Post-congress trip : 30 th June 4 th July 2017

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Francine Henderson
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Post-congress trip : 30 th June 4 th July 2017 Visiting

30.6 : Chillon (night in Brig) 1.7 : Zermatt (night in Brig) 2.

1 Post-congress trip : 30 th June 4 th July 2017 Visiting Western Switzerland From the Valais Alps to the Bernese Alps 30.6 : Chillon (night in Brig) 1.7 : Zermatt (night in Brig) 2.7 : Aletsch and Grimsel (night in Brienz) 3.7 : Ballenberg(night in Interlaken) 4.7 : Schynige Platte 6 th Global Botanic Gardens Congress Geneva, Switzerland, 26 th -30 th June

30 th June: Castle of Chillon Inthemiddle ofthe day,attheend ofthe 6 th GlobalBotanicGardensCongress,departurefromGenevaby bustoreach thecanton of Valaisin the earlyevening.

2 30 th June: Castle of Chillon Inthemiddle ofthe day,attheend ofthe 6 th GlobalBotanicGardensCongress,departurefromGenevaby bustoreach thecanton of Valaisin the earlyevening.along theway,wetakea break betweenmontreuxandvilleneuve (canton of Vaud).Itisan opportunityto visitthemedievalcastle of Chillon,locatedon LakeofGenevaatanaltitude of 375m.The visit lasts about an hour. The earliest written mention of the castle of Chillon dates from However, excavations havetestified tothe occupation of thesitesince thebronzeage.

1 st July : Zermatt In the early morning, the bus drops us off at Täsch

We take the cog railway and narrow gauge to reach Zermatt, at 1600 m in

An underground funicular takes usto Sunnegga (2290 m), then a cable-way to

The panorama is exceptional, especially towards the Matterhorn(4478 m).

hours (up to 2800 m in altitude), according to the conditions and desires

On the southern flanks of the Unterrothorn, towards the Stellisee, the

substrate(siliceous rocks and calcschists).

3 1 st July : Zermatt In the early morning, the bus drops us off at Täsch (canton of Valais). We take the cog railway and narrow gauge to reach Zermatt, at 1600 m in altitude. An underground funicular takes usto Sunnegga (2290 m), then a cable-way to Blauherd at 2570 m. The panorama is exceptional, especially towards the Matterhorn(4478 m). From Blauherd, several hiking trails are possible, lasting from 1 to 4 hours (up to 2800 m in altitude), according to the conditions and desires of the participants. On the southern flanks of the Unterrothorn, towards the Stellisee, the richness of the flora can be explained by the diversity of the substrate(siliceous rocks and calcschists). We can see Thlaspi alpinum subsp. sylvium, pretty endemic to the Western Alps. The epithet «sylvium» means«of the Matterhorn», in Latin«Mons Silvanus» or «Mons Silvius». Outdoor lunch during this one-day excursion. Before leaving Sunnegga, a self-service restaurant allows you to quench your thirst and enjoy a bit of the landscape before returning to the plain. Dryas octopetala

4 1 st July : Zermatt Between Blauherd and Stellisee, the trails provide easy access to many species of the alpine flora

2 th July : Aletsch In the early morning, the busdropsusoff at Fiesch (canton of Valais). We take the Eggishorn cable-way to itsupper stationat2869 m inaltitude.

5 2 th July : Aletsch In the early morning, the busdropsusoff at Fiesch (canton of Valais). We take the Eggishorn cable-way to itsupper stationat2869 m inaltitude.depending on theconditions,wecanthenwalkto thetop ofthe Eggishornat2925m. Thepanoramaon thealetsch glacierisexceptional.itisthelargestglacierinthe Alpsanda UNESCO WorldHeritage Site. If the weather conditions are mixed, we have other possibilities from the top stations of the Bettmerhorn(2647 m), Moosfluh (2344 m) and Hohfluh (2227 m) gondolas, where we can choose different walks. You can also visit the Aletsch Forest and the Pro Natura Center(Villa Cassel). Outdoor lunch during excursion.

Depending on the conditions, one or more halts are possible and this is the opportunity to do some alpine botany on siliceous substrate, in the

6 2 th July : Grimselpass In the early afternoon, we take the bus to the Grimselpass. To go from the canton of Valais to the canton of Bern, it is a forced passage at 2164 m of altitude. Depending on the conditions, one or more halts are possible and this is the opportunity to do some alpine botany on siliceous substrate, in the heart of Switzerland. The landscapes are grandiose and ranked of national importance. Here we cross the eastern part of a naturalreserveof 100km 2.Changeof sceneryattheend of the day, aswe reachthe edge of the Lake of Brienz at analtitude of 570m.

7 2 th July : Grimselpass Soldanlla pusilla, species of the Eastern Alps, particularly abundant at the Grimselpass

8 2 th July : Grimselpass Rhododendron ferrugineum, at the place Chessibidmer (background: the eastern flanks of the Juchlistock)

3 th July : Ballenberg The bus leaves us at 10 am at the entrance of the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, which aims to collect,

Between 620 and 700 m in altitude, over 66 hectares, more than 100 buildings from all over Switzerland are united in a natural

At the disposal of the visitor: crafts, cultivated plants (especially medicinal), domestic animals, nature reserve, forests,

9 3 th July : Ballenberg The bus leaves us at 10 am at the entrance of the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, which aims to collect, preserve and promote the traditional rural architecture of all regions of the country. Between 620 and 700 m in altitude, over 66 hectares, more than 100 buildings from all over Switzerland are united in a natural setting. Outdoor lunch during this one-day excursion. At the disposal of the visitor: crafts, cultivated plants (especially medicinal), domestic animals, nature reserve, forests, shops (notably historical drugstore), restaurants, etc. Country house, Ostermundigen, Bern, 1797 Country house with pigeonnier, Lancy, GE 1762/1796/1820 Winegrower s house (left), Richterswil, ZH, 1780 Country house, Uesslingen, TG, 1569/1606

10 3 th July : Ballenberg Flax culture (Linum usitatissimum) Flax spinning

3 th July : Brienz Interlaken In the late

steamboat Lötschberg, propelled by paddle wheels.

mountains that surround the Lake of Brienz. www.

11 3 th July : Brienz Interlaken In the late afternoon, to reach Interlaken, we take the old steamboat Lötschberg, propelled by paddle wheels. During this cruise, the view is idyllic over the mountains that surround the Lake of Brienz. It should be noted that the steamer Lötschberg was built in Brienz Machines of the steamer Lötschberg The steamer BLS Lötschberg

4 th July : SchynigePlatte From Wilderswil (near Interlaken), we take a cog railway to reach the Schynige Platte, at an

The view is breathtaking on the Bernese Alps and the lakes of Thun and Brienz. Outdoor lunch during this one-day excursion.

desires of the participants. This time it is the opportunity to do some alpine botany on limestone.

12 4 th July : SchynigePlatte From Wilderswil (near Interlaken), we take a cog railway to reach the Schynige Platte, at an altitude of 1967 m. We visit here a spectacular alpine garden, specialized on Swiss flora and which grows 650 species. The view is breathtaking on the Bernese Alps and the lakes of Thun and Brienz. Outdoor lunch during this one-day excursion. The visit of the garden can be completed by a walk in the surroundings, lasting 1 to 3 hours depending on the conditionsand desires of the participants. This time it is the opportunity to do some alpine botany on limestone. Descent by cog railway, then return to Geneva by bus atthe end ofthe day. Entrance of the alpine garden Going up-hill by cog railway Belle Epoque

13 4 th July : SchynigePlatte View of the Oberberghorn from the alpine garden Foreground : Anemone narcissiflora Plants are cultivated by habitats: here a limestone scree Foreground : Anemone baldensis / Background : Eiger Multiplication of plants in the alpine garden Viewof Lake of Brienz

14 4 th July : SchynigePlatte In the evening, an idyllic view of the Eiger(3970 m), the Mönch (4107 m) and the Jungfrau (4158 m)

WALKS in SWITZERLAND. 1 Lake Geneva (Canton Vaud) (i) The Vineyards of the Lavaux. From Chexbres to St Saphorin.

WALKS in SWITZERLAND. 1 Lake Geneva (Canton Vaud) (i) The Vineyards of the Lavaux. From Chexbres to St Saphorin. WALKS in SWITZERLAND On my visits to Switzerland I sometimes have the time and the opportunity to take a walk in the countryside. I don t have walking boots with me, so the walks are not difficult, and