Switzerland

This alpine jewel in the middle of western Europe has many facets: It’s fiercely independent, multilingual, well ordered, expensive, and one of the most consistently beautiful countries on Earth. Almost any train or bus ride will have you glued to the window saying “wow” at the passing views of gorgeous mountains and valleys and lakes. The posts below describe our travels in central Switzerland in 2017 and 2018, when we housesat in a village on Lake Lucerne, and our housesit in the Engadine Valley of eastern Switzerland in 2022. The photo galleries also include pictures from a 2006 trip to eastern and southern Switzerland, our first visit to Europe together.

When We Visited

July 2006, July to August 2017, June to August 2018, November to December 2022

Major Stops

Engadine Valley (Sent, Scuol, Guarda, Muottas Muragl, Maloja), Chur, Kandersteg, Saas Fe, Bern, Zurich, Lucerne, Schwyz, Brunnen, Zug, Engelberg, Meiringen

Memorable Moment

Hiking the ridge above Stoos from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock with magnificent views over Lake Uri and other arms of Lake Lucerne

Did You Know?

Switzerland has four national languages (French, German, Italian, and Romansh) and the longest average life expectancy in the world for men (81.3 years).
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