Harderbahn, Funicular railway in Interlaken, Switzerland
Harderbahn is a funicular railway in Interlaken that carries people up the mountainside. The line runs 1447 meters through forests and meadows to reach the summit at 1322 meters, where a restaurant with viewing terraces sits at the top.
The railway opened in 1908 after receiving permission in 1890, though construction didn't start until 1905. Money problems had slowed down the project for many years before actual building work could begin.
The mountaintop restaurant brings together visitors who come to eat local food while gazing at three famous peaks across the valley. The place has become a natural gathering spot where people combine dining with their mountain experience.
The ride is straightforward to manage since you simply board and let the railway do the work of climbing. Once at the top, you have easy access to the restaurant and to paths that explore the surrounding area.
The tracks follow an unusual quarter-circle path that includes a tunnel along the route. This special layout was chosen to reduce how much the railway changed the natural landscape.
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