of Switzerland is a nature fairy-tale, especially in evening haze.
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| Rhine Valley, Canton of Graubunden |
It's a wine-making region as well.
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| Vineyards in Rhine Valley, Canton of Graubunden |
The Sun is setting behind the mountains...
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| Rhine Valley, Canton of Graubuenden |
One may behold landscapes through a waterfall curtain.
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| At Staubbach Falls. Lauterbrunnen Valley, Jungfrau Region. |
Waterfalls may hide within the mountains.
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| Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnnen Valley, Jungfrau Region |
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| Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnnen Valley, Jungfrau Region |
This waterfall, running from within the mountain, marks - along with the colonnade - the entry to the caves where a medieval saint, Beatus, lived. The water falls into Lake Thun in Interlaken region (Central Switzerland).
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| Entrance to Saint Beatus Caves on Lake Thun in Interlaken region (Central Switzerland) |
Saint Beatus is said to have expelled a dragon who had occupied the caves and borthered local inhabitants.
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| Dragon figure in the museum at Saint Beatus Caves on Lake Thun in Interlaken region (Central Switzerland) |
You meet not only figures from legends, but also characters from literature.
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| Statue of Sherlock Holmes near the thematic museum in Meiringen, Jungfrau region, Central Switzerland |
The reason for placing the stone Sherlock in Meiringen is, of course, Reichenbach Falls above the cosy village.
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| Reichenbach Falls, Meiringen, Central Switzerland |
Villages and small towns add to nature wonders in Switzerland.
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| Tourist town of Interlaken, Jungfrau region, Central Switzerland |
But mountains are mountains...
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| Lauterbrunnnen Valley, Jungfrau Region |
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| Canton of Valais, Southern Switzerland |
In the south of the country stands high the famous Matterhorn Mountain.
Many photos of Riffelsee Lake depict the ideal reflection of Matterhorn. Not this case!
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| Riffelsee Lake and Mattehorn Mountain |
And again we are in the magical Lauterbrunnen Valley, with a picturesque view for dinner.
It is impossible not to be enchanted by Switzerland...
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| Rhine Valley, Canton of Graubunden |
