1936 On the Continent

hours more on the water, lasts only three or four hours longer while being considerably cheaper, and there are special trains run by a co-operative movement representing the Swiss hotels—the Swiss Hotel Plan—on which the journey takes practically the same time as by the short sea route. The railway system in Switzerland is very fine, but it is necessary to make numerous changes for practically all centres except those on the main line to Milan or the Grisons. For this reason it is actually more advantageous to travel to Bale and change there, as there is a very good train service all over the country from that city, and during the holiday season numerous special trains are put on for popular centres.
    In Switzerland is found some of the finest railway engineering in the world, and the Gotthard tunnel and Jungfrau railway are achievements of which any nation could justly be proud. The Swiss railway system is all-electric, and it is of interest that the wide use of electricity throughout the country, which obviates smoke and fumes from coal fires, is one of the causes of the singularly pureair. The railway carriages are built with particularly large windows so that the panorama can be enjoyed to the full.
    If you approach Switzerland via Ostend, the last big station before Bale is Mulhouse, which, until 1815, was Swiss, but now belongs to France.
    It has been our endeavour to arrange the information in this article in order to form a round tour covering the whole of Switzerland, but the point of approach and subsequent route can, of course, be varied to suit individual tastes. It is impossible to touch upon more than the principal centres, and to mention more than a few of the attractions of each, but the visitor should, after deciding on which part he will visit, take one of these districts and explore them at his leisure as some of the loveliest parts are those that do not gain several or even one star in guide-books.
Basle
    On Bale station there is a very fine buffet, and the traveller need have no hesitation in eating there. If there is a wait of any time before the next train Bale—also known as Basle or Basel—is well worth exploring. It is very old, dating back to Roman times, and was a very important town during the Middle Ages, when it played a leading part in Swiss history. Bale itself is situated on the Rhine, which soon afterwards leaves Switzerland, and the eleventh-century minster which is situated on a bluff overlooking the river offers a magnificent view from its terrace across the Rhine to the Black Forest. Near the minster is the university, which was founded in 1460, and amongst its professors have been Erasmus and Nietzsche. Another building which attracts much interest is the Gothic town hall in the market-place. This is all the visitor can see if he has only an hour or so to spare, but it is well worth while spending a few days in the city, roving through the old streets where many quaint houses can be found. Although once a walled city, there are now only three of the gates left. Bale can also serve as the starting-point for many excursions, including one by motor-boat to Augst, the Augusta Rauracorum of the Romans, where there are interesting remains.
    From Bale the railway runs through Rheinfelden, where some of the town walls and towers are still standing. For some time the line runs practically parallel with the Rhine, but branches off at the junction of the Aar, proceeding to Baden. This is a well-known spa and was popular as far back as the fifteenth century. An old history book tells us: “… the baths were most crowded at an early hour in the morning, and those who did not bathe resorted thither to see acquaintances with whom they could hold conversation from the galleries round the bathrooms, while the bathers played at various games or ate from floating tables. Flowers were strewn on the surface of the water, and the vaulted roof rang with music, vocal and instrumental.” All of which sounds most modern. There are a number of interesting excursions to various castles and villages near Baden. Our way now leads us to Zürich, the commercial capital of the country. This is one of the oldest towns, not only in Switzerland but in Europe, and the earliest settlement on the spot dates back to prehistoric times. The monastery was founded in the seventh century and was at one time very powerful. The river Limmat flows through Zürich and behind the quays on the right bank are some