I have to thank my mother for sending me a link of a Dailymail article on Gelmerbahn, the steepest funicular railway in Europe. Knowing that it was roughly only two hours drive away made me convinced it had to be one of the day trips we had to do last summer.
It is always a beautiful drive heading towards any mountain in Switzerland. This one going through the Luzern countryside was no different.
The waterfalls, rivers, lakes and mountains we passed along the way made me feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful country many dream to visit.
The Gelmerbahn
Originally built to transport the heavy construction materials for the Gelmer dam, the Gelmerbahn is now open for those looking for an adrenaline rush.
With an inclination of up to 106%, this funicular is Europe’s steepest and one not to be missed. I was shocked to see how steep it actually was when we arrived.
True to my research, we were quite late having arrived sometime just after 9am. Tickets are sold out very quickly and you’d have to book your return time when buying your ticket going up the mountain. Tickets can also be purchased online here.
As there was roughly a 2 hour wait before our turn to board the funicular railway, we decided to have some lunch. We had a choice of staying up there for 30 minutes or 2.5 hours and opted for the 30 minutes option as otherwise we’d be home quite late that evening.
We had to cross the Handeck suspension bridge which is 70 meters above the Handeck Gorge to get to the other side where the restaurant was. The gorge was deep, the view of the valley was mesmerizing.
After lunch we strapped ourselves into our seats on the Gelmerbahn and got ready for the ride. The views kept changing as we ascended and so did the steepness of the funicular.
This is certainly not a ride for people who are afraid of heights.
We were greeted by the sound of the Alp Horn when we arrived at the top. A teenage boy was playing it and received a round of applause when he was done.
Many people were having a picnic. We quickly walked towards the lake.
A quick walk further on took us to the dam. We tried to make use of our 30 minutes as best as possible.
On our drive home, we were stopped by the parade of cows and goats coming down from the mountain also known as Alpabzug. This is a big Swiss tradition that marks the end of grazing time for the animals up in the mountains.
It was a beautiful day trip up another Swiss mountain.
Are you afraid of heights? Would you dare to get on the Gelmerbahn?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
For more travel inspiration for trips around Switzerland, click here.
