Our month in Switzerland, June/July 2019
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We have just returned from our June/ July 2019 trip. Here’s the start of my ‘live’ trip report.
We are currently in Montreux and I’ve decided to do a live trip report. Sending a big thank you to anyone who patiently answers questions here.
We are returning to some favourites in June 2019, and have added some new bases.
Priorities are mountains, lakes, forests, charming villages, farming hamlets, small cities with walkable old town, generally look for pleasant walks in addition to village/ town strolls. For example, on our previous trip we visited Soglio/ walked Sils to Isola and Maloja along lakeside / Solothurn walk to Verena Gorge/ St Ursanne along river. We are more into gentle strolls, no hard hiking for us.
We prefer smaller places, but Swiss towns and cities are really lovely, too.
Switzerland has such diversity in culture and language, the regions feel like they could be different countries. We were very keen for a stay in French speaking Switzerland choosing Vevey for its obvious natural lakeside beauty as well as charming architecture and the variety of nearby excursions. I love those buildings with shutters and cobblestone alleys in the old town. (Considered Estavayer Le Lac initially, much of interest in western Switzerland, too .that will have to be on a future trip)
Had a perfect 8 night stay in Wengen in 2017, great hotel and excursions on that trip, so adding in a short visit. We had a day in Thun that trip, found it charming and noted it for a future base. So another 8 days in the Bernese Oberland (but split bases between Wengen and Thun). I’d considered spending a week in Meiringen or Brienz, which might happen another time.
The Engadin villages architecture is very distinctive (not the wooden chalets seen elsewhere, but really solid buildings with thick walls and tiny windows, often beautifully etched ‘sgrafitti’), and the landscape is really striking.
The Upper Engadin valley is a high, wide valley with gorgeous lakes, the Lower Engadin is narrower without the large lakes or the volume of tourists.
From Scuol we travel to Thusis, our gateway to Zillis and the Splügen pass, taking us to Chiavenna for a taste of Italy before looping back to Sils Maria via the Maloja Pass.
Language: Moving from French speaking Montreux, to German speaking Bernese Oberland we then head to the Engadin. The Graubünden (German) / Grisons (Romansh), canton in eastern Switzerland, is officially trilingual – Swiss German/Italian/Romansh speaking (and then there are several dialects of Romansh).The rest of the report is here: http://www.fodors.com/communi ty/europe/our-month-in-switzerland-1668229/
my photos are on Flickr flic.kr/s/aHsmEas4pP
This was a slow trip and follows our September 2017 holiday – we had very clear goals, preferring fewer bases and a gentle pace.
I learnt so much from the many posters across the various forums, much appreciated!
I know how much fun it is to read reports, hope you enjoy mine 😀
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