December 1st ~ 11th 2007(2) : Andermatt, Switzerland

*Please click photo for larger image

We took Swiss national railway trains from Zurich to go to Milan, Italy, via Lugano.  On our way, we took a little detour right before the Gotthard tunnel (that goes through the Alps) and stopped at a mountain village called Andermatt.  When we bought tickets to go to Andermatt, a personnel at the ticket counter apparently was a bit astonished and told us nobody but those up for skiing or sledding would go there this time of the year!

Our train ride started with a view of the lake Zurich with the morning sun.

Photo） Left, Right: Lake Zurich in a morning sun shine

Soon afterwards, we came across the lake Zug.  Over the lake of Zug, we had a beautiful view of Mt. Rigi and Mt. Pilatus.

Photo） Left: Mt. Rigi shown up behind the lake, Right:Mt. Rigi getting closer

After a while, the train began to slowly go up the hill.  There were a lot construction sites for the new Gotthard tunnel along the way. Since the train would have to go up the hill for total of about 700 m, it went through many loops.  Due to the loops that train went through, we could see a famous old cute church in a place called Wassen three times from the train.

Photo) Left: Old church in Wassen, Center: Train goes looped rail and the church comes left and right…,
Right: Getting quite high


　We arrived in Göschonen station where we transferred to a smaller train.
　Photo) Left: Göschenen Station


From Göschonen we went up the hill for about 330 m with a cog-wheel train.  Although it was only 10-minute ride from Göschonen to Andermatt, the train went through a very narrow canyon called “Schoellenen” for 3.8 km and went up a steep slope, I learned later, at the steepness of 179/1000.  The zig-zag road along the rail reminded me of the Iroha-zaka road in Nikko except that the one in Göschonen-Andermatt was covered with a roof to protect the road and cars from avalanches.

Photo) Left: Tunnel road made at the very steep slope,
Right: Left side is the road and the right side is the tunnel for trains

After a tunnel, we came to the famous “Devil’s Bridge” (Tefufelsbrucke).  (It was apparently named after the effort and difficult work to build such a bridge in a narrow canyon with cliffs on the both sides).

Photo) Left: Teufelsbrucke (means: Devil’s bridge) in the valley, Center/Right: Teufelsbrucke

We arrived in Andermatt station.  The fact that the platform was at the same level as the rail, and that the platform was covered with a layer of snow, it did not feel like we got off the train onto a platform.

Photo) Left: Step on to a snow covered platform at the Andermatt Station, Center: Red train we were riding,
Right: Map of Andermatt

The village of Andermatt is situated at 1,436 m and there lies the Gotthard tunnel 300 m below the village.  The Gottahard tunnel has been one of the most important connections between south and north (connecting Italy and Zurich as well as other northern cities/countries).  The east-west connection of “Furka-Oberpass railway” also goes through Andermatt and that makes Andermatt a “crossing point of railways in the Alps”.  The name Andermatt itself means “another meadow”, and the village really is a small village on a green field in the middle of Alps.
Andermatt used to be a typical destination for vacationers, however, there are fewer and fewer people living and visiting this village in recent years.  The village is also known for a transit station from the famous “Glacier Express” train to the busses heading to other tourists’ destinations such as Interlaken or Luzern.
There is a plenty of space in front of the Andermatt train station as a bus terminal, however, the station was rather simple only equipped with a small restaurant and a newsstand.

Photo) Left: In front of Andermatt Station, Center: View of ski area from the station,
Right: Check the route with the direction board

From Andermatt, we took another cog-wheel train further up that was heading toward east over the Oberalp-pass (2,033 m) into the state of Graubunden.  The cog-wheel train went zig-zag up a steep slope, and it took no time before we saw the village of Andermatt way lower in our view.

Phto) Left: The view of Andermatt town from up-train, Center: Rail bridge built with bricks,
Right: Train climbing up the steep way

We got off at the Nätschen station on the way up the hill.  Since it was a perfect sunny day, we decided to walk down the hill back to Andermatt.  There was a small restaurant in front of the little Nätchen station, and the smoke from a small chimney of the restaurant was the only sign of life there.  The view of the Alps from up there was really fantastic!

Photo) Left: Train goes even further from Nätschen St.,
Center: Distant view from the only restaurant in front of the station,
Right: The mountain view of Andermatt from the station

We walked down the street along the railway that is used as a sledding path during the winter.  Although the snow mobile has nicely flattened the street and it was not too tricky to walk, it took us about an hour and half in the snow instead of the indicated 1 hr-walk in summer time to walk all the way down to Andermatt (400 m down the hill).

Photo) Left: Rail buried in fresh powder snow, Center: Trekking in a snow trail,
Right: The goal of 1 and a half hour trekking

Apparently the snowfall of this winter has not been very excessive, except for a big snowfall in November, we were lucky enough to have fresh snow from the day before our visit in Andermatt.

Photo) Left: Fresh powder snow, Center: Snow is playing by itself…, Right: Fresh powder snow

* See the first part of this diary: "Dec. 1st ~ 11th 2007: Christmas in Switzerland "