Ten unusual cable cars in Switzerland

With 60% of its territory covered by the Alps, Switzerland has built up a formidable ski lift experience over time. The Federal Office of Transportation now lists more than 1,800 cable installations, ranging from small cabins used for freight to cable cars serving major tourist resorts. Some of these cable cars also seem to be unique in the world. An overview of the coolest cable cars.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride to Zermatt, the highest

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The Matterhorn Glacier Ride loves records. This cable car is served by the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station at 3,821 meters above sea level, winning the titles of the highest cable car in Europe and the 3 highest cable cars in the world. Even better, the Crystal Ride cabins were designed by Pininfarina, the famous Italian designer behind the legendary Ferrari Testarossa and F40. Luxurious detail. thousands of crystals adorn the chambers.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride, Schluhmattstrasse 28, Zermatt. Open daily from 9am to 4.30pm (4pm November 1st to May 1st). Price: 120 CHF round trip.

Titlis Rotair in Engelberg, the roundest

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The Titlis Rotair, commissioned in 1992 to reach Titlis Station at 3,020 meters above sea level, is the world’s first cable car equipped with rotating cabins. The two chubby cabins slowly roll in on themselves, allowing the 80 passengers not to miss a sliver of the landscape of rocks and crevices. This ingenious system has been imitated. In 1997, the Swiss company Garaventa installed similar cabins to climb Table Mountain in Cape Town.

Titlis Rotair, Gerschnistrasse 12, Engelberg. Open daily from 8:30am to 5pm. Price: 96 CHF round trip.

Rugisbalmbahn in Engelberg, the most family-friendly

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The operation of the Rugisbalmbahn is as unique as it is original. after being installed in a small cabin, you need to call the Töngi family who are responsible for the cable car. Tony or his mother will then start the machines and you will arrive at the family farm located at an altitude of about 900 meters. A second identical cable car will then take you to Lüttersee, a picturesque mountain lake.

Rugisbalmbahn, Hinter Rugisbalm 1, Engelberg. Open daily as desired. Price: CHF 15 round trip to Lutersee.

Schilthornbahn in Mürren, the most sinophile

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For James Bond fans, the Schilthorn Cable Car is a must-see. The lodge actually gives access to Piz Gloria, an eagle’s nest perched at 2,970 meters in the Bernese Alps. This is the mysterious brain clinic of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the Spectre. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. And to get you in the mood, the first notes of the James Bond theme echo as the summit approaches…

Schilthornbahn, Lengwald 301, Stechelberg. Open daily from 7:25am to 5:55pm. Price: 108 CHF round trip.

CabriO in Lucerne, the craziest

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The journey to the top of the Stencerhorn is a real adventure. After a peaceful ride on an authentic 1893 cable car, expect a sudden change of era with the cabin providing the final ascent. Since 2012, CabriO is the only cable car in the world with an open terrace on the roof. Excitement is guaranteed when crossing the pillars.

CabriO, Stansstaderstrasse 19, Stans. Open daily from April to mid-November, 8:15am to 5:15pm (until 11pm, Fridays and Saturdays from May to mid-November and Thursdays from June to October). Price: 74 CHF round trip.

Dragon Ride in Lucerne, the most aerial

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There are two solutions to reach the top of Pilatus overlooking Lucerne: the slow cog train from Ämsigen or the dazzling Dragon Ride from Frakmuenteg. This cable car, which reopened in 2015, traverses a vertical drop of 650 meters in just 3 minutes and 39 seconds. The all-glass cabin takes the structure of airplane cabins, giving the impression of flying over Lake Lucerne. Dizziness.

Dragon Ride, Schlossweg 1, Kriens. Open daily from 9am to 4.45pm from November 5 to April 14 (until 3.45pm from April 15 to October 23). Price: 72 CHF round trip.

Luftseilbahn Oberaxen in Flüelen, the most rustic

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Dominating the south of Lake Lucerne, the Oberaxen cable car offers a spectacular 7-minute journey to the Fluellen pasture, 950 meters above sea level. The 2 cabins are kept to a minimum and can accommodate only 4 people each. There is nothing touristy about the installation. the cable car is primarily used to transport equipment to otherwise inaccessible farms. Another facet of Switzerland.

Luftseilbahn Oberaxen, Axenstrasse 100, Fluelen. Open each day with symbols. Price: 15 CHF round trip.

Twinliner in Samnaun, the most imperial

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The TPH180 Twinliner, built in 1995 in just 5 months, was the first cable car in the world to operate double-decker cabins. Each cabin can transport a maximum of 180 people at a time from the village of Samnaun to the Alp Trider Satel, the gateway to the Swiss-Austrian ski area of ​​the Silvretta Arena, at 2,500 meters above sea level. Boarding and disembarking is done in 2 aisles, which allows to optimize the turnaround time.

Bergbahnen Samnaun, Bergbahnstrasse 8, Samnaun Dorf. Open daily from 9am to 4.30pm. Price: 28 CHF round trip. :

Selunbahn to Alt St. Johann, more open

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With its metal casing, wooden walls and narrow benches, the Selun cable car looks like a soap box suspended in the air. This unusual vehicle takes about ten minutes to reach the mountain pasture of Vorder Selun, the starting point for many hikes through the canton of Saint-Galle. Spring departures are available on request by simply calling the operator on +41 (0)79 537 77 20.

Selunbahn, Starkenbach, Alt St. Johann. Open daily from May 1 to June 19 by request. From June 20 to October 31, departures at fixed times. Price: 18 CHF round trip.

Adlisville-Felsenegg cable car, the most urban

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South of Zurich, the LAF connects the small town of Adliswil on top of the Felsenegg hill in 5 minutes. At 805 meters above sea level, this viewpoint offers a 360° panorama of Zurich, its lake and the peaks of central Switzerland. The cable car also has the distinction of being integrated into Zurich’s urban transport system. Therefore, you can buy your ticket directly on the website of Zurich’s transport authority, ZVV.

Luftseilbahn Adliswil-Felsenegg, Zelgstrasse 80, 8134 Adliswil. Daily from 8:05 AM to 10:05 PM (9:05 AM to 10:05 PM on Sundays). Price: CHF 8.80 return.

Source: Le Figaro

Alexis

bunatimes.com