Pearls summer

What started as an April Fool’s joke can now be experienced for real. On the Brunni near Engelberg, Pius the mountain cleaner takes guests on a via ferrata with a difference. And because flossing rock faces is not just fun, but likely to make you hungry, too, the assignment is followed by a hearty supper at the Brunnihütte – until the sun sets behind “Switzerland’s cleanest mountain.”

The “Säge” in Giswil is one of history’s great survivors. Made entirely of wood, Switzerland’s only water-powered sawmill exudes nostalgia and the romanticism of an age-old craft. You will be amazed at how little water is needed to start the giant wheel turning. And the souvenir piece of wood you get to saw will serve as a permanent reminder of your visit to the “Säge”.

The Fluonalp is one of the loveliest of the Giswil Alps and the cows that graze here enjoy not only magnificent views, but a copious supply of the most delicious herbs. No wonder the cheese made from their milk is so remarkable. Nor is the recipe a secret. Anyone who wants to can visit the dairy and make their own cheese. What’s more, they can pick it up again a year later (the cheeses weigh between 11 and 13 kg), by which time it will have matured to perfection.

This extravagant tour in a horse-drawn coach has everything the gourmet could wish for, whether it’s a classic fondue, a zesty Raclette or meat barbecued to a crisp at your seat. And as digestif a shot of “Hengstwasser” (schnapps). All of which, thanks to the exceptionally romantic route taken through this legendary city of lights, makes for a two-hour tour of Lucerne at its finest.

Stefan Grossenbacher is not just a goldsmith, but a professional gold digger, too. He’s also the kind of person who is happy to share his knowledge and skills with others, including how to separate gold from sand and gravel. The Napf Region, by the way, is famous for its gold rivers and is known to have attracted prospectors even in Roman times.

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It is hailed as the world’s steepest cog railway. Hence the impressiveness of the ride up the 2132-m-high Mt. Pilatus – within touching distance of fascinating cliff faces. Ride in the cab and you will get a grandstand view. And while the driver is telling you the story of the now legendary railway, you can take photos of the majestic peaks and precipitous drops all around you.

Scarcely anyone knows Silwängen Caves as do the Schniders, a family of alpine farmers. Escorted by them, guests can climb down a ladder into a wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites. More than 250 passages with a combined length of over 32 km have been explored to date. So here in the belly of the mountain, even hardy walkers will find what they are looking for.

No, there have not been any reports of a sudden influx of chamois and marmots on the Stanserhorn. Climb this peak with one of the local rangers, however, and you are sure to see lots of wildlife. The fully accredited rangers will explain the local flora and fauna, help you to identify the surrounding mountains and other topographical features and spin their stock of yarns relating to what is popularly known as the “Lazy Man’s Mountain”.