Time to plug something in my village – the one where I live, I don’t own it!

Every Sunday from 2pm until 5pm you can visit one of the smallest museums in the world – the mammoth museum in Niederweningen.

It celebrates the finding of a mammoth skeleton nearby, and aims to educate visitors in prehistory and also climate change, as the last Ice Age is the latest topic to be covered.

Niederweningen is located at the end of the S5 train line, so there’s really no excuse for missing it – we need your money!

Sadly you’ll need to speak German to get the most of the museum, but if you let me know you’re coming I might be able to pop down and help out!

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

We’ve had quite a lot of winter sports recently on TST, so here’s a traditional custom to be getting on with.

To be honest, the more I write about this country, the more I am convinced it’s a great (and diverse) place to live or visit.

Silvesterklausen takes place in Appenzell, particularly in the communes of Urnäsch, Schönengrund, Schwellbrunn, Waldstatt, Herisau, Hundwil, Stein, and Teufen.

Apparently (and I may well be wrong on this!) the idea is to distinguish between different types of Santa Claus – beautiful ones, ugly ones and the natural  or forest ones. And I thought there was only the one in the Coca-Cola sponsored suit…

The Chläuse (or Klause) are apparently based on a demonic cult that apparently merged with vegetation and fertility cults near Urnäsch, situated in the valley below Schwägalp.

It’s now become more widespread (as listed above) and Old New Year’s Eve, January 13, is the main cause for celebration. Something to do with the Julian calendar change apparently; Appenzell isn’t known for being progressive, women there have only had the vote for nearly 40 years…

If you’d like to get involved, or at least see strange men and boys dressed in costumes, pop along to one of the villages on 13 January; Urnäsch probably being the place to be.

The action starts at dawn, but there’ll be something to see all day.

See http://www.urnaesch-tourismus.ch/e/brauchtum/alter_silvester.htm for a better explanation of what it’s all about!

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Just a short post today on the Montreux Comedy Festival.

Montreux is usually known for jazz in summer, but it has also been hosting a comedy festival for ages.

Now I’m not sure if this week’s festival is the same one that used to award the Golden Rose to programmes such as Monty Python, and in fact I suspect it’s not. But it might be.

Isn’t that helpful?

Even worse, I don’t even know if the comedy will be in English!

The website appears to be only in French, so if you do parler Francais, it might be worth popping along.

Oh, and don’t forget to let me know, so I can give a more helpful update next year!

It’s being held in the Auditorium Stravinski and the Montreux Palace, both of which are unmissable on the main drag by the lake, accessible by train or any bus, well, the Montreux ones anyway.

The Festival runs from Tuesday 4 until Sunday 9 December.

Tel +41 (0)848 86 84 84 for further info, or www.montreuxfestivaldurire.ch

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

On the shores of Lake Lucerne, there is a very cute place called the Swiss Chalet. On the outside it looks like a normal restaurant hotel, but on the inside…

Actually, even on the inside it’s a good quality restaurant and hotel, it’s just when you discover some of the "speciality" rooms, that you begin to wonder what’s going on. Don’t panic, this isn’t going to get seedy!

First stop would be the Jaguar suite. Instead of a bed, there’s an old Jaguar, which you can sleep in. The hotel claims it’s a Mark II Jaguar, although it’s obviously a Mark 10, but let’s not criticize them for that.

From the photos it would appear that if you open the boot, there’s an attractive view of the lake, and what better way to start a morning than that?

There’s also a room with a rocking coach, and a Moulin Rouge suite, which sadly appears to have nothing more than a few Toulouse Lautrec style murals. You’d expect a trapeze at least!

But if you are after something more adventurous, the bridal suite offers private use of the hotel swimming pool during the night, complete with a gondola (naturally the seats have been replaced with a double bed) which lowers into the pool.

The pool is open to the other guests from 7am though, so clearly the proprietors don’t expect newlyweds to sleep in…

The hotel is run by a smart looking chap called Prince Joseph 1st, and he’s happy to send the hotel Rolls-Royce to the airport to pick you up should you feel the chalet merits a special visit.

Let me know how you get on!

Photos and Info : Schloss-Hotel **** Swiss-Chalet 
CH-6402 Merlischachen
Tel +41(0)41 854 54 54 www.schloss-hotel.ch

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

This weekend sees the judging of the cows by the Kloster in Engelberg on Friday 12th. Also there’ll be a small funfair for the little ones. Plus of course the obligatory beer and Bratwurst.

In Lenk, in the Berner Oberland,  the cows are due to be “moved” down the mountains, back to the village. Who could resist the sight of the most attractive cow being crowned “Miss Lenk”? Maybe the crowds eager to learn the winner of “Goat Supergirl”? You cannot make this stuff up!

Apparently there is a further “special attraction” in the form of an arts and crafts market, but frankly, I can’t see anyone being dragged away from the main competions. The action takes place on Saturday the 13th.

Further east, also on Saturday, Savognin on the Julier Pass, hosts a major sheep shearing event. You’ll get the familiar format of regional organic products being sold alongside, but you will get to find out what wool feels like (!) and how it is processed. Given that Savognin is miles from anywhere, I suspect this might just be an event for locals. Probably the highlight of their year.

Picture credits www.myswitzerland.com

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

OK, I’ll admit that I couldn’t resist it. You all seem to love cows so much that I’m pandering to your wishes by telling you about the next bovine event in the calendar.

Each year various towns and villages in Switzerland celebrate the return of their beloved cows from the rich mountain pastures.

It gets a bit chilly up in the hills in winter, and the cows don’t like snow that much, so in the autumn the cows and farmers come down to the huts in the villages. The event is invariable celebrated by dressing up;  the farmers in traditional blue smocks, and the cows are decorated with bunches of mountain flowers. And ludicrously large bells.

This weekend, the ceremony of choice takes place at Küblis, near Landquart (which those of you who have skied at Davos or Klosters may recall is where you leave the motorway if you are driving to the resort).

But it’s not just cows, oh no. There are family fun events, such as a market for alpine products (cheese, sausages and dried meat – a local speciality) a bob run, and lots of small animals for children to play with, all accompanied by the sound of alp horns.

And then there are the sheep, who also like to get in on the act. More cheese, and a shepherd’s bar will delight, but the highlight will undoubtedly be the sheep shearing competition on Saturday at 13:00.

If that’s not enough, then relish the selection of the Alpine King or Queen, determined by various competitions (obstacle course, juggling with walking sticks, whipping cream etc).

If you go, please let me know how you get on – I don’t think I can face the excitement!

The fun starts on 4th October and runs until Sunday 7th. Full details and picture credit: http://www.alpspektakel.ch/

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler