Tag Archives: Europe

Switzerland, Zermatt: Hiking, Matterhorn & Gornergrat

The Arrival

Flight-Train-Bus-Train

Dear visitors of Mademoiselle Le K: Blog-Trotter, I missed you! I’m back in the blog and also in the beautiful Swiss Alps: my first time in the canton of Valais more exactly! On the way to Zermatt. The trip was a bit long, due to a technical problem of the express train taken at Zurich airport.

I got on the next train, without checking it was not an express train! Then, there was a bus section between two train stations, because of a significant snowfall. The landscapes are gorgeous and trains very comfortable.

Moreover, I recommend to take the Swiss Pass that allows unlimited train, coach and boat trips, valid for the duration of your stay. And perfect in case of unforeseen.

The Hiking

Breathtaking Views

We are in the highest ski area in the Alps. But I will not ski today. We leave the village for a winter hike through ski slopes and postcard hamlets.

First step: 40 minutes walk crossing the slopes from Sunnegga to Findeln (without any difficulty). We will have lunch at Findeln. Then we will continue until Zermatt: more and less one hour of slope with a good uneven and part in the woods and frozen snow.

The landscape beauty makes me super euphoric, even if I can feel my glute muscles work hard! I am convinced in hiking, walking down always requires more effort (lol)!

    

Feeding The Body And Mind

Panoramic Lunch

on the mountainside at the Findlerhof restaurant. We decided to stay out on the terrace to enjoy the 180 degree view. But the weather is changing.

Time to have my tuna sashimi with green salad (what an idea! Light meal after an evening of fondue orgy!). I’m freezing cold (photos below)! LOL!

  

Magic Gornergrat

An Ocean of Snow

If you like trains, you should definitely try the Gornergrat Bahn. The Gornergrat is the third largest glacier in the Alps.

When we take on the train, the weather is bad in Zermatt. I was afraid that it was also covered, once arrived at destination. But as the train goes up, the sky is more and more blue with a bright sun. 

  

The Famous Matterhorn

A Very Capricious Friend!

The Matterhorn is a real diva! In the early morning we reached the Rothorn to enjoy a direct view of the Matterhorn and the landscape stretching from the peak of the Dufourspitze (the highest peak of the Swiss Alps) to the Weisshorn.

But the clouds decided otherwise, not once I could admire the summit of the Matterhorn. Ditto this afternoon (photos above and below), this time from the Gornergrat to 3100 meters.

  

The Hinterdorf

 

A Walk In Past

I really enjoyed walking in the old Zermatt, the Hinterdorf, with granaries, barns and stables built between the 15th and 19th centuries. The set is quite small, but has a lot of character. 

And for those who need their dose of shopping, do not worry, you will find your happiness in Zermatt!

  

The Cultural Break

The Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis

Small museum in the center of the village, close to the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (soon an article on the blog and last photo below).

I discovered many things about the Matterhorn and life of the Zermatt inhabitants in previous centuries, including the evolution of materials and technics. Very interesting, without being boring.

To be continued …

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Zermatt TourismValais, www.MySwitzerland.comSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Findlerhof, Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Zermatt Tourisme, Valais/Wallis promotion, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS et Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. Thank you to the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. As always, these are my opinions.

Suisse, Zermatt : randonnée, le Cervin et le Gornergrat

L’arrivée

Avion-Train-Bus-Train

Vous m’avez manqué! Je suis de retour dans le blog et dans les superbes Alpes suisses : ma première fois dans le canton du Valais plus exactement! En route pour Zermatt. Le trajet a été un peu long, dû à un problème technique du train express pris à l’aéroport de Zurich.

Je suis montée dans le train suivant, sans vérifier qu’il était un omnibus! Puis, il y a eu un tronçon en bus, entre deux gares de train, à cause d’une importante chute de neige. Les paysages sont grandioses et les trains très confortables. 

D’ailleurs je vous recommande de vous munir du Swiss Pass qui permet des trajets illimités en train, car et bateau, valable le temps de votre séjour. Parfait en cas d’imprévu.

La randonnée

Des vues à couper le souffle

Nous sommes dans le plus haut domaine skiable des Alpes. Mais je ne skierai pas aujourd’hui. Nous partons pour une petite randonnée hivernale à travers pistes de ski et hameaux de carte postale.

Première étape : de Sunnegga jusqu’à Findeln, environ 40 minutes (sans difficulté). Nous déjeunerons à Findeln. Puis nous continuerons jusqu’à Zermatt : près d’une heure de pente avec un bon dénivelé, dont une partie dans les bois, avec une neige gelée par endroits.

La beauté du cadre me rend euphorique, même si mes fessiers travaillent dur. Je suis convaincue qu’en rando, la descente demande toujours plus d’effort (lol)!

    

Nourrir le corps et l’esprit

Déjeuner panoramique

à flanc de montagne, au restaurant Findlerhof. Nous avons décidé de rester dehors, en terrasse pour profiter de la vue à 180 degrés. Mais la météo est changeante.

Le temps de recevoir mes sashimi de thon et salade verte (quelle idée! Journée light après une soirée d’orgie de fondue!) : je suis transie de froid (photos ci-dessous) ! LOL!

  

Magique Gornergrat

L’impression de partir au bout du monde!

Si vous aimez les trains, vous devez absolument tester le Gornergrat Bahn. Le Gornergrat est le troisième plus grand glacier des Alpes.

Lorsque nous prenons le train, il fait mauvais à Zermatt. Je craignais que ce soit aussi couvert, arrivée à destination. Mais au fur et à mesure que le train monte, le ciel est de plus en plus bleu et le soleil présent.

  

Le fameux Mont Cervin

Très capricieux l’ami!

Le Mont Cervin est une diva! Le matin tôt, nous avons gagné le Rothorn, pour profiter d’une vue directe sur le Mont Cervin et du paysage qui s’étire du massif de la Pointe Dufour (le plus haut sommet des Alpes Suisses) jusqu’au Weisshorn.

Mais les nuages en ont décidé autrement, pas une fois j’aurai pu admirer le sommet du Cervin. Idem cet après-midi (photos ci-dessus et ci-dessous), cette fois depuis le Gornergrat à 3100 mètres.

  

L’Hinterdorf

  

Une ballade dans le temps

J’ai beaucoup aimé me promener dans le vieux Zermatt, l’Hinterdorf, avec ses greniers, granges et écuries construits entre le XVe et le XIXe siècle. L’ensemble est assez restreint, mais a énormément de cachet.

Et pour celles et ceux qui ont besoin de leur dose de shopping, n’ayez crainte, vous trouverez votre bonheur à Zermatt!

  

La pause culturelle

Le Musée du Cervin

Petit musée au centre du village, à deux pas du Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (bientôt un article sur le blog et dernière photo ci-dessous).

J’y ai passé une petite heure à découvrir tout ce qui se rapporte au Mont Cervin et à la vie des habitants de Zermatt aux siècles précédents. L’évolution des matériaux et techniques. Très intéressant, sans être assommant.

A suivre…

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Zermatt TourismeValais, www.MySwitzerland.comSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Findlerhof, Musée du Cervin

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Un grand merci à Zermatt Tourisme, Valais/Wallis promotion, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS et Swiss Travel System (STS) pour cette superbe invitation. Merci aussi au Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Germany: Arty Weekend in Düsseldorf

  

Day 1 : Gallery & Street Art Tour

After Berlin, Cologne and the Black Forest,  I’m on my way to Düsseldorf! As always, I’m not fully awake. And I forgot to download the app of b-europe to check in real time my train schedule. I find my buddies in the Brussels-Düsseldorf Thalys! 2h15 of laughter with cool mates (yes, it happens especially when I’m tired, lol!). And here we are at Düsseldorf station, ready to discover the city!

As soon as you arrive, I recommend you to buy the DüsseldorfCard for free public transport and discounts in museums and attractions. 

After a late lunch, we have an appointment with Klaus Rosskothen, the owner of the Pretty Portal Gallery specialized in street art artists. Photos above: on the left, a painting by the Irish artist FinDAC. And on the right, a painting by Kurnachzehn. Guided by Klaus, we discover many Street art works in the district where his gallery is located. End of the tour around 16h30-17h. Awesome overview of a less touristy Düsseldorf!

Polar temperature! Of course Brussels is not the Caribbean either, but all the team had a big shock with the cold here, lol! I go to the hotel to warm up (with a good hot shower) and get ready for dinner, we have an appointment at 18:30. 

  

Dusseldorf By Night 

Dinner at Küzert

At night everything is more beautiful, starting with this huge wheel (photo above). The team gathered again, I discovered the very lively cool atmosphere of the crowded streets of Altstadt, the old town. At Kurze Straße 18-20 is the Brauerei Kürzer, a traditional brewery on the Rhine, where we will have dinner tonight.

Outside, standing people drink glasses of beer. Ditto indoors where we sit down to eat (photos below). I like the contemporary setting, the mix of generations and genres with hipster waiters and a soundtrack for picky clubbers (with fine and demanding hearing, lol!).

Difficult for us to leave as the place was really cool! About the tasting of the beer produced by this brewery? Er, how can I tell you, I do not drink any beer, oops! But very good I enjoyed the chicken wraps. 

  

Back To The Hotel

After a long walk, we finally got back to the Hotel Friends Dusseldorf, with an awesome (Instagram) bohemian interior design of the common areas (left picture above and pictures of the photo montage below). It feels like being in Portlandia (the series) …

The + : The photogenic hotel where to have a drink, with music live and DJs sets. Located near the central station of Dusseldorf, 5 to 10 minutes walk or a bit less in tram. Very good breakfast. It feels good and friendly.

The – : the neighborhood is not reassuring at night. I didn’t like the interior design of my room (except the small modern clean bathroom). I think the common areas are the best.

Jour 2: Archi & Contemporary Art

Another Day, Another Weather

We take the new metro to the commercial complex, Kö-Bogen designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind, facing the Hofgarten Park. Great mix of modernity, heritage and nature! I’d have liked to have more time to look at all the details of the building facades and stroll in the park.

And  viisiting the Gerhy buildings… We head by foot to Altstadt, the old town. 

  

A Small Museum

A Concept

As the small group walks towards the Rheinturm, I stop at the small museum of contemporary art, opened in 2007. I liked the architecture and exhibition spaces of the KIT – Kunst im Tunnel.

Photo above: in the foreground, a composition of Rosa Sarholz. Photo below: the further you go towards the black wall of the bottom, the more the floor tends to reach the ceiling. If we want to continue to move towards the “black board” of Marcel Stahn, we must stoop more and more. I stopped when my head touched the ceiling.

On the photo montage above: photos on the left, the main exhibition hall. Photo on the right (top): a flat screen – table, where hands are exchanging photos and flipping through magazines. An art work of Fabian Ruzicka.

Then we will have a late brunch in Frida, the warm tapas bar with Mexico colors on walls. Cosy atmosphere, nice interior design and impressive salad size!

Have a Nice Weekend Everyone !

  

Photos & vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

To make a train reservation: the website of b-europe , or the b-europe appli.

Düsseldorf Tourist Board

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to b-europe & the Düsseldorf Tourist Board for this lovely invitation. As always, these are