Rarogne, Valais, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – The world’s third longest train tunnel officially opened Friday. The 34.6km stretch between Rarogne in canton Valais and Frutigen, Bern, took eight years to complete. Le Temps recalls the history of its construction in a photo gallery. Longer tunnels: Sai-kan in Japan and the Eurotunnel. The new Gotthard […]
Loetschberg Tunnel opens Friday after 8 years work
Loetschberg, Valais, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) – The Loetschberg train tunnel opens officially Friday after eight years of work. The new tunnel creates an opening between the north and south sides of the Alps to the north of the Rhone River. The official ceremonies Friday are followed Saturday by the public opening and seven months of […]
Swiss keep moving without changing the distance traveled
Bern, Switzerland (Le Matin, Fre) – The Swiss in 2005 traveled 19,000 kilometres on average, the same distance they traveled in 2000, when the government last checked. The distance covers travel inside and outside the country and amounts to a trip around the world. The good news, reports the government, is that the use of […]
Hot winds, lakeside picnics for Swiss Mother’s Day
Lake Geneva region (RSR, Fre) – Mother’s Day weekend was generally hot in the region, with a Swiss high of 28.4 registered in Evionnaz, Valais, and highs of 24.6 in Geneva and 23.3 in Lausanne. The Alps and some other areas were hit by high winds, with the foehn gusting up to 100 kph in […]
“Terrific Terroir” on Geneva’s cellars open day
by Gail Mangold Vine (reprinted with permission from CFS Communication) Editor’s note: Gail Mangold Vine is the editor of Terrific Terroir and of Touring Geneva Wine Country. Terrific Terroir, 24 pages, published 9 May, is available for free from tourism offices in Geneva, Payot Chantepoulet, Off the Shelf bookstore and some 200 other distribution points. The […]