Let me introduce you to the Gotthard region—a slice of Switzerland that’s part historic marvel, natural wonder, and part workout disguised as a vacation. Nestled in the Alps, it’s where glaciers whisper their ancient secrets, tunnels defy physics, and goats shamelessly steal your snacks.

I came here looking for adventure, a touch of history, and maybe an Instagram-worthy selfie. What I found was blisters, stories I’ll be telling for years, and an alarming respect for Swiss cheese.

Act I: The Devil’s in the Details

The Gotthard Pass has been Europe’s main artery for centuries. Merchants, pilgrims, and armies slogged through this treacherous route, driven by ambition and a deep mistrust of Google Maps. At the center of it all is the Devil’s Bridge, a structure so legendary it comes with its own infernal backstory.

devils bridge

The legend goes like this: the villagers needed a bridge but lacked the know-how. So naturally, they called in the Devil. He agreed to build it but demanded the first soul to cross as payment. Clever villagers sent a goat instead. The Devil, not a fan of loopholes, hurled a boulder in fury. (Frankly, I’d have just demanded my consulting fee.)

Standing on the bridge, I marveled at its timeless design and the fact that it hadn’t been renamed “Goat Memorial Bridge.” History is weird like that.

Act II: Nature’s Gym Membership

If the Gotthard Pass is the region’s historical heart, its trails are the lungs. Lungs that you’ll need in excellent shape, by the way, because every hike here feels like a fitness test disguised as a scenic stroll.

Take my trek to Lake Lucendro. The guidebook called it a “moderate hike,” which I quickly realized was Swiss for “you might survive, but don’t count on it.” As I trudged uphill, wheezing like an old accordion, I questioned every life choice that led me to this point.

But then—oh, the payoff! The lake appeared, shimmering like a jewel cradled by rugged peaks. I collapsed on a rock, ate a sandwich, and tried to look contemplative for a photo while secretly hoping my legs wouldn’t mutiny on the way down.

on the way down I approached an old, what looked like a cattle stall or barn, being curious, I peeked through the cracks of the wooden walls, and what I saw almost freaked me out.. a 50mm canon, all rusty, but still facing SW, left over from the second world war! Camouflaged by a barn!

Canon Barn & Rock Camouflage

Of course, the wildlife here doesn’t care about your existential crises. Marmots chirped at me like gossiping neighbors, by the way. They make a great muscle & joint pain relieving ointment with the fat of the marmots) and ibexes surveyed my sweaty form with unearned superiority. And then there was the goat—a bold creature with no respect for personal space or property rights. After a tense negotiation involving my granola bar, we parted ways. I’m pretty sure he won.

Act III: Culture Shock (But in a Good Way)

Gotthard culture is a delightful mix of German precision, Italian flair, and Romansh mystery, all wrapped in a blanket of Alpine charm. And nowhere is this more evident than in the food.

In a tiny village inn, I was introduced to the holy trinity of Swiss cuisine: bread, cheese, and stories. The locals served up fondue with a side of folklore, including a tale about the Tschäggättä—mysterious Alpine spirits that roam the valleys in winter. Supposedly, they scare off evil spirits and the occasional tourist who overstays their welcome.

I also tried a local specialty, famous in the canton of Uri, the canton where you either start your journey through the Gotthard or end up starting from the Tessin, the Italian part of Switzerland.

Riis & Poor

The fondue itself was a revelation. Molten cheese, crusty bread, and the unspoken rule that dropping your bread into the pot meant you’d either sing or pay for everyone’s drinks. I didn’t drop my bread, but I may have sung anyway. The yodeling lesson didn’t hurt either.

Conclusion

The Gotthard region is many things: a gateway to history, a playground for nature lovers, and a test of your cardiovascular endurance. It’s where you can stand on a bridge built by (allegedly) Satan, share your lunch with an overly enthusiastic goat, and end your day with cheese-induced euphoria.

As I boarded the train home, sore but happy, I couldn’t help but smile. The Gotthard isn’t just a place you visit; it’s a place that visits you back—in the form of stories, laughter, and the occasional phantom muscle cramp.

So, pack your boots, bring your appetite, and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. And maybe keep an extra granola bar handy. You never know when you’ll meet a hungry goat.

 

Der Gotthard-Zander ist geboren und aufgewachsen im einwandfreien Quellwasser der Urner Alpen, das Trinkwasserqualität aufweist. In Erstfeld findet er in abgedunkelter Umgebung und bei bevorzugter Wassertemperatur mit leichter Strömung eine artgerechte Haltung vor.

 

NACHHALTIGKEIT

Das Futter des Gotthard-Zanders entspricht seiner natürlichen Diät und stammt aus nachhaltiger Produktion. Seine Aufzucht in geschlossenen Kreislaufanlagen ist nicht nur ökologisch nachhaltig, sondern lässt ihn von Belastungen mit Schwermetallen, Mikroplastik und Antibiotika unberührt.

Hier ist die Webseite zu der Zucht –

GOTTHARD-ZANDER
by Basis 57 nachhaltige Wassernutzung AG

Fraumattstrasse 30 | 6472 Erstfeld
Zentrale – 041 881 00 65  | info@basis57.ch
Verkauf – 041 881 00 71 | verkauf@basis57.ch
www.gotthard-zander.ch

Dear fellow citizens!

We live in the Canton of Uri. According to the founding history of the Confederation, the Eternal Confederation of the Confederates was sworn and sealed by us on the Rütli in 1291.

730 years later, Uri is a self-confident and independent state of the Confederation in the heart of Switzerland. In Switzerland where different regions, cultures, religions, and languages ​​gradually came together.

We all, not just the politicians, are meant to give Uri the stand as an independent, solitary, and open-minded face. We want to make our contribution to the Swiss Confederation, and in return, we benefit from federal services every day. Despite all the differences, there is a common will in Switzerland to stand by each other. That is what holds the Swiss nation together and what our prosperity and success are based on.

History tells us that we were most successful when we held together: the parts of the Land, city, and countryside, but also young and old, and when the strong supported the weak. Together, we have faced the difficult coronavirus situation in recent months. This required sacrifices and special operations. By standing together, we helped overcome the crisis.

In general, I see a positive attitude in the canton of Uri. There is a basic trust that it will go well! I am convinced that this positive attitude has helped us to survive the coronavirus situation. During this difficult time, as an economics director, in particular, I saw many positive examples of how our Uri companies are using the new situation and turning it into a positive one.

Let us reflect on confidence and solidarity on the federal holiday. I hope that we will increasingly emphasize and promote what connects in the next few years. Let’s try to break off dividing walls and remove stones. For me, that doesn’t mean that we always have to agree. But if we can assume that everyone involved wants only the best for our canton and for our country, then we should be able to emphasize the connection and build on it.

With this in mind, I wish you a happy federal holiday.

Sincerely,
Urban Camenzind, Chief Magistrate of the Canton of Uri, Switzerland

The Glacier World on Titlis! Winter Fun, Summer Fun, it’s all there on Titlis!

from Snowtubing to the Ice Flyer across the glacier, the Cliff Walk to a stroll through the Glacier Cave, then indulging in a meal or sweets in one of our restaurants at 3000 meters above sea level, the choices are yours!

In the summer, at Trübsee Alpine Lodge Station, you can have fun hiking, mountain biking, rowing on the lake, or have fun at the Titlis Adventure Park.

In the winter there is skiing and snowboarding, tobogganing, ice skating, snowshoe trails, and winter walking.

The world’s first fully revolving cable car transports you conveniently to the Titlis summit station.

For more information: titlis@titlis.ch  Ch-6391 Engelberg, Switzerland. PH:+41416395050

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or a mountain hike in the area, I recommend you make a stop at this restaurant.

 Norbert Koller and Torsten Hering are the new operators of this beautiful location, They did a great job remodeling inside and out, and the Marina look is a perfect theme being right on the edge of the lake.

Norbert handles the front of the house and Torsten is the chef preparing the great fares.

There is ample space for boat docking if you decide to cruise on the lake in your own boat and dock right in front of the restaurant to have lunch or dinner.

From the train station and cruise ship docks in Flüelen, it is only a 10-minute short walk along the lake to reach the restaurant, there is no parking by the restaurant, therefore you must walk to it, it is, however, a beautiful walk from the stations to the location.

I spent Father’s Day there with my family consisting of 21 in total, the food was perfect, well presented, and served efficiently. The menus were made of a wooden board, the pages attached to the board, and held together with a piece of driftwood from the lake, a great idea!

The menu items consist of items such as  Lamb Loin Portwine Sauce, Ossobucco over Saffron Risotto, Angus Sirloin Steak, Tuna Carpaccio, Pan Seared Branzino, (which was cooked perfectly) Grilled Octopus, Deep-fried Pike-perch from the lake and a variety of great Pizzas. My favorite is the Bruschetta Pizza, a nice, crusty bottom topped with pesto, olive oil, quartered date tomatoes, arugula, and buffalo mozzarella, I did not miss all that tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese at all!

What caught my attention, besides the great food and drinks, was how they served certain items, for example, the Ice tea was served in a small wine carafe, and the Bananasplit was splintered not split, and served in a glass mug, definitely easier to eat!  The Tiramisu was individually prepared in a nice ceramic square bowl. 

Overall I was impressed with the concept, they did a great job rejuvenating this location to what it really deserves and should be.

We wish them lots of success!

+41 (0)41 870 16 80

info@apertura-sonnendeck.ch

are a group of fortifications located around the town of Bellinzona, the capital of the Swiss canton of Ticino. Situated on the Alpine foothills, the group is composed of fortified walls and three castles named Castelgrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro. Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of walls that protect the old city and connect to Montebello. Sasso Corbaro, the highest of the three castles, is located on isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two.^[1] The Castles of Bellinzona with their defensive walls have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Pre-History and Roman era. Bellinzona 

has always occupied an important geographic location in the Alps. To the south, the Po valley is accessible by a lowland route down the valley of the Ticino river and by Lake Maggiore. … The town that grew up around the fortifications was known as Bilitio.

The fight over the Region

Under the control of the Visconti, trade flourished, and the city of Bellinzona grew. Even when an alternative route over the Alps, the Schöllenen bridge opened, traffic in the St. Gotthard increased to the highest levels ever.^[7] During the second half of the 14th century, a long wall, known as the Murata, was built across the entire valley of the Ticino, of which the bottom is about one kilometer wide at Bellinzona. This wall allowed Milan to protect and tax the trade route over the St. Gotthard Pass.^[4] While the city was controlled by Milan through the Visconti after 1340, the Visconti did not have a formal title and feudal rights until 1396, when they were granted by King Wenceslaus. However, the orderly growth of Bellinzona was threatened in 1402 when Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti died. In 1403, Bellinzona was taken under the control of Alberto di Sacco of Val Mesolcina. He held Bellinzona until 1419, when it was taken over by Uri and Obwalden, which had expanded into the Leventina Valley. Milan attacked the city three years later in 1422, after an offer to buy the city was rejected by the Swiss Confederation. The troops from Uri and Obwalden were quickly driven from the city and later defeated at the Battle of Arbedo on June 30, 1422. This defeat discouraged the expansionist intentions of Uri and its allies towards Lake Maggiore for a time.

My visit to Castelgrande

revealed a beautiful restaurant within the walls of the castle, nestled away in, what seemed like a wine cellar, was the restaurant which was connected to a larger restaurant towards the courtyard of the castle, during the summer, guests can enjoy food and beverages sitting in the open courtyard of the castle. The views over the entire Po valley are breathtaking.

Highlights

• Three castles – the medieval fortifications, with the castles of Castelgrande, Castello di Montebello, and Castello di Sasso Corbaro, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

° Villa Dei Cedri – a municipal art gallery with Swiss and Italian paintings from the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as contemporary art. There is a particular focus on artists from the local area.

• Old Town – in the area around the Piazza Nosetto, Via del Teatro, and Piazza del Governo, the Old Town boasts a wealth of beautiful merchants’ houses, stone gateways, balconies with wrought iron railings, and inn signs from a bygone era.
• Teatro Sociale – inspired by La Scala in Milan, the building is in the typically Italian Classical style and is the only theatre in Switzerland to have been preserved from the 19th century.
• Modern architecture in Bellinzona – in the Castelgrande, the architect Aurelio Galfetti has cleverly integrated a boldly designed restaurant, while the Convento delle Agostiniane on the Monte Carasso has been converted into a modern training center by the architect Luigi Suozzi.

When you visit Switzerland or the North of Italy, I recommend you put this site on your bucket list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castles_of_Bellinzona

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/bellinzona.html