LAKE WALEN (WALENSEE)
Most visitors to Switzerland would not expect to find Mediterranean-like climate during their visits except perhaps in the Tessin, the Italian-speaking part of the country. Yet, they will also find palm trees growing on the shores of the Lake of Geneva. One spot that surprises even most Swiss, is the little town of Quinten on the Lake of Walen in St Gallen. The town can only be reached by boat or on foot. It is well protected from the elements & you’ll find grapes, kiwi, & figs flourishing there. It often is called the Riviera of Eastern Switzerland. This beautiful mountain lake links the cantons of St Gallen & Glarus. The Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt loved the area and composed a solo piano piece in recognition, “Au lac de Wallenstadt.” The Murgtal Valley with its three lakes is also a major destination for hikers, and the lake with its strong winds make it a paradise for windsurfers.
The Canton of Ticino is well-known for its chestnut forests & related festivals. Surprisingly, because of its acidic soils & warm Walensee climate, the area around Murg is also ideally suited for the growth of sweet chestnut trees. These sweet chestnuts are perfect to make marron glacés (candied & glazed sweet chestnuts) or one of the Swiss specialties: vermicelles. Formed into sweet spaghetti-like strings, the chestnuts are served with whipped cream and meringues & frequently topped with a cherry.
In past spotlights we have highlighted many great engineering feats such as mountain passes, tunnels, cable cars, and incredible hydro-electric dams. Many of these are quite visible & well-known. Others, like the Linth Canal which connects the Lake of Walen with the Lake of Zürich are often overlooked. Prior to its construction in the early 1800s, the Linth River regularly flooded the area turning it into a huge marshland. The river regulation put an end to the flooding, lowered the level of the lake by five meters & resulted in a significant increase in farmland.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above.
Most visitors to Switzerland would not expect to find Mediterranean-like climate during their visits except perhaps in the Tessin, the Italian-speaking part of the country. Yet, they will also find palm trees growing on the shores of the Lake of Geneva. One spot that surprises even most Swiss, is the little town of Quinten on the Lake of Walen in St Gallen. The town can only be reached by boat or on foot. It is well protected from the elements & you’ll find grapes, kiwi, & figs flourishing there. It often is called the Riviera of Eastern Switzerland. This beautiful mountain lake links the cantons of St Gallen & Glarus. The Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt loved the area and composed a solo piano piece in recognition, “Au lac de Wallenstadt.” The Murgtal Valley with its three lakes is also a major destination for hikers, and the lake with its strong winds make it a paradise for windsurfers.
The Canton of Ticino is well-known for its chestnut forests & related festivals. Surprisingly, because of its acidic soils & warm Walensee climate, the area around Murg is also ideally suited for the growth of sweet chestnut trees. These sweet chestnuts are perfect to make marron glacés (candied & glazed sweet chestnuts) or one of the Swiss specialties: vermicelles. Formed into sweet spaghetti-like strings, the chestnuts are served with whipped cream and meringues & frequently topped with a cherry.
In past spotlights we have highlighted many great engineering feats such as mountain passes, tunnels, cable cars, and incredible hydro-electric dams. Many of these are quite visible & well-known. Others, like the Linth Canal which connects the Lake of Walen with the Lake of Zürich are often overlooked. Prior to its construction in the early 1800s, the Linth River regularly flooded the area turning it into a huge marshland. The river regulation put an end to the flooding, lowered the level of the lake by five meters & resulted in a significant increase in farmland.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above.
