Panorama

Welcome to Mount Rigi and the Cultural Trail Rigi.

I am your Rigi, Queen of the mountains. 

Mount Rigi with its unique, world-famous view. That's not me saying that, but the German poet Goethe. Pardon, von Goethe. When he visited me in 1775, he wrote in his diary: "All the splendor of the world around." I think he almost had a little crush on me, dear Johann Wolfgang.

But now to the facts about the view. I am at my highest on Rigi Kulm: one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight meters above sea level. The fact that I miss the 1, 800-meter mark by 2 meters is a bit of a bummer. But what the heck, the 360-degree panorama is all the more breathtaking. From Rigi Kulm, you can see 13 lakes and 24 of the 26 Swiss cantons. Really true. See for yourself and count them. From Rigi Kulm, the view sweeps far out over the Swiss Plateau, the snow-covered Alps and, on a clear day, even as far as the German Black Forest and the French Vosges mountains.

To find out what you can see from Rigi Kulm, a certain Mr. Keller printed a 360-degree view of the Alps on a strip of paper almost two meters wide back in 1815, folded it into a handy fanfold, stuck it between two thick cardboard covers and sold it like hot cakes.

Around 1816, the first lookout point with a little roof was built on Rigi Känzeli. And rightly so, because from this rocky edge at 1,464 meters above sea level, the view out into the world is at least as spectacular, if not more spectacular, than from Rigi Kulm. Simply different. From Rigi Känzeli, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne and Mount Pilatus seem close enough to touch. 

Because Rigi Känzeli had been given a viewing chalet, Rigi Kulm was soon to be given an attraction too. A lookout tower grew into the clouds. Today, instead of the Belvedere tower, Rigi Kulm is home to a 96-metre-high transmission tower with a walk-on visitor platform at a height of 7 meters.

Because it’s you, I will give you two must-see tips for your next unforgettable visit.

TIP 1: SUNRISE.

Experience the sunrise from Rigi Kulm. You may have to get up before the first rooster, but at least you don't have to walk up to Rigi Kulm. You can either spend the night comfortably in a hotel on the mountain or take one of the regular sunrise trips on the Rigi Railway, which will get you to Rigi Kulm in plenty of time before sunrise.

TIP 2: "RIGI BRIGHT TODAY!"

In the last quarter of the 20th century, Rigi advertisers shouted this out to the world when the Swiss Plateau was once again engulfed in a sea of fog. In the meantime, "Rigi bright today!" has become part of the Swiss repertoire of slogans when it comes to the sea of fog.

The sea of fog forms especially when the wind is blowing from a certain direction. Beneath the impenetrable soup of clouds that sloshes up to my slender flanks, life is dull and bleak. Above it all is sunshine. 

Take a look at our webcams when the sea of fog once again billows mercilessly in the valley and shout "Rigi bright today!" yourself.

Yes, yes, dear Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Those were the days. But honestly. Poetry may be beautiful, but it is more poetic to see the golden sun rise majestically from Rigi Kulm or to look down on the cloudy sea of fog. Mount Rigi experiences that are almost too fantastic to be true.

I'm delighted that you've listened to me.

Your Rigi, Queen of the mountains.