In Switzerland, whether you want to see snow-capped peaks, rolling valleys or clear green lakes, you can get anywhere you want as long as you have a Swiss Transport System Pass, and the Glacier Express is also included in the pass.
Glacier Express is a sightseeing train that runs through the Swiss Alps, and it is also the most special one in the Swiss transportation system. It starts in Zermatt and ends in St. Moritz. The whole journey is nearly 300 kilometers, about 8 hours' drive, and the speed is less than 40 kilometers per hour. If you can get there in 2 hours at the speed of an ordinary train, the Glacier Express is several times slower, making it worthy of being "the slowest express train in the world".
This train with 270-degree glass windows has to pass through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. The exterior of the carriage adopts red and white of the Swiss flag as the main colors, and the interior is spacious, bright, clean and comfortable. There is a PAD on each seat, which displays the whole route in real time and marks every scenic observation point. The door glass at the joint can be rolled down, so that it is convenient to lean out of the window to take pictures and blow the air. The scenery outside the window is like a postcard, flashing by, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, lakes and grasslands swept away the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps.
Chur is the oldest city in Switzerland and the terminal of my Glacier Express. The scenic Chur is located in the narrow valley on the right bank of the Rhine, backed by the Alps. According to archaeological discoveries, there are traces of human activities in Chur from 15,000 years ago.
In the 3 rd century AD, ancient Rome established a province here. In the 6 th century, it was occupied by the Franks. As the only place from Italy to the Alps, the ancient city became a prosperous trade center. A fire in 1464 almost destroyed Chur, but fortunately some ancient buildings remain, including a famous monastery and the Palace of the Bishop of Catholic. After the end of the religious reform in the 17 th century, the Swiss Confederation became independent until the beginning of the 19 th century, when Chur became the capital of Graubunden.
The old city of Chur is well preserved, the ancient buildings with a long history are still in the Middle Ages, and the colorful exterior walls add more vivid strength. Winding alleyways connect every corner. The rolling mountains, full of peaks and green mountains, are beautiful.
There are nearly 50 fountains in the whole city of Chur, and there are also fountains flowing out continuously from the base of the Madonna in the small square, all of which are the melting water of the snow-capped mountains in the Alps. Locals proudly say that the water from these fountains and faucets can be drunk at will. In fact, not only in Chur, but also in the whole of Switzerland, there is no need to buy water. How can pure natural drinking water live up to it?
Compared with other ancient cities, Chur exudes a unique classical temperament, lives an undisputed life and is himself quietly. Through the alleys and into the fields, the vast green hills in the distance hold the old city in your arms, and you can encounter the pure scenery at any time. Whether hiking in summer or skiing in winter, Chur is an important stop for the Glacier Express and several other sightseeing trains, so it's excellent to have a rest.
