Just imagine that in earlier times two competing companies vied for the favors of Rigi visitors. One of the cogwheel trains (inaugurated 1875), coming from Arth-Goldau, opened up the Rigi flank. The other, starting from Vitznau, climbed up the mountain as Europe’s first mountain train (constructed 1871). Not before 1990 did the two companies cement their cooperation by building two switch points at Rigi Staffel. Subsequently, they merged into today’s Rigi-Bahnen.
South of Rigi Staffel one first follows the line of the former Vitznau-Rigi train up to the point where the line branches off and then walks down across the meadows to the Chänzeli (1464m) vantage point. Here one overlooks the entire Lake Lucerne (also called Vierwaldstättersee) with its many coves. The last stage of the tour is a short descent to the pretty village-like settlement of Rigi Kaltbad (1438m).
Rigi – the Queen of the Mountains
Arth-Goldau / Vitznau
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Adelboden: Engstligenalp
Adelboden: Sillerenbühl
Adliswil: Felsenegg
Airolo: Piotta-Ritom
Andermatt: Gemsstock
Arosa: Weisshorn
Arth-Goldau / Vitznau: Rigi
Bad Ragaz: Pizol
Beatenberg: Niederhorn
Berne: Gurten
Berne: Marzili
Bettmeralp: Bettmerhorn
Blatten: Belalp
Brienz: Brienzer Rothorn
Brienz: Giessbach
Brigels : Crest Falla
Brülisau: Hoher Kasten
Bürgenstock: Hammetschwand
Buttes: La Robella
Capolago: Monte Generoso
Champéry: Planachaux
Charmey: Vounetz
Château-d'Oex: La Braye
Crans-Montana: Plaine Morte
Davos: Schatzalp
Davos: Weissfluh-Joch
Engelberg: Titlis
Erlenbach: Stockhorn
Feldis: LRF
Fiesch: Eggishorn
Flims: Fil de Cassons
Flüelen: Eggberge
Flumserberg: Maschgenkamm
Fribourg: Le Funi
Geneva: Mt. Salève
Gonten: Kronberg
Grächen: Hannig
Grindelwald: First
Grindelwald: Jungfraujoch
Gruyères: Moléson
Gstaad: Wispile
Handegg: Gelmersee
Interlaken: Harder
Klosters: Madrisa
Lausanne: Métro
Le Châtelard: Emosson
Lenzerheide: Rothorn
Les Diablerets: Glacier 300
Leukerbad: Gemmipass
Leukerbad: Torrent
Leysin: Berneuse
Locarno: Cimetta
Lötschental: Lauchernalp
Lucerne: Pilatus
Lugano: Monte Brè
Lugano: San Salvatore
Lungern: Schönbüel
Malans GR: Aelpli Cableway
Malbun: Sareiserjoch
Meiringen: Planplatte
Meiringen: Reichenbachfallb
Miglieglia: Monte Lema
Montreux: Rochers-de-Naye
Mülenen: Niesen
Mürren: Schilthorn
Nendaz: Tracouet
Neuchâtel: Chaumont
Pontresina: Diavolezza
Pontresina: Muottas Muragl
Reigoldswil: Waterfalls
Rivera: Monte Tamaro
Rougemont: Vidémanette
Saas Fee: Mittelallalin
Saas-Grund: Hohsaas
Samnaun: Munschuns
San Carlo: Robiei
Sattel: Hochstuckli
Schönried: Rellerli
Schwägalp: Säntis
Silvaplana: Corvatsch
Solothurn: Weissenstein
St-Luc: Tignousa
St. Moritz: Piz Nair
Stans: Stanserhorn
Stoos: Fronalpstock
Unterterzen: Flumserberg
Unterwasser: Chäserrugg
Uri: Aerial Cable Car
Verbier: Mont-Fort
Vercorin: Crêt du Midi
Vevey: Mont Pèlerin
Villars: Col de Bretaye
Weissbad: Ebenalp
Wengen: Männlichen
Wilderswil: Schynige Platte
Zermatt: Gornergrat
Zermatt: Klein Matterhorn
Zermatt: Sunnegga / Rothorn
Zürich-Airport: Skymetro
Zürich: Polybahn
Zweisimmen: Rinderberg
The Rigi trains can look back on an interesting history, which has already filled thick volumes. Niklaus Riggenbach, the inventor of the cogwheel train performed pioneering work. The train from Vitznau overcomes on a stretch of 6975 meters an elevation gain of 1313 meters. The train from Arth-Goldau conquers a height difference of 1234 meters on the 8551-meter ride.
Access:
By train from Lucerne or Zürich, or from Ticino, to Arth-Goldau, the departure point of one of the Rigi mountain trains. The Rigi train departing from Vitznau is best reached by ship from Lucerne. The train on the northern side has its own station stop (and parking lot) at the Autobahn exit.
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Contact Information
- RIGI BAHNEN AG
Postfach
6354 Vitznau
Tel. +41 (0)41 399 87 87
Fax +41 (0)41 399 87 00
rigi@rigi.ch
www.rigi.ch
