As exciting as today’s offerings is the history of the Wispile train. Arnold Annen, a farmer from Lauenen near Gstaad, had an ingenious idea. He devised the “Funi”. With his business partner, the hotel owner Oswald von Siebenthal, he installed in 1934 at the Wispile the first Funi Sled on snow, a precursur to a funicular train. This was the corner stone for all mountain trains in the Saanenland.
The well thought-out construction consisted of two sleds fixed to a steel rope. While one sled moved down to the valley, it pulled with a motor the other sled up the hill. From zero to one hundred: With the remarkable capacity of 100 persons per hour, the first “mountain train” started its operation. It did not take long till there were three sleds waiting during popular periods.
Everyone wanted to get to the peak of the Wispile. In 1944 the Funi was turned into a ski lift running on the same line, and today one can reach the Wispile with a gondola train even in summer.
Wispile – Once upon a time by Funi, today by Gondola
Gstaad
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The Wispile gondola train takes you to an elevation of 1911 meters. In summer the gondola ride takes you to a meteorological trail, a petting zoo, a tree adventure park, a Trottinett ride, hikes to Lake Lauen or to Gsteig, paragliding, a “Fairytale Uncle”, a cheese trail including a visit to a dairy farm and a Silentium Place where you can reflect in silence.
Access:
Gstaad is reached from Lake Thun, Freiburg or Lake Geneva by public transportation or car. The valley station is a little outside the village in the direction of Gsteig/Pillon Pass (Buses run from Gstaad Train Station).
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Contact Information
- Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG
Promenade 41
Haus des Gastes
3780 Gstaad
Tel. +41 (0)33 748 87 37
Fax +41 (0)33 748 87 33
mountainrides@gstaad.ch
www.gstaad.ch
