First Cliff Walk by Tissot
at Grindelwald-First
First Cliff Walk by Tissot at Grindelwald-First
For thrill seekers and mountain lovers, the ‘First Cliff Walk by Tissot’ located near Grindelwald is the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend excursion. If you set off early you can do it as a day trip. By car from Zurich it takes just over 2 hours to get to Grindelwald First (and almost 3 hours by train). If you can make a weekend break in the area, even better. From the car park at the First Cable Car Station we took the gondola all the way to the top station.
Bachalpsee
After alighting the gondola at the top, we had a comfortable hike to the beautiful Bachalpsee (which in fact consists of two lakes), where we stopped to admire the spectacular landscape and scenery before heading to the First Cliff Walk.
The lake is extremely scenic and often has incredible reflection. It is split in two by a natural dam and the smaller part of the lake is around 6 m lower. We really enjoyed visiting this summit attraction in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland and our group was accompanied by a wonderful guide, Roland Fontanive, who regaled us with interesting facts about the flora and fauna, and of course stories about the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.
From every angle it looks slightly different depending on the time of year, time of day and the weather conditions.
The First Cliff Walk by Tissot
This construction has been built right alongside the cliff allowing visitors to walk along a narrow and winding platform, thousands of metres above the valleys and pastures below. At the end of the platform, visitors reach an observation point, from which the incredibly sheer slopes of the Eiger can be marvelled at. The First Cliff Walk by Tissot, although seemingly frightening, is actually not at all scary and offers a magnificent view of the Swiss alps. Jungfrau Railways have invested over CHF 1.5 million into the suspension bridge, ensuring its visitors a safe yet captivating experience.
Summit Trail Open All Year Round
The Cliff Walk was first opened in September of 2015, and has become a magnet for visitors to the Jungfrau region. The summit trail is open year round, and draws in hikers of all sorts, making it a great place to visit even with children.
The Cliff Walk was constructed in partnership with the well-known Swiss brand Tissot, a Swatch group brand, renowned for creating high quality products and ideal for the mountains.
More Than Hiking – Lots of Mountain Activities
In addition to the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, The Jungfrau Railway group also organises a diverse range of tours and activities throughout the area, including trips to the famous Jungfraujoch viewpoint, mountain carting, Trotti biking, and the ‘First Flyer’ experience, an 800-meter long zip line in the mountains. All these activities make the region a real paradise for adrenaline lovers. Many of the activities are only open at certain times of the year – so do check the website listed below to see what is available when you are planning your trip.
Mountain Carting
We went in early Summer and after enjoying a satisfying Swiss mountain lunch of Alpermacaroni with apple puree on the sunny Panorama Terrace of the First Mountain Restaurant it was time to don our helmets and take to the mountain carts. The mountain carts are go-carts which you control by braking as much (or as little!) as you wish and we had great fun careering down the windy paths to the village below. It was the perfect end to a perfect day full of fresh air, exercise and stunning mountain views.
It’s a great place to visit when you have relatives or visitors over and makes for a perfect “Swiss Day” which you and they will remember for years to come.
Whatever time of year you visit, there is plenty to see and do. Carmen visited in December and took the following photos when the landscape was covered in deep snow.
As you can see, the views are equally if not more stunning as this area of the Jungfrau region turns into a true “Winter Wonderland”.
The First Walk by Tissot at Grindelwald makes for a perfect destination any time of year.
You can visit it as a day trip from Zurich like we did – or why not treat yourself and stay overnight in the mountains? For more information on the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, visit the website here.
Article by Sofia Mikton
Photos in Summer by Christina on Olympus OMDEM10 camera
Photos in Winter by Carmen Sirboiu
Lake photo credits: Jheng Da Chen & Jairph
You may also like to read:
The Peak Walk by Tissot – Switzerland’s Hanging Mountain Bridge
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