Nature, cities and architecture - a new stamp series focuses on the most famous Swiss attractions.
Born of necessity
The Jet d’Eau fountain reaches a height of 140 metres, at a speed of 200 km/h. But you may not know that the origins of this Geneva landmark lie in a hydraulic problem at the end of the 19th century. As factories in the city switched off their machines every evening, the waterworks that supplied them experienced excess pressure in the network. To combat this, a safety valve capable of controlling the pressure was installed – and the first Jet d’Eau was born, serving as the template for the tourist attraction created in 1951.
Travelling letter box
The cold-water spring of the Rigi, a cen- tral Swiss mountain massif, has made the area famous as a health resort. And a fascinating postal fact for you: during the heyday of the Rigi’s hotel industry, these luxury buildings had not only their own stamps, but also their own post offic- es. What’s more, the valley railway line from Arth to Goldau, which was closed in 1956, offered a travelling letter box. When the train stopped at a station, resi- dents could post their letter mail. During the early days of the bus service, this vehicle was also equipped with a mobile letter box.
Year-round skiing
In Zermatt, skiers can enjoy a view of the Matterhorn all year round. At 3,883 me- tres, the Klein Matterhorn is a superlative destination – the highest and largest summer ski area in Europe. And a secret tip: skiing greats from 22 countries train for the winter season on the Theodul Glacier. So, anyone who wants an auto- graph stands a good chance at the mountain railway station – but only in the mornings, when conditions are best on the pistes during the warmer months.
Ideal photo spot
At 136 metres long and 65 metres high, the Landwasser Viaduct carries the Rhaetian Railway’s Albula line over the rugged Landwasser Valley. If the train journey over the 120-year-old bridge is too fast for your liking, you can watch it at your leisure from the viewing platform. An ideal spot for photos, as the six-arched structure looks even more impressive from below. The platform is a 10-minute walk from the “Landwasserviadukt” car park, and the Landwasser Express – a lit- tle choo-choo train – runs from Filisur railway station during the summer.
