Bürgenstock

Cantons: Nidwalden (NW) and Lucerne (LU) Altitude: 878-1,132 m/2,881-3,714ft

The Bürgenstock is a limestone ridge 10km/6mi long and between 1.5 and 3km/1 and 2mi broad, covered with forests and Alpine meadows, which forms a peninsula in Lake Lucerne. Its north side rises steeply to a height of 500 m/1,641ft above the lake; the south side slopes more gently down to the Stans valley.

This select health resort and magnificent viewpoint can be reached by road from Stansstad (5km/3mi) or from the landing-stage of Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock (30minutes from Lucerne) by funicular (944 m/3,097ft, gradient 45%, seven minutes). At the upper station of the Bürgenstock funicular, the oldest in Switzerland (opened in 1888), are the Bahnhofsrestaurant, the Park-Hotel and the Palace Hotel; 300 m/328yd southwest is the Grand Hôtel, the furnishing of which include a notable collection of pictures.