It is the oldest mountain railway in Europe and, in 2021, it turns 150 years old. The Monte Rigi Railway, in Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful there is due to the view you can enjoy once you arrive on top of Mount Rigi, at 1800 meters above sea level. This mountain, in fact, cannot help but conquer all visitors with a breathtaking 360° view of the Alps, 13 lakes and the entire Swiss Mittelland, up to Germany and France.
The history of Rigi Railway It's very interesting. In 1871, Europe's first mountain railway, a standard gauge and cogwheel tourist line, reached this incredible scenic spot. Today there are two rack railways (from Vitznau and from Arth-Goldau) that reach Rigi Kulm with its hotel at the summit. It should be known that at one time two competing companies tried to win the favor of visitors to Rigi.
One rack railway (opened in 1875) made the Rigi slope accessible from Arth-Goldau, while the other, the first rack railway in Europe (built in 1871), climbed up the slope from Vitznau. Only in 1990 did the two companies demonstrate their collaboration, with the creation of two exchanges at Rigi Staffel. Subsequently, the two companies merged to create the current "Rigi-Bahnen".
Source: Switzerland Tourism / Silvano Zeiter
Those were the years, in the second half of the 19th century, in which numerous tourist railways were created in Switzerland. Among these, one was studied with the aim of reaching the summit of Mount Rigi, which had long been a destination for nature lovers, attracted by the panoramic beauty of the peak, a natural watershed between Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug.
The line was operated by steam until 1937, when the line was electrified with direct current. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary, you can take a nostalgic journey aboard a steam train with the "steam locomotive no. 7“. This locomotive, built in 1873, was retired, only to be welcomed to the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne in 1959. The locomotive will, in fact, be restored and put back into operation, giving the possibility of undertaking exclusive runs from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm on the Queen of the Mountains from June to October.
The “Mount Rigi – Queen of the Mountains” festival will be held in July and visitors will be able to discover the history of the mountain and the people who live there, with their folklore, their music and dances, their alpine myths and legends. Including the royal visit of Queen Victoria and the creation of the first mountain railway in Europe which first ascended the Queen of the Mountains way back in 1871.
Source: ©RIGI BAHNEN AG
Mount Rigi is one of the most loved mountains in Switzerland. More than one hundred kilometers of hiking and walking trails start from here. South of Rigi Staffel, hikers can follow the route of the former Vitznau-Rigi railway up to the point where the route separates from the railway line, reaching, through the meadows, up to the Chänzeli viewpoint (at 1464 metres). From here you can admire the full view of Lake Lucerne, which is divided into four branches. By tackling another short climb it is possible to reach the pretty car-free village of Rigi Kaltbad, famous for its spa center designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta, the same one who built the MART in Rovereto and dozens of other buildings around the world .
For the lazy ones, there are some cable cars that take you directly to refuges and restaurants at the top, such as the Hinterbergen, where you can enjoy the view offered from the sunny restaurant terrace or the Wissifluh, starting point of numerous excursions. And for those who want to make the most of the view, the advice is to stay at least one night at the Rigi Kulm-Hotel, a two hundred year old hotel perched on the queen of the mountains. With only 33 rooms equipped with every comfort you can spend a super romantic weekend on the roof of Europe.
Source: ©RIGI BAHNEN AG - Venzin+Bühler
Source: Switzerland Tourism / Silvano Zeiter
