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Jungfraujoch Guide

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22March2011

Located in the Bernese Alps, between the Mönch and the Jungfrau , the Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle surrounded by picturesque scenery. It is the lowest point on the mountain ridge between Mönch and Jungfrau, and lies inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area. Set in the midst of nature’s beauty, it is a sight to behold.

Jungfraujoch popularly known as the “Top of Europe” among the tourists, has the highest railway station in Europe, situated at an elevation of 3,454 meters. Jungfraubahn mountain station, located just above the Jungfraujoch is a wondrous place.

Beginning from the Jungfraujoch on the Valais side, lies a peak, The Sphinx to the east of the col. An elevator leads to a small viewing platform and a scientific observatory, the Sphinx Observatory, upon the summit.

The Richtfunkstation Jungfraujoch, the highest radio relay station of Europe lies to the west of the railway station atop a ridge. The first Unesco World Natural Heritage Site in the entire Alpine region is found in The Jungfrau-Aletsch region.

Counted among the most difficult passes in the Alps, The Jungfraujoch is a source of great excitement to many adventurous mountaineers. Its diverse wildlife makes it interesting to several researchers too.

A Global Atmosphere Watch’s atmospheric research station is also found here. A 7.3 km long cog railway tunnel is the only means of conveyance to reach The Jungfraujoch.

Hotel Schweizerhof Basel

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18March2011

Overview of the Hotel: Located Centrally in Basel, Hotel Schweizerhof stands just next to the SBB train station and is easily accessible by car and public transportation. Local phone calls are free. It offers non-smoking rooms, a rich buffet breakfast, 24-hour continental breakfast and a hotel bar with a smoking area. There is a business corner with free access to the internet. Public transportation within Basel and the surrounding area is provided to guests free of charge. A bottle of mineral water can be found in every room. Guests can enjoy the free non-alcoholic drinks offered on 3 floors of the Schweizerhof. Wi-Fi access is free in the entire hotel. Free parking for a maximum of 5 cars is available but more than 500 parking spaces can be found around the hotel. Guests staying in this hotel have an added advantage of staying near to most of the important museums, theaters, sports stadiums, the Basel Zoo as well as the congress and exhibition center, which are easily reachable by foot or by public transportation from the Schweizerhof.

Amenities at the Hotel: The hotel offers Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Terrace, Non-Smoking Rooms, Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Express Check-In/Check-Out, Safe, Baggage Storage. Other services include Room Service, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Airport Shuttle, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Breakfast in the Room, Ironing Service, Currency Exchange, Shoe Shine, Car Rental, Fax/Photocopying. Wi-fi is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge. Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is needed) and costs CHF 23 per day. The hotel bar is open 24 hours a day. Either for a glass of wine, for a little snack or for relaxation, you are always welcome. The delicious Italian snacks are perfect for a quick bite.

Hotel Rules:  The check in time for the hotel is from 14:00 hours and the check out time is until 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 3 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots. All older children or adults are charged CHF 50 per night per person for extra beds. Maximum capacity of extra beds/babycots in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed/cot or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are not allowed. Accepted credit cards are American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, Maestro, and Others. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.

Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Business Double Room: CHF 490
Included in room price: 3.80 % VAT, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: CHF 3.50 city tax per person per night.
• FREE cancellation
• Breakfast included

Economy Single Room: CHF 195
Included in room price: 3.80 % VAT, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: CHF 3.50 city tax per person per night.
• FREE cancellation
• Breakfast included

Business Single Room: CHF 490
Included in room price: 3.80 % VAT, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: CHF 3.50 city tax per person per night.
• FREE cancellation
• Breakfast included

Ambiente Single Room: CHF 285
Included in room price: 3.80 % VAT, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: CHF 3.50 city tax per person per night.
• FREE cancellation
• Breakfast included

Ambiente Double Room: CHF 355
Included in room price: 3.80 % VAT, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: CHF 3.50 city tax per person per night.
• FREE cancellation
• Breakfast included


Schilthorn Guide

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16March2011

The heaven for travelers who wish to enjoy the natural beauties of Switzerland, the Schilthorn is a 2,970 metre high summit in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, above Mürren, with a breathtaking panoramic view of the ranges Titlis, Jungfrau, Mönch, Eiger, over the Bernese Alps and the Jura mountains up to the Vosges Mountains and also the Black Forest.

To get to the Schilthorn from the valley floor, you begin with a cable car from Stechelberg leaving to Gimmelwald and then onto Mürren. From Muerren a cable-car takes its breathtaking ride up to the Schilthorn summit, from where you can enjoy exceptional panoramic views and sip cocktails in the revolving Piz Gloria summit restaurant, featured in the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. The restaurant revolves a full 360 degrees in 55 minutes. It is also possible to hike to the peak, along the myriad of small, but well-marked paths to the top, which will take about 5 hours from Gimmelwald for an experienced hiker.

The famous black ski run which was featured in the film starts at the summit and leads down to the Engetal below Birg. The restaurant revolves a full 360 degrees in 55 minutes.

During the Winter the Schilthorn is the traditional start for the world longest down hill ski race the “Inferno” which started in 1928. During the summer the Inferno Triathlon finishes at the summit after a run up from the Lauterbrunnen valley.

City Zoo Basel

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11January2011

Zoo Basel, the non-profit zoo located within the city of Basel, Switzerland, is called affectionately as Zolli by Basel residents. Its main entrance is just outside of Basel’s downtown strip of Steinen and extends in the Birsig stream valley to Basel’s city border with Binningen, Basel-Country.

This is not only Switzerland’s oldest and largest zoo (by number of animals), but also the most visited tourist attraction with nearly 1.7 million visitors per year. Zoo Basel was ranked as one of the fifteen best zoos in the world by Forbes Travel in 2008 and in 2009 as seventh best in Europe by Anthony Sheridan from the Zoological Society of London.

The zoo had the first worldwide Indian rhinoceros birth and Greater flamingo hatch in a zoo. It also has had repeated breeding successes with cheetahs (18 births), okapi, Pygmy hippopotamuses, flamingos (over 400 hatches), and many others. Furthermore, every Somali Wild Ass (a donkey) in a zoo is related to the population in Basel, where this species zoological breeding program was started.

According to Zoo Basel, its “exhibits are designed not to reveal everything at the first glance and are planned to invite visitors to stop and make personal observations”.

June 24 is celebrated as the Beck Day in memory of Johannes Beck, the zoo’s first major donor and is open until 10pm. After 4pm, entry to the zoo is free of charge. Each year the Beck Day has several special attractions and events, like the Basel Gypsy-Jazz Group BELLEVILLE in 2008, special lunch packages from the Swiss retailer Coop, and the traditional placement of a flower bouquet at Johannes Beck’s memorial in the zoo. On Zolli night, the zoo stays open until midnight. The entry price is reduced after 5pm. Among the attractions are several meeting points where every half hour zoo officials give insights of the meeting points exhibit and animals that live in it.

Zoo Basel is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), and 18 other programs and organizations. In 1935, the forerunner of the WAZA (the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens or IUDZG) was founded in Basel.

Boat Trips on the Rhine Basel

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6January2011

The Rhine flows from the Swiss Alps to the Netherlands, and is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe, at about 1,232 km (766 mi), with an average discharge of more than 2,000 m3/s

Along with Danube, the Rhine formed most of the northern inland frontier of the Roman Empire and the importance of the river as the waterway carrying trade and goods deep inland dates back to those days itself, the many castles and prehistoric fortifications providing testimonial to the fact. River traffic could be stopped at these locations, usually for the purpose of collecting tolls, by the state that controlled that portion of the river. Rhine has also served as a defensive feature and has been the basis for regional and international borders.

A boat trip on the Rhine promises to be a unique experience on the white fleet of Basle passenger shipping enjoying the lock trips between Basle and Rheinfelden, tours of the town and harbour, entertainment during Diner Surprise, Captain’s Dinner, Fondue with music, Pasta Pasta …take me with captain.

This two hour trip on the cruise across the town and harbour lets you enjoy the attractive façades of the Basel old town, the Basel Minster, the old town walls by the St. Alban-Tal town quarter, the ‘Kleinbasler Rheinufer’ right up to the tripoint and the Basel Rhine harbour, the loading and unloading point for countless items of freight.

During the two and a half hour lock cruise from Basel to Rheinfelden along the Rhine’s banks on the Swiss and German side, two locks are negotiated in Augst and Birsfelden and several stations are operated, including one at Kaiseraugst, near the former Roman town of Augusta Raurica.

Famous Architectural sites in Basal

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4January2011

Basel, one of the most populous cities of the Switzerland is situated close to the German, French and Swiss borders. Due to its location near the three countries thus makes its culture diverse in terms of population. It is an important cultural center of Switzerland and has several museums and theaters there to enjoy from. Some of the popular center of attractions in the city as follows.

• Old Town Attractions: A good number of attractive sites in Basel are in around walkable area between the Basel Zoo and the Rhine. As most of the market remains closed in city on Sundays, thus it is a better day to visit museums and places around there. Basel and surroundings have about 20 museums, and as many of them even has a free opening hour at the end of the day.

• Galluspforte / St. Gallus Door: This shows the Gallus portal on the western façade, recognized as the most renowned Romanseque sculptural work in Switzerland. Its prominent façade also representing a good number of figures as one is the St. George killing the Dragon. From inside it has a lectern most precisely has been formed out from the sandstone from the 19th century, and a crypt with tombs of early bishops of Basel. On chares of some CHF you can even climb up the St. Martin’s tower that is about 62 meters. Another 65 meter high tower St .George’s tower was completed in 1492. From the tower one can have the spectacular views from over the Rhine, the city and Alsace and Black Forest at distance.

• Elisabethen: St. Elizabeth has been not given that importance as architectural site. However, made between 1857 and 1865 it was the first ever Protestant church building in Basel as followed by the Reformation and is know to be as the most important neo-Gothic church in Switzerland.

• Marktplatz: It is favorite spot in the city for fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, pastries, flowers and other things and items. It considerably collects more vendors there on Saturday morning.

• Rathaus (Town hall): It is located at Marktplatz, and is very beautiful renovated palace that is still in use for the official usage and purposes. However, you can enter there on your own or can join a guided tour as organized by Basel Tourismus that also provides the tour of many other sightseeing destinations and places.

• The Gates to the Walled City: A ring of fortifications around the old city was made after the great earthquake of 1356, to provide security for the then about 20,000 inhabitants of Basel. A number of these gates can be seen as the perimeter of what used to be the medieval city.

Basel City Information

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18November2010

Basel is one of the most populous cities in Switzerland and is located near the German, French and Swiss borders. Its location near the three countries makes its population diverse in terms of culture. It is an important cultural center in the country and has several museums and theatres. It is a small city that has influences from different parts of the world.

Most people refer to this city as Europe’s art center. There are about 40 museums in this city including the Kunstmuseum and Foundation Beyeler. The Basel Theatre also hosts several ballet and opera shows every year. Apart from the Basel Theatre, there are 25 other theatres in the city that stage plays and musicals. For art enthusiasts, Basel is like a dream come true with its countless galleries. There are about 40 cinema screens in Basel and this completes the city’s cultural life. This city is also popular for its famous artists who specialize in fine art. Each year, the city hosts Art Basel, a great fair to showcase contemporary art.

Basel is also thriving as a business hub and is considered to be one of the most important commercial business centers in Switzerland. It has a very fast economic growth rate largely due to its thriving chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Some of the chemical and pharmaceutical companies based in Basel are the leaders in the industry across the world. The research projects that these industries are involved in have played a significant role in the city’s economic growth. Some of the world’s leading providers in logistics services are based in the city.

The city’s economy has also been driven by its architecture. Basel is also becoming a financial center in the country because of the success of its industries. As a result of this success, the people who live in Basel have a very high standard of living. Education and research have also played a role in the economic success of the city. Some of the best schools in the country are based in Basel and Europe’s oldest learning institutions are found here. Basel’s University of Applied Sciences is proof that this city is a leader in innovative research.

This is a historic city that has the River Rhine flowing through it and there are several playgrounds and parks that offer safe and clean environments for people to relax in. Visitors to this city can also try out the various bars and restaurants. The shopping opportunities in Basel are unlimited and visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational and leisure activities. The quality of life in this city is wonderful and visitors can enjoy the same benefits the locals get.

Its proximity to Germany and France is also evident in the lifestyle and attitudes of the inhabitants. The city collaborates with its neighbors in various field including culture, environment, education and transport. This city is also considered to be a transport hub because of all the rail and road services, airport and ports that connect it to Europe and the rest of the world. The city’s airport is used to freight different goods to European countries while the River Rhine is used by ships. This is why it is a logistics hub for the country. The city’s airport is managed by both Switzerland and France and serves the two countries.

Basel also has some historic sites including churches and monasteries like the Basel Munster. Visitors can visit archaeological sites like the Gallo-Roman settlements and Alemanic burial field. The city also has some medieval buildings.The weather in this Swiss city is great and this makes it a great location for a holiday.