31 July 2018
On our last day in Montreux, we decided to do a day trip to Saanenland in the western corner of the Bernese Oberland, about 1.5 hours by train from Montreux.
We took the 9.44 AM GoldenPass Panoramic train to Gstaad, the main village of the Saanenland. The ultra-modern trains that operate on the GoldenPass Panoramic line between Montreux and Zweisimmen have some unique features designed for sightseeing. In addition to being extremely comfortable, they are also fitted with large panoramic windows for passengers to enjoy a scenic train journey.
Soon after the train departed from Montreux, we had views of Lake Geneva and Montreux as our train zig-zagged its way up the mountain.
View of Montreux and Lake Geneva from the GoldenPass Panoramic train.
We could see the apartment that was our “home away from home” for the last 3 days in Montreux. It was easy to spot. It was the tallest building in the city, by the lake.
It was good that we sat on the right side of carriage, as it offered better scenery than the left side.
View from the GoldenPass Panoramic train as it heads towards Gstaad.
Our train passed through forests, little quaint Swiss villages and the occasional short tunnels as we headed towards Gstaad. Green pine covered mountains formed the backdrop.
Food and beverage service were offered on board the GoldenPass scenic trains. The menu was placed on each table between the seats. Besides the usual coffee, tea and snacks, one could also travel in style with red and white wines served on board.
Sample menu of the food and beverage service on the GoldenPass train.
Arriving at Gstaad from Montreux via the GoldenPass Panoramic train.
First glimpse of Gstaad.
We arrived at Gstaad at 11.05 AM, right on schedule. Gstaad is a charming village full of restored weathered-wood chalets.
A statue of a bear outside the Gstaad station served as a reminder that we are now in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Bern.
Pedestrian only shopping street in Gstaad.
The middle of the village features a picturesque pedestrian-only street bounded by numerous shops, restaurants, art galleries, and hotels. Some of these buildings are a few hundred years old, including the Hotel Olden and the Posthotel Rossli, the oldest hotel in Gstaad built in 1845.
Hotel Olden, built 1899.
Typical store in Gstaad.
The shops along the shopping street offer designer labels such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Prada, Rolex, Ralph Lauren and Cartier. It was strictly window-shopping only for us.
Gstaad is a popular ski resort frequented by the rich and famous. A famous resident of Gstaad is the actress Elizabeth Taylor. Her daughter commissioned a bronze statue and fountain called Rosie featuring a calf sipping at a stone trough, in honour of her mother.
A bronze statue of a calf (called Rosie) drinking at a stone trough and fountain, in front of the Posthotel Rossli, the oldest hotel in Gstaad built in 1845.
Other celebrities who lived in Gstaad include actress Julie Andrews and director Blake Edwards. She also donated a fountain and a duck statue, called Sitting Duck, created from a drawing by Edwards, which sits next to the pedestrian main street not far from Rosie.
Julie Andrew’s fountain called Sitting Duck at Gstaad.
A small church in the middle of the town.
Gstaad Palace – a luxury hotel on a mountainside overlooking the village.
The cow - favourite animal of the Swiss.
There were many cafes and restaurants in Gstaad. After browsing around, we finally decided to have lunch at the Restaurant Bar Rialto.
Excellent grilled veal at the Restaurant Bar Rialto.
Pizza Lebanese – a pizza that we tried at the Rialto.
Veal escalope with spinach.
The Rialto serves good and reasonably priced food. The friendly waiter offers excellent service. The terrace that we sat in was next to the pedestrian street. A perfect spot to watch people strolling on the promenade while we enjoyed our meal.
After lunch, we did a walk to the Saanen, a neighbouring village about 3.2 km away.
Typical view of Saanenland. Green meadows and alpine mountains.
Part of the walk from Gstaad to Saanen is on the path next to the Saanen River.
We stopped briefly to admire young girls practising their riding skills at a riding stable on our right.
Making an impromptu stop at the river.
As usual, Daniel could not resist putting his feet into the water.
The trail between Gstaad and Saanen is a very popular and easy hiking route, called the Philosopher's Way.
Walking past campgrounds, next to the Saanen River, on the way to Saanen.
Approaching Saanen.
Saanen Railway Station – small and prettiest train station I ever seen.
The icon of Saanen – the white dairy Saanen Goat.
Saanen is a quiet, rustic, sleepy village with much lesser visitors compared to Gstaad. There was not much to do within the village, except browsing at a few shops selling traditional handicrafts.
Village centre in Saanen with chalets dating back to the 15th to 18th century.
A small tea house in Saanen where we had our afternoon tea.
We made the mistake of not checking the schedule of the trains that will bring us back to Montreux until we had almost finished our afternoon tea. The frequency of the Goldenpass trains serving this route is approximately one per hour. We realised that the next train that leaves Saanen for Montreux would be in ten minutes’ time. We hurried to the train station, just in time to see the train pulling away from Saanen station. Swiss trains ran like clockwork and will arrive and depart within minutes of the schedule.
While waiting for the next train, due in over an hour’s time, we walked to the Saanen Airfield to watch gliders landing.
Saanen Airfield.
Walking back to Saanen Station to catch the 5.01 PM train back to Montreux.
Missing our earlier train in Saanen was a blessing in disguise. The next train we took at 5 PM was the GoldenPass Classic, instead of the GoldenPass Panoramic.
The “Classic” Golden Pass train is a replica of the elegant Belle-Époque trains. It offers the chance to experience a scenic train ride as it might have been in the old days when the famous “Orient Express” ran through Switzerland.
The cars have been refurbished or rebuilt with carved wooden decoration, rich fabric seats, brass fittings and bevelled and etched opal windows between the coaches.
Riding the GoldenPass Classic train back to Montreux.
The route and the scenery of both the Panoramic and the Classic are the same. On the way back to Montreux, we passed through beautiful mountain meadows of grazing cows, villages with ancient wooden farm chalets, pine forests, crossed rivers and views of Alpine peaks.
We arrived back in Montreux at about 6.30 PM. We headed towards the promenade near to our apartment and took a dip in Lake Geneva once again.
The weather in Switzerland had been unusually warm this summer and many were taking to the cool waters of the lake.
Taking a dip in the cool waters of Lake Geneva near our apartment in Montreux.
This was the last day of our stay in Montreux. The next day, August 1, is the National Day of Switzerland and we would be heading home via Lucerne to Zurich Airport on this day.
We were treated to a fireworks display over Lake Geneva at almost midnight, as the Swiss celebrated their National Day.
In a way, it seemed that Montreux was bidding us farewell.
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