Day 06 Switzerland-Bellinzona Furka Pass and Kandersteg

To get from Milan to Zermatt (Matterhorn), the shortest way is by the Simplon Pass Road via Domodossola, which is one of the best scenic drives in Switzerland by Frommer's. When the road is closed for the winter season, there is a vehicle train through the Simplon Tunnel. However, since we have much time on hand, we decided to take the longer way through the St Gottard Pass and Furka Pass (which are also listed as one the the scenic drives by Frommer's, the remaining 2 being the St Bernard Pass near Martigny and Bernina Pass near St Moritz). However, this route took much longer than we had expected.

Shortly after entering Switzerland near Como, we hit upon Bellinzona, famous for its three castles. An UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, they are officially listed as the Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzone, have been. The group is composed of Castelgrande, castle Montebello, castle Sasso Corbaro and fortified walls. The Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of fortified walls that protect the old city and connect to the Montebello. The third castle (Sasso Corbaro) is located on a isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two.

Following Bellinzona, we came to the St Gottard Pass. However, the pass is closed so we drove through the tunnel. After the tunnel, we are at the Uri Alps that traverses some of the most spectacular high Alpine Scenary in Switzerland. On the road there are three passes, the Susten Pass, Grimsel Pass and Furka Pass. A feat of 19 century engineering, the road twists and turns, makes tightly winding ascents and descents, crosses bridges over dramatically plunging valleys, and passes through tunnels cut into the rock. All along the route are spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, majestic glaciers and beautiful mountain lakes.

Unfortunately all the passes were closed but we managed to drive halfway up the Furka pass. Thereafter, it is a long circuitous but scenic way up through Altdorf, Interlaken and the vehicle train tunnel at Kandersteg before reaching Zermatt, the home of the Matterhorn, ending a tiring, but nevertheless spectacular one full day of driving through magnificent scenery.

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1 & 2. Castle Montebello at Bellinzona

3. Castelgrande at Bellinzona

4 to 12. Magnificant views of the Furka Pass

13. A church along the way to Kandersteg.

14. Beautiful scenary along the way to Kandersteg.

15 to 17. Blausee (Blue Lake) at Kandersteg, a beautiful lake surrounded by idyllic woods and moutains. The water in the lake is mirror-like, perfectly still and clear, allowing you to see to the bottom, where ancient fossilized tree trunks lie. Another lake near Kandersteg, Oeshinensee, is larger and more spectacular. However, one has to take a cable car up there. Due to time constraint and as it was already rather lake, we gave it a miss.

18 to 20. The 15km Lotchbergtunnel tunnel runs from Kandersteg to Goppenstein, providing a shortcut between the two greatest mountain ranges of Switzerland, the Jungfrau-Monch-Eiger and Matterhorn-Monte Rosa. The views from the train station are itself spectacular.