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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Rougemont, Switzerland


Rougemont is located  in the high of Alps Pays-d'Enhaut of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

In both summer and winter, Rougemont presents a diverse range of holiday experiences and sporting activities. Wonderful mountainscapes and old decorated chalets are typical for the villages of the Pays-d' Enhaut. Rougemont is one of the Switzerland’s most beautiful river rafting destination and its routes lies between the wild Vanel and Gérignoz gorges.Rougemont is also famous for canyoning, hydrospeed, canoeing /kayaking…

You have seen Rougemont in YRF’s Bachna Ae Haseeno where Raj (ranbir Kapoor ) and Mahi (minissha lamba) start their scooter trip to Zurich...

Monday, December 20, 2010

Chamonix - A popular winter sports resort town in Switzerland



The ideal way to explore the French Alps is to visit Chamonix . Himalaya-esque alpine vistas of saw-toothed mountains and broad glaciers, including western Europe’s highest mountain are the highlight of this delightful mountain town.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc situated near the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges, Chamonix shares both the summit of Mont Blanc and the title of highest commune in France with its neighboring commune, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. The commune is well known and loved by skiers and by mountain enthusiasts of all types.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the third most visited natural site in the world  and  a popular winter sports resort town in Switzerland.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Tinguely Fountain, Basel




In a shallow pool 19 cm deep, 16 m wide and 19 m long, cast in black mastic asphalt the artist placed nine black figures driven by low-voltage current that spout water as they move. These nine iron eminences cheerfully converse with one another like the mimes, actors and dancers once did on the stage at this exact spot.

Jean Tinguely (22 May 1925 in Fribourg, Switzerland – 30 August 1991 in Bern) was a Swiss painter and sculptor. With this fountain the he endowed Basel with a new landmark. Regardless of the weather, the fountain site is always thronged with people being animated to picnic or moved to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

This work of art has become part of the life of Basel’s inhabitants in a way few other objects have.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Cross the Rhine on the Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge)




Mittlere Brücke is the first bridge across the Rhine was opened in Basel in 1226. Its builder was Prince-Bishop Heinrich von Thun. As protection for the bridge in which so much money had been invested, he established the fortified town of Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine.

It is the oldest bridge over the Rhine in Basel, a partly stone bridge and partly wooden bridge, has been built in 1226 by the Bishop Heinrich von Thun. On the right bank, the Kleinbasel side of the river, it was a bridge on 5 stone piers, while on the left bank, the Grossbasel side, it was a bridge on 7 wooden piers.

The bridge initially served mainly local traffic, but in the 14th century, when the road over the St. Gotthard pass attained international significance, it became an important Rhine crossing for long-distance trade.

Today, at the Schifflände, is a landing stage for the cruise vessels of the Basler Personenschiffahrt, which offers interesting excursions on the Rhine. Financed by the sale of church treasures in 1125, it is one of the oldest Rhine crossings between Lake Constance and the North Sea.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Valais - Europe's highest peaks and largest glaciers!



The Valais  is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps.The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley.Paradoxically it is also one of most well-watered parts, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland.  Valais is Switzerland’s 3rd largest canton (state) with an area of 5,200 km2 (1,285,000 acres). It boasts Switzerland’s largest diversity of varietals, which includes treasures such as the whites Petite Arvine, Amigne and Heida, and the reds Humagne and Cornalin.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mount Rigi - Queen of the Mountains



Mount Rigi is famous for its spectacular views and well deserves its title ’Queen of the Mountains’. The name "Rigi" comes from Riginen which is the stratification that is clearly visible on the north-side of the mountain and is one of the identifying characteristics of Mt. Rigi. 

Mt. Rigi has been featured in many works of art, including both paintings and literary publications. Perhaps the most famous paintings of the Rigi were by JMW Turner, including "The Blue Rigi, Lake of Lucerne, Sunrise". Mark Twain also visited Rigi during his tour of Central Europe in the late 1870's, and wrote about his travels in his "A Tramp Abroad."

Don’t Miss the chance to meet this Queen!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Berne - The Charming Capital Of Switzerland


BERN (Berne in French) is perhaps the most charming of all Swiss cities .Crammed onto a steep-sided peninsula in a crook of the fast-flowing River Aare, its quiet, cobbled lanes, lined with sandstone arcaded buildings straddling the pavement, have changed barely at all in over five hundred years but for the adornment of modern shop signs and the odd car or tram rattling past. The hills all around, and the steep banks of the river, are still liberally wooded. Views, both of the Old Town’s clustered roofs and of the majestic Alps on the horizon, are breathtaking. Coming from Zürich or Geneva, it’s hard to remember that Bern – once voted Europe’s most floral city – is the nation’s capital, home of the Swiss parliament and wielder of final federal authority.

The structure of Bern's city center is largely medieval and has been recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. Perhaps its most famous sight is the Zytglogge (Bernese German for "Time Bell"), an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. It also has an impressive 15th century Gothic cathedral, the Münster, and a 15th century town hall.

The attraction of the place is its ambience; traffic is kept out of the Old Town and you could spend days just wandering the streets and alleys, café-hopping and – if it’s warm – joining the locals for a plunge into the river. The perfectly preserved medieval street plan, with its arcades, street fountains and doughty towers persuaded UNESCO to deem Bern a World Heritage Site, placing it in the company of such legendary sites as Florence, Petra and the Taj Mahal. In a competition for the world’s most beautiful and relaxing capital city, it’s hard to think what could knock Bern into second place.