Each year, nearly 50 million tourists visit the Alps, a range of mountains that cut through western Europe. Whether these tourists visit the French Alps, The German Alps, the Austrian Alps, the Italian Alps or the central Alps, primarily located in Switzerland, it is the same range of mountains that have been crossed, re-crossed and crossed again by the early tribal inhabitants living there thousands of years ago and by the modern tourist of today visiting from all parts of the world.
Astounding and breath-taking natural beauty, from the snow-capped mountain peaks, picturesque farming villages with cows grazing in pasture, cool mountain lakes, all rise up to greet the visiting tourists.
Visting the cental Alps, located in Switzerland, the tourist, if touring in summer, has mile after mile of hiking trails to take in the scenic beauty. One famous trail is the Alpine Pass Route that begins in eastern Switzerland, crosses the heart of the country westward and ends in Montros on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Along with the summer hiking, there is biking and if there in mid-July, the three-week long Tour De France cuts through part of Switzerland. and the lucky tourist may catch a glimpse of one or more of these world-bikers,
Most of the mountainous regions of Switzerland are located three or four hours away from the major cities and the popular and panoramic train journeys on the Glacier Express or the Bernini Express to Engadin Valley in the canton of Graubunden is delightful way to see the countryside.
A good place to capture a part of the historical importance of the Alps is the Swiss Alpine Museum in Berne , where its collection of 20,000 objects, 160,000 photographs, 600 prints and 180 paintings is dedicated to the nature and the culture of the Swiss Alps.