Tag Archives: Swiss Views

Switzerland Travel: Tour Of Spiez On Lake Thun (8K)

The Flying Dutchman (July 23, 2023) – Spiez is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern. It is part of the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district.

Besides the town of Spiez, the municipality also includes the settlements of Einigen, Hondrich, Faulensee, and Spiezwiler.

Swiss Views: Riding The Brienz Rothorn Railway

Sylvia Michel Photography (July 12, 2023) – The Brienz Rothorn Railway is a tourist rack railway in Switzerland, which climbs from Brienz, at the eastern end of Lake Brienz, to the summit of the Brienzer Rothorn.

Video timeline: 0:00 Starting our journey in @brienzamsee 0:20 @brienzrothornbahn8299 is taking us through the village 0:50 Steam train with different Locomotives 1:09 Geldried 1:25 Planalp Middle station 2:36 Arrival at Brienzer Rothorn 2:58 Meeting the Ibexes 4:01 Ibex Knowledge 5:00 Sunrise 5:27 Ibexes again 7:07 Going down again with @brienzrothornbahn

The railway is 7.6 kilometres long, is built to 800 mm gauge, and uses the Abt double lamella rack system. 

Travel: A Tour Of Ghent In Northwestern Belgium

The Flying Dutchman (June 10, 2023) – Ghent, in the Flanders  Region, northwestern Belgium. Ghent lies at the junction of the canalized Lys and Scheldt and is the centre of an urban complex that includes Ledeberg, Gentbrugge, and Sint-Amandsberg.

One of Belgium’s oldest cities and the historic capital of Flanders, Ghent was powerful, well-organized in its wealthy trade guilds, and virtually independent until 1584. Within its walls was signed the Pacification of Ghent (1576), an attempt to unite the Lowlands provinces against Spain. The Treaty of Ghent (December 24, 1814) marked the end of the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain.

Along with Brugge (Bruges) and Ypres, Ghent was one of the chief towns of the medieval county of Flanders. It owes its origin to the economic developments that occurred in Flanders in the 10th century, and the town sprang up on the banks of the Lys River at a spot under the protection of a nearby castle built by the counts of Flanders. Ghent grew rapidly in the 12th century, and by the 13th century it was one of the largest towns in northern Europe. Its astonishing prosperity was based on the manufacture of cloth; Ghent’s luxury cloths made from English wool were famous throughout Europe until the 15th century. 

Swiss Views: Hiking Into The Aareschlucht Gorge

The Flying Dutchman (April 30, 2023) -The Aareschlucht (Aare River Gorge, Aare Gorge) is the only way into the upper Aare valley, called Haslital. It is the original connection between the two villages Innertkirchen and Meiringen. Today there is a road across the Kirchet, the mountain ridge around the gorge, which blocks the valley. It is also called Querriegel (crossbeam), which is not a name but an old term which expresses that it runs across the valley and block it.

The Aare river is fed by rainwater and melting water from the Alps, and here it already has a decent size. The river is about 30 m wide and quite fast flowing. But the gorge is much narrower, typically about 10 m wide, and as a result the water flows faster and is quite deep. And if there is heavy rainfall in the catchment area or in spring during snowmelt the river has much more water and the level inside the gorge rises substantially.

Swiss Views: A Walk Along Lake Geneva To Château de Chillon In Montreaux

Walk It (Uploaded April 18, 2023): Montreux is a traditional resort town on Lake Geneva. Nestled between steep hills and the lakeside, it’s known for its mild microclimate and the Montreux Jazz Festival, held in July.

Video timeline: 00:00 Lake Geneva 01:00 Riverside Montreux 45:08 Castle of Chillon

The town’s promenade is lined with flowers, sculptures, Mediterranean trees and grand Belle Époque buildings. Offshore is a medieval island castle, Château de Chillon, with ramparts, formal halls and a chapel with 14th-century murals. 

Swiss Views: Autumn 2022 In Lauterbrunnen (8K)

AKSense/Zurich Lauterbrunnen is situated in one

of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colourful alpine meadows and lonely mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland.

The very name ‘Lauter Brunnen’ (‘many fountains’) suggests the magnificence of this landscape. There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the most famous being the Staubbach Falls. Plunging almost 300 metres from an overhanging rock face, they are one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe. In 1779, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the valley, and was inspired by the roaring waters to write his well-known poem ‘Spirit song over the waters’

Filmed on October 18, 2022

Swiss Views: The Streets And Sights Of Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel (Neuenburg) is considered to be one of Switzerland most beautiful cities. It lays in the French speaking part of Switzerland and enchants with its visitors with its happy vibes. The city is very vibrant, many people love to stroll through the various streets and alleys, do shopping or go for sightseeing.

The city is full of limestone houses, which are very characteristic for Neuchâtel, rendering this city very distinct from the others of Switzerland. A must-see are the castle and the church on the hill in the middle of the city. They are considered historic landmarks from the days when Neuchâtel still followed a royal system being under French or Prussian rule. The church’s interior is very beautiful, especially with the ceiling. Neuchâtel has a beautiful lake promenade. Point of interest are Beau Rivage and the docks with the many boats.

During Summer you even can go for swimming. Neuchâtel is best to be reached by train, although arrival by car is possible. The train station is about 15 minutes from the city centre by walk, but you may take a shortcut by bus. Neuchâtel and the entire canton are great for cheap vacations as they have some attractive budget travelers offers. If you stay in any hotel in the canton, you get a booklet full of vouchers that provide you free public transportation and entry to the museums during the date of validity. It is valid for 1 day if you stay for 1 night, otherwise as many days as nights that you booked. All in all, Neuchâtel is a wonderful Swiss city, underrated but among the most beautiful ones!

Adventure: Bikepacking From Lake Geneva To Lake Constance, Switzerland

This two-year-old girl in the trailer is Zoé. After a great bike tour to discover her country last year, France, her parents take her to cross Switzerland, its mountains, its lakes, its cows, its rocky tracks. A travel from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance totaling 550 km, 12,000 metres of elevation but above all a lot of sharing with our daughter who is growing so fast.

More info about the route: komoot.fr/collection/1785457/-switzerland
Music: Bunker Buster – Colorful and Animated
Film with Sony Alpha 7III & GoPro 8

Italy Views: A 36-Mile Bike Ride Around Lake Como

Lake Como, in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery, set against the foothills of the Alps. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, with three slender branches that meet at the resort town of Bellagio.

Video timeline: 0:00 Intro and Map 1:25 Tremezzo 3:25 Villa Carlotta 4:32 Cadenabbia 6:07 Griante 14:07 Menaggio 22:08 Nobiallo 32:18 Acquaseria 34:03 Sant’Abbondio 36:19 Santa Maria 38:47 Santa Maria Rezzonico 40:02 Castello di Rezzonico 44:46 Prato 46:02 San Vito 50:36 Calozzo 53:46 Bellera 54:16 Musso 58:50 Dongo 1:04:32 San Gregorio 1:07:19 Gravedona ed Uniti 1:11:40 Domaso 1:18:07 Vercana 1:19:58 Cinque Case 1:23:27 Gera Lario 1:25:17 Sorico 1:30:30 Ponte del Passo 1:38:32 Adda River 1:40:26 Colico 2:05:45 Dorio 2:09:59 Corenno Plinio 2:11:42 Dervio 2:19:30 Bellano 2:29:35 Perledo 2:33:48 Varenna

At the bottom of the southwest branch lies the city of Como, home to Renaissance architecture and a funicular that travels up to the mountain town of Brunate.

Swiss Views: A Rainy Walk In An Appenzell Valley (4K)

Appenzell is a town in northeastern Switzerland, at the foot of the Alpstein mountains. Trails and cableways connect various summits, including towering Säntis peak. On the steep cliffs of the Ebenalp, the Wildkirchli cave complex houses a 17th-century chapel and hermitage. Nearby is the old Aescher inn, tucked into the side of a sheer cliff. Appenzell’s car-free center features wooden houses with colorful facades.