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culture




                      of cheese to mature under careful observation  high-mountain pass in the world that
                      by  the  cheese  professionals,  under  precise  has a naval red and while lighthouse.
                      conditions  and  temperature,  and  after  three  (Other important passes further from
                      months, it will be sent to us in Geneva. It feels  Geneva such as the Bernina or Albula
                      incredible to bring this gift from the Cradle  passes – were covered in our previous
                      of  Switzerland  to  the  Swiss  National  Day  -  article  on  the  Rhaetian  railway,  Diva
                      what  could  be  a  more  prestigious  delight  to  No. 2/2021).
                      commemorate that day?
                                                             And in the streets of Andermatt, right
                      Two     words     about    Andermatt  in the centre of the town, who can be

                      –  the  capital  of  “ten  Swiss  passes”.  seen? A tiny devil with an angelic face,
                      Andermatt is situated on the other side of the  playing the flute as if teasing us and the whole
                      railway  tunnel  on  the  northern  side  of  the  town. Is this the same devil from the Scöllenen
                      St. Gotthard Pass, in walking distance to the  Devil  bridge,  looking  innocent  while  still
                      Schöllenen Ravine. This old mountain village  awaiting  his  compensation  for  having  built
                      has today been turned into a luxury mountain  the bridge?
                      resort, with typical wooden houses on one side  PS.  It  could  well  be  said  that  the  Gotthard,
                      of the road, and the same houses mixed with  which takes its name from the patron saint of
                      luxury multi-storeyed buildings on the other.  passes,  has  a  greater  aura  about  it  than  the
                      Andermatt is situated at the centre of the most  other  great  Swiss  alpine  pass  –  the  Simplon.
                      important Swiss Alpine passes – it is effectively  But  Simplon  has  its  own  glorious  history  –
                      a  capital  of  ten  Alpine  Passes.  The  most  read about Stockalper and Napoleon, and the
                      famous of these is the Furka, with the world-  Simplon Eagle symbolising the Swiss courage,
                      renowned  hotel  Belvedere,  featured  in  the  resistance and strength, in the next issue, along
                      movie “Goldfinger”. It is also the source of the  with the stories of two other historical passes:
                      River Rhone, and is near the famous Grimsel  Gemmi and Grand Saint-Bernard.
                      pass with the historical Grimsel hospice. It is
                      a neighbour to the very difficult Susten and  (With thank to my friend and colleague Liliane
                      Nufenen  passes,  whilst  the  Klausen,  Brünig,  Mauranne,  who  shared  with  me  the  travel
                      Splügen  and  Lukmanier  passes  are  slightly  adventure and the cheese-making privilege at
                      further  away.  Finally,  there  is  the  Oberalp  the Gotthard).
                      pass, on the other side of Andermatt, the only



































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