1936 On the Continent

of the valley among pine and larch woods, in the depth of which is the beautiful, dreamlike tree-encircled Lake of Cauma. These hills have been formed by a landslip in prehistoric times, and rambling along their wooded slopes many clear pools, which make delightful bathing places, will be discovered. From Reichenau the Disentis line runs through the Grisons Oberland, in which lies Ilanz, one time the capital of the Lia Grischia, and which still has some quaint old houses.
    From Disentis the Furka railway proceeds to Sedrun and Andermatt, but this journey is not particularly interesting, so we will go on to Coire from Reichenau. This was the Curia Rhaetorium of the Romans, and much of interest will be discovered on a ramble through the streets. Parts of the cathedral date back to the eighth century. From Coire there is a railway to Arosa, where there are severalsanatoria, and which is also a favourite winter sports centre.
    From Coire we continue and retrace our steps to Sargans, where we branch off to Wallenstadt on the Wallensee, a narrow strip of water with the mountains running right down to its shores. The line continues along the Seeztal, alongside the lake to Weesen, which is a suitable spot to select as one’s headquarters for exploring the district. There is a branch line up the Linthal to Glarus, the capital of the canton.
The Tell Country
    From Weesen the main line continues to Wädenswil, the junction for Einsiedeln which we will take, continuing beyond Einsiedeln to Arth-Goldau, where we change over to the St. Gotthard Railway for Brunnen on the Lake of Lucerne. This is a popular lakeside resort and situated at what some people regard as the finest end of the Lake of Lucerne, or the “Lake of the Four Cantons.” But this is a controversial point and every fresh view of the lake so lovely, every bay has its own attractions, that each has its own champions. The lake is surrounded by mountains of singular beauty, chief amongst which are Rigi, Pilatus, the Bristenstock and the Stanserhorn. Delightful villages nestle in every bay, and any of these are suitable as headquarters during a stay in the district, as there is a very fine lake steamer service connecting them all. On some tours a free season ticket is given for an unlimited number of journeys on the lake steamers and the mountain railways, and the holiday maker who has one of these will not be able to exhaust their possibilities in a week’s or even two weeks’ holiday. Added to this they give free admission to the bathing beaches of which there are many all round the lake.
    Returning to Brunnen, we are in the heart of the Tell country. Facing Brunnen, on the other side of the lake near Seelisberg, is the Rütli meadow where, in 1307, Werner Stauffacher of Schwyz, Walter Fürst of Uri and Arnold vom Melchtal of Unterwalden, each with ten companions, took the oath to help each other in their stand for freedom, which was eventually to culminate in the establishment of the Swiss Confederation. The townof Schwyz has given the Republic its name, and it can be reached by railway from Brunnen. Here can be seen the “Bundesbrief,” the Treaty of Federation, which is to Switzerland what Magna Charta is to England. At Brunnen begins the famous Axenstrasse, which is hewn out of the rock itself and has many apertures which allow of many magnificent views over the lake. Along the shores of the lake rises the sheer precipice of the Axenstein, at the foot of which is the Tell’s Platte, on to which Tell leaped from the boat in which he was being taken to Küssnacht.
    Farther along we come to Flüelen and then to Altdorf, which is said to be the scene of Tell’s famous exploit with the apple. More than any other part of the country, the Lake of Lucerne district is ideal for holidays all the year round. In the spring the crocus and narcissi come out in their thousands, following the retreating snows on the mountains. In May and June the meadows are dotted with coloured flowers, and throughout the summer there is an ever-changing variety.
    Practically all the surrounding mountains can be ascended by mountain railways; Rigi from Vitznau, and from the summit there is a fine view of the Jungfrau; the Stanserhorn from Stansstad and Pilatus from Alpnachstad. During the summer the climate is not too hot and the bathing beaches are delightful places in which to lounge about for hours. The church spires are everywhere a characteristic feature of the landscape, as are