Mt. Pilatus: a voyage on a boat, train, cable cars and a bus

On our second day in Lucerne we rode a classic steamboat across the lake to the world’s steepest cogwheel railway at Mt. Pilatus. 

Our voyage included the boat ride, the cog railway, a Dragon Ride, cable car, and bus. All are all free with a Swiss Travel Pass.

The boat stops right at the Pilatus Bahn station.

What a ride to the 7000’ high summit!  There was a bird’s eye view of the lake and city, sights and sounds of mountain streams, and a stop to watch cows grazing on alpine flowers.

There’s a panoramic view of over 70 peaks and five lakes from the summit and Visitor Center.

We could see the Alps from the terrace of the Visitor Center and watched as tandem paraglider geared up and soared through the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are picnic spots and seven restaurants on the mountain, all with spectacular views.

Options range from your own picnic to the elegant Restaurant Queen Victoria Restaurant.

A wall of the popular Cheminée Saal dining room is lined with photographs of alpine flowers.

The summit’s historic Pilatus-Kulm Hotel was built in 1890, times when a servant was sent ahead to see whether a room was available before making the trek. Together with the 20 room Hotel Bellevue, this site offers the utmost alpine panorama, stunning sunrises and vibrant starry nights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was refurbished in 2010.  Its banquet and conference facilities make its a unique choice for conferences, special events, and weddings. There is a chapel on a steep peak and alpine games like dragon head ball throwing for groups.

We walked through tunnels and peeked out lookout points hand cut from the mountain.

We stopped in the tunnels to read the plaques about area dragons. Stories about the mountain’s fire-breathing dragons abound. One is said to have left behind a healing stone after being spotted in 1421 by a farmer who fainted at the sight. A cooper who had been missing for some time old of falling into a cave and being cared for by dragons. One, he said, flew him back near his home on its tail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hikers were on paths above us.

We also spotted the occasional sure-footed mountain goat.

All too soon, it was time to head back. We snagged a front-row seat for the new Dragon Ride aerial cableway, a 3 1/2 minute experience that feels like flying in a cockpit.

We snapped this photo of passengers going in the opposite direction.

Before boarding the next gondola ride we stopped at the adventure playground to watch children and teens on the aerial ropeways and monkey trees.

Families at a casual restaurant there were talking about the thrills of the power fan on the Dragon Jump trail and fun on the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland.

After the next cable car ride there was a short downhill walk to a bus that took us back to the city center.