An Alpine Adventure Tour Information
An Alpine Adventure TOUR INFORMATION You are travelling to Europe a wonderful assembly of diverse countries that have, over hundreds of years, evolved and formulated their individual and often unique customs, styles and quirkiness. We want to (and sometimes have to) fit into the region s natural patterns and irregularities. Much will appear so very different from home and surely it is exactly those very differences that inspired you to go there in the first place! To help you, the following pages contains additional information specific to your tour including brief introductory information regarding the major sites and regions you will be visiting. We would like to wish you a wonderful trip through Europe and a safe return home. Best wishes from the Albatross Team
An Alpine Adventure This information is meant to provide a light overview of some of the towns and regions you will be visiting. Paris To many, Paris is the romantic capital of Europe - and to some, the romantic capital of the world! And who could blame them: From the animated discussions and laughter at the pavement cafes, through to lovers strolling along the Champs Elysees and on to the grand structure of the Eiffel Tower, and other famous buildings. A beautiful city situated on the River Seine, Paris has many fine buildings and monuments, ranging from the well-known sights of the Eiffel Tower and the cathedral of Notre Dame to modern buildings such as the Pompidou Centre and the glass pyramids in front of the Musée du Louvre. Each area of Paris has its own particular character and appeal: the classical architecture of the Right Bank, with its perspectives down long, broad boulevards; the narrow streets of the Marais lined with museums and small shops; and the traditionally bohemian Latin Quarter. Paris boasts a wealth of famous museums from the large collections of the Musée du Louvre and the Mused d'orsay, to smaller museums dedicated to specific artists, such as the Musée Rodin and the Musée Picasso. The city also attracts visitors for its famous restaurants and cafés, and for its reputation as one of Europe's fashion capitals, the home of haute couture. Make sure you spend free time strolling amongst the broad boulevards, shops and museums of Paris. Perhaps also visit the village-like Montmartre around the hilltop Basilique du Sacré Coeur. Getting around the city is very easy using the extensive metro system. Maps of the city and the metro system will be available at your hotel reception. Geneva Once home of the Red Cross, Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland. Geneva boasts an array of attractions that make it one of the best known cities in the world from the charming Old Town to the Flower Clock; but the star attraction is the Jet d Eau located on the lakeshore. Jet d Eau (literally meaning water jet ) is a must-see for anyone visiting Geneva, whether this is your first time to Geneva or not. The elegant water fountain shoots 500 litres of water per second, 140 metres high at a speed of 200km/h! Originally built to release the pressure of the hydraulic plant, the Jet d Eau has since become a symbol of strength for Geneva. Located at the foot of the Alps, Geneva is the perfect base for exploring surrounding areas by boat, bike or foot.
Chamonix One of the oldest ski resorts in France, also the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix is one of the most popular ski destinations in the world. Located in the Chamonix Valley in the north-westerly part of the Alps, Chamonix is surrounded by a dramatic backdrop of rock and snow towering over the village. The Chamonix Valley offers exceptional viewpoints of the surrounding landscape either by a few hours on foot or just a few minutes by cable car. During the summer months, Chamonix is also a magnet for alpine mountaineers, hikers and enthusiasts. Aiguille du Midi Just a 20-minute cable car ride from the centre of Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi, the highest of the Aigulles de Chamonix, you can stand on top of the world at 3,842 metres. For those daring enough, a recently completed glass bottomed observation platform can be found at the top which will make you feel as though the whole world is dropping away beneath your feet! Regular walk-ways and platforms are also available for astounding views of the Matterhorn, Monta Rosa and the Grand Combin in the French, Italian and Swiss Alps. Please ensure you bring appropriate warm clothing such as a warm jacket or fleece for the mountain excursion. Albertville Positioned on the Arly River in France, Albertville is known to be a mountain and sky region located in the Savoie region of the Rhone-Alps. With a dramatic mountainous back-drop, Albertville offers easy access to outdoor activities including mountain-biking, horse-riding and walking tracks. Based around a neo-classical town hall from the late 19 th century, Albertville is recognised to have a rich and architectural heritage. Albertville is best known for hosting the Olympic Winter Games in 1992. Conflans Located just uphill from Albertville, Conflans offers outstanding views over the neighbouring hills and countryside. The streets of Conflans are lined with medieval buildings and houses dating back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries and the main square is adorned with flowers. Annecy Labelled the Venice of Savoie, the lakeside town of Annecy is set against a picturesque mountainous backdrop. Located in Haute-Savoie in the Rhone-Alpes region of France, Annecy is a charming town made up of cobbled stone streets, softly curving architecture, beautifully painted half-timbered houses and small azure canals. Points of interest include the Pont des Armours (the lover s bridge), the Imperial Palace and the baroque Cathedral of Saint-Pierre which was built at the beginning of the 16 th century by Jacques Rossel.
Montreux Montreux gained fame in the 19th century when its scenic lakeside setting and mild microclimate became popular with visiting writers and artists. The fabulous Château de Chillon, a scenic well-preserved 13th century fortress, is just outside of town jutting into the lake. With the opening of the country's first casino in 1881, Montreux became the Monte Carlo of Switzerland; its celebrity status is further enhanced by the famous Jazz Festival held annually in July. Keep an eye out for the statue to the late Freddy Mercury lead singer of the rock group Queen who once lived here. Chateau Chillon An architectural jewel located between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alps, this monument with over 1,000 years of history, has always inspired artists and writers, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Victor Hugo and Lord Byron, from Delacroix to Courbet. Excavations carried out from the end of the 19th century, in particular by the archeologist Albert Naef (1862-1936), affirm that this site has been occupied since the Bronze Age. In its current state, the Castle of Chillon is the result of several centuries of constant building, adaptations, renovations and restorations. The rocky island on which the castle is built, was both a natural protection and a strategic location to control the passage between northern and southern Europe. Gruyeres The medieval walled town of Gruyere is in the upper valley of the Saane River on a hill overlooking the Gruyere Lake. The town is hugely focused around Agriculture and Forestry and is very well-known for the Gruyere cheese. In the town you must visit one of the many small shops to taste the local cheeses and delightful Swiss chocolate on offer. The prestigious Gruyere Castle towers majestically over the small rural town. Built between 1270 and 1282 it is now a museum with a beautiful French garden overlooking the luscious landscape that surrounds. Grindelwald Set deep in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, charming Grindelwald is renowned for its dramatic setting surrounded by great snow covered peaks and meadows. Located at 1,034 metres (3,392 ft) above sea level in the Bernese Alps, Grindelwald village awards visitors with an exceptional view of the surrounding landscape including the north face of the Eiger. Famed for its winter sports, Grindelwald is perfect for all skiers offering slopes for beginners, intermediates and the challenges of the Eiger glacier for the more experienced. During the warmer months, alternate activities are available for the active including cable car rides and walking tracks; the village is also littered with cosy restaurants and cafes.
Luzern Luzern (Lucerne) is a city of medieval squares with a jagged skyline of towers and spires and two ancient wooden covered bridges (Kapellbrücke and Spreuerbrücke) spanning the River Reuss making the town appear like something out of a fairytale. Add to this the lovely setting on Lake Lucerne, with the towering peaks of Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi a short boat ride away, and it's easy to see why this is one of the most popular places in Switzerland. The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke) was built in 1333 and is the symbol of Luzern. It is a covered wooden footbridge, which you can use to diagonally cross the Reuss River. The bridge has more than 100 paintings as old as 1599 (Heinrich Wagmann) depicting the daily activities and dress of the people. There is also an octagonal water tower in the middle of the bridge, which was used as a prison, a torture chamber and an archive. The Mill Bridge (Spreuerbrucke) built in 1407, is a wooden bridge spanning an arm on the Reuss. Its gables are painted with the Dance of the Death, a mural by Kaspar Meglinger, 17 th century. Bern As European capitals go, Bern (Berne) is tiny, almost provincial in atmosphere and ridiculously pretty. The roots of its power go back to the 16th century when it was the predominant Swiss city state. The present city centre was built during this golden age, on a hill in a spectacular bend above the River Aare. Little has changed, and it is now designated as a UNESCO World Landmark. Simply wander along the main east west cobbled street to see the principal sights: 11 flamboyant 16 th century fountains; the picturesque and intriguing Clock Tower; six kilometres (3.5 miles) of medieval shopping arcades; and Bern's famous Bärengraben bear pits. Just off the main street is the parliament building and the Gothic Münster with its elaborately gilded Last Judgement. Make sure you visit the Clock Tower once the town s west gate. Just before the beginning of every hour it chimes and the characters and puppets are all animated in a little show. Near the Bear Pits there are excellent toilets as well as a café/pub which brews its own beer. Lauterbrunnen With a name translating to many fountains stunning Lauterbrunnen lives up to its name with over 70 waterfalls; the most famous being the Staubbach Falls plunging 300 metres from an overhanging rock face. Nestled between gigantic rock faces in one of the most impressive valleys in the Alps, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Lauterbrunnen is bordered by sheer cliffs stretching 1,000 feet high. Lauterbrunnen is surrounded by a series of hiking tours that will allow visitors to see many of the waterfalls within the Valley. Thundering, roaring and churning are only a few words describing one of the more unusual waterfalls within the Valley; the Trummelbach Falls. Taking top place as Europe s largest concealed waterfall and the only glacier waterfall in the world accessible underground through a series of tunnels and platforms, Trummelbach Falls carry up to 20,000 litres of water per second!
Zermatt and Swiss Alps Mountain peaks soar either side of the spectacular Simplon Pass which goes into the mighty Swiss Alps and down into the Swiss Valais. The Alpine cog railway up to the picture postcard village of Zermatt departs from Taesch. Set at an altitude of 5,315 feet, Zermatt is surrounded by a dozen huge peaks and dominating all is the Mighty Matterhorn. Here you can choose to relax and enjoy the atmosphere in this alpine village or perhaps take the Gornergrat funicular train (not included) to the highest open air railway station in Europe, where at 10,170 feet the views across the Alps are beyond belief. Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants and is famed as a mountaineering and ski resort of the Swiss Alps. Until the mid-19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural community; the first and tragic ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 was followed by a rush on the mountains surrounding the village, leading to the construction of many tourist facilities. The summit of the Matterhorn (German), Monte Cervino (Italian) or Mont Cervin (French) is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, indicate the four compass points. The mountain overlooks Zermatt, and Breeuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. The Matterhorn was the last great Alpine peak to be conquered and its first ascent marked the end of the Golden age of alpinism. It was made in 1865 by an expedition led by Edward Whymper and ended tragically when most of its members fell to their deaths on the descent. The north face was not climbed until 1931, and is amongst the three Great north faces of the Alps. The Matterhorn is one of the deadliest peaks in the Alps: from 1865 when it was first climbed to 1995, 500 alpinists died on it. The Matterhorn became an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps and the Alps in general. Since the end of the nineteenth century, when railways were built, it attracted more and more visitors and climbers. Each summer a large number of skilled mountaineers try to climb the Matterhorn via the north-east Hörnli ridge, the most frequented route to the summit. The Glacier Express The famous Glacier Express train travels along the Valais through Switzerland s finest mountain scenery. Ranked as one of the world s top train trips, it crosses 291 bridges, the 2,033 metre Oberalp Pass and go through 91 tunnels. In the roaring 1920 s, and because of adventurous reports from alpine enthusiasts, the travel-keen upper-class from all four corners of the world at long last discovered the rustic charms of the Swiss Alps. Previously remote mountain villages such as Zermatt and St Moritz were transformed into chic health resorts. The three railway companies of that period took advantage of the tourism potential and in 1926 they introduced the St Moritz Chur - Brig route for travel exclusively in summer. Public interest was great but it took over 50 more years before the Furka Tunnel was built allowing this train route to operate in winter (due to impossible snow conditions on the high Furka Pass).
Chur What comes to mind when you think about Switzerland? Narrow-winding streets, quaint houses, spindly church spires towering over the village and completely unadulterated nature? Chur is a mighty enchanting little place. Chur is the oldest town in Switzerland and very much worth a visit! Known to be one of the best preserved Old Towns, Chur allows visitors to wander through the quaint squares taking in the sights in a completely traffic-free zone. Red signs have also been erected directing you to the most beautiful parts of Chur so you won t miss a thing! Klosters Located only 150kms from Zurich Airport, and accessible by regular train and bus services, Klosters is a popular holiday and ski destination within Switzerland; the Klosters ski resort has been a favourite for the British Royal Family for over 3 decades! Set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery within Switzerland, Klosters offers a wide range of winter and summer sports as well as stylish restaurants and romantic cafes for your enjoyment. St Moritz Host to the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, the resort town has since made a name for itself as one of the most expensive and exclusive ski resort towns in the world and today a haunt for the upper class and international jet-setters including Kate Moss and George Clooney! In its time, St Moritz has hosted world championships in bobsledding, tobogganing and skiing in the winter and golf, polo, cricket, sailing and windsurfing throughout the remainder of the year. Laying deep within the Engadine Valley in Switzerland, St Moritz is often known as Switzerland s original winter wonderland and the cradle of Alpine tourism. Although St Moritz is often frequented by royals and celebrities, the real jewels are the shimmering aquamarine lake, lush emerald forests and a surrounding mountainous back drop. Riva del Garda Just over the Italian border, sitting at the most northern tip of Lake Garda, is Riva del Garda. The port of Riva del Garda boasts a distinctly Mediterranean feel with an abundance of restaurants, cafes, bars and luscious gardens, Riva is the perfect place to stop, relax and just take in your surroundings. A great place to stop off and have some lunch would be the centuries old town of Bolzano. Gardone Riviera Just a stone s throw from Riva del Garda, the lakeside town of Gardone Riviera is a charming, laidback town and a great base for seeing Lake Garda. Maybe take time for a stroll and simply enjoy the views of the lake or pull up a seat in one of the many outdoor cafés. Gardone Riviera is definitely a quintessential Italian town, but one more likely to be seen boasted on a postcard with its abundance of lavish gardens and flower beds, soaring blue skies and unmatched views of Lake Garda Italy s largest lake.
Verona The UNESCO World Heritage city of Verona is set along the Adige River and not far from the eastern bank of Lake Garda. Originally the Roman Forum, the Piazza delle Erba which is located in the heart of Verona s historic centre is a good place to start for anyone visiting Verona or to just stop and have a coffee. Positioned just outside the Piazza delle Erba, also lies the Lamberti Tower rising 84 metres above Verona giving visitors fantastic views of the city and beyond. Verona boasts numerous buildings of historic and artistic value. Shakespeare set three of his plays in this beautiful town Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Taming of the Shrew. One of the most visited sites is Juliet s balcony with letters on the wall from people visiting from all over the world. Maybe pay a visit to Dante in the Piazza dei Signori, take in the impressive Roman Arena built in the 1 st century or wander through Castelvecchio (meaning Old Castle ); a 14 th century medieval complex. Castelvecchio is occupied by one of the most interesting art collections in Europe with several towers and a brick bridge crossing to enjoy views of this medieval city up the Adige River. Sirmione Sirmione del Garda is located on a peninsula at the South of Lake Garda Italy in Northern Italy. It has been settled since the Stone Age, with early finds showing it was a small village of fisherman, living in houses on stilts on the banks of Lake Garda. Its strategic position near the southeastern "corner" of the lake and defensive qualities of the peninsula means it has been of great military importance over the years. The beauty of the setting also means it is a popular place for people to visit. Lake Garda, the largest Italian lake is situated at the foot of the Alps mountain range in Northern Italy and half-way between Venice and Milan. It was formed by glaciers at the end of the last ice age. Milan Milan - famous for football and fashion, the La Scala Opera House, Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel the incredible gothic cathedral (Duomo) and shopping in Armani, Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci flagship stores on Via Montenapoleone, part of the Quadrilatero d Oro (Golden Quad). Powerhouse of Italy, trend-setting shopping capital, and scene of Europe's most important modern furniture fair, Milan (Milano) has much to recommend it. Milan has a wide range of important art galleries, museums, and churches including the extravagantly pinnacled Duomo, the Brera Gallery (containing works by Italian artists of the 14th to 20th centuries), and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Raphael). In addition, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper dominates the Dominican monastery refectory next to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Milan is also the world capital of furniture and homewares (the beanbag is a Milanese brainchild), and a hub for risk-taking contemporary art.