Welcome back to our channel following our adventures and travels in our VW camper van.
We start today’s episode at the triborder between Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
We spend a lovely peaceful night at a small aire behind a hotel and restaurant (Waldgasthaus am Schwartzenbruch) in Allenbach in Germany after visiting the Windklang Sculpture at Erbeskopf.
The next day we call at another viewing platform, Vogteiturm in Loßburg with its commanding views over the Black Forest.
Next up is the Kreuzfelsenkurve, a magnificent hairpin bend in a busy duel carriage way.
We spend our second night in Germany at the campsite Weiherhof on the shores of Lake Tittisee.
On day three we head to Switzerland, calling at the border to buy our motorway vignette and to cover the Lazer Lamps as you have to have them covered when you don’t need them in Switzerland.
For our first night we found a lovely spot on Park 4 Night just outside Pratteln where we had a peaceful night.
The following morning we are up early to catch the cogwheel railway up to the summit of Mount Pilatus from Alpenbach.
It’s the steepest cogwheel railway in the world with gradients of up to 40%. It was initially commissioned in 1889, the trains have recently been replaced and the modern ones take just under half an hour to get you to the top. You can still book the old trains on special weekends.
The summit of Mount Pilatus has a visitor centre with shops and restaurants and is quite busy at times as you can also catch a cable car up from the other side at Kriens.
There are three small summits for you to reach. The furthest one Tomlishorn is along a sturdy path with a gentle incline and a short steep section at the end. The other two summits are reached by steps and, although short are quite a pull up, but the views on a good day are stupendous.
We of course had to try the coffee, which was at best adequate but the cherry and mango pies more than made up for it!
More details can be found at the website Pilatus.ch which also has live webcams of the views.
Leaving Pilatus we travelled along route 8 with its sweeping bends and spectacular views of the waterfalls and lake Brienz. Finally arriving in the gorgeous valley of Lauterbrunnen in the Jungfrau region, our home for the next few days.
5 сен 2024
