Here's Catherine stopping for water in the tiny Swiss village of Ardez. Do you see the intricate designs on the houses in the background? The artwork is called sgraffito which literally means "to scratch". The sgraffito technique involves scratching away a superficial layer to reveal an underlying layer/color. Some of the designs are quite exquisite. You'll find this artwork on homes throughout the Engadine region of eastern Switzerland. The water fountain is also worth mentioning. You'll find more than 2,000 of these fountains spread out across Switzerland. Nearly every village has one, and they're extremely handy for keeping hikers, cyclists and alpine wanderers topped up with hydration.
Have you ever hiked the Swiss Engadine? Put it on your bucket list right now!
Fourcla Pass in the Engiadina Ota (Upper Engadine), Switzerland.
Ok. This year hasn't been the greatest for traveling to the Alps. (Major understatement.) But that doesn’t mean that we can’t dream! Have you seen our village-to-village hiking tour in the Swiss Engadine? Check out the link below, and be sure to put the Engadine on your bucket list for future travel. The Engadine is incredible! https://www.thecatandthepeacock.com/engadin-inn-to-inn-hike
#DreamNowTravelLater
Place Me Somewhere In The Valais!
A hiking trail weaves between wooden chalets with slate rooftops above the village of Zermatt. The Matterhorn stands proudly in the background—Canton Valais, Switzerland.
Place me somewhere in the Valais, ‘mid the mountains west of Binn,
West of Binn and east of Savoy, in a decent kind of inn,
With a peak or two for climbing, and a glacier to explore—
Any mountains will content me, though they’ve all been climbed before—
-A.D. Godley (From a poem called “Switzerland” published in his book Second Strings in 1902.)
(Photo credit: Andrew Mayovskyy/Shutterstock)
Swiss Pic of the Day: Hiking Beneath the Breithorn
Here's a photo of the Breithorn (13,661 feet / 4,164 meters) from one of our hikes above the town of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The scene brings to mind a quote by a professor from Bern named Benedikt Marti. In 1557 Marti wrote, "Who would not admire, love and willingly visit the Alps? I am never happier than on mountain crests, and there are not wanderings dearer to me than those in the mountains."
We concur!
You definitely want to visit this chapel the next time you hike in Switzerland
This little chapel is called Maria zum Schnee (Maria of the Snow), and it’s one of the prettiest chapels in Switzerland. Built in 1697, and perched on a rocky outcropping called the Messfluh at an elevation of 1950 meters, this little Kapelle (Kapelle is the German word for chapel), occupies a commanding view of some of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps. The prominent mountain peak in the background is called the Fletschhorn (3985 meters) which is part of the Pennine Alps, home of many of Europe’s tallest peaks. On a sunny day, it’s an amazing experience to hike to this chapel and have a picnic, admiring the panoramic views of the Swiss Alps. To the right of this photo (just out of the frame) is the famous Matterhorn which rises above the village of Zermatt. You cannot drive to the Kapelle Maria zum Schnee. You have to hike to it or take a cable car. Of course hiking to this chapel is highly recommended. The surrounding village of Bettmeralp, with its cozy wooden chalets and sun-drenched balconies, is a delightful spot for hikers to unlace their boots, relax for a bit, and savor the Swiss Alps.
Would you like to discover the best regions for hiking in Switzerland? Click here.
