Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Champery




I am in love with the ski weekends that we have had so far. Besides the fun of skiing it is a great way to meet up with friends and spend active time together as well as getting and taking the opportunity to see more of Switzerland. This is such a beautiful country and there are just so many tiny nooks and places out there filled with charm.


This weekend we spend in Champery located in the French speaking parts of Switzerland. It is located about an hours drive southwest of Montreaux. Our friend Elsa flew to Geneva and then took the train to Monteaux where we picked her up. That saved us the drive to drive all around Lake Geneva. The population of Champery is about 1200 persons.


Champery in it self is a beautiful old town filled with old fashioned charm. I just love these old wooden Swiss houses like this one. Beautiful, old, traditional houses.
 The little church was really cute as well. It was located just across the street from our hotel. This was also where the bus stop was that took us to the big Gondola that would take us up the mountain. The village in itself lies at about an elevation of 1000 meters and the gondola then carries you up another 1000 meters where you reach the ski slopes.


The big red gondola is about to reach the top station at an elevation of 2000 meters. It carries a total of up to 125 passengers. It offers a quick and convenient way to transport skiers up the mountain. The ride itself takes about 15 minutes.


Some of the old wooden houses are now shops or restaurants and others are still homes and cabins. This particular one with the red Swiss cow outside was the local deli shop that had a great selection of locally produced cheeses and hams.


 Many pretty and cozy cabins lining the slopes.




Along the village street are numerous traditional chalets with their carved balconies and typical roofs.



Every village has at least one water fountain where you can have a drink or fill up your water bottle. This time of the year you sure can catch some ice cold water.

We had some time to walk around Champery during Friday afternoon. This was one of the restaurants that we ate at. I am glad I made reservations here for Friday evening because we got a great meal here.






 When we arrived early Friday afternoon it was pretty cloudy but suddenly the clouds scattered and the sun peaked out behind the mountain and clouds. I fell in love with this little charming Swiss village. I am glad we stayed here.







6 comments:

Annika said...

Så vackra och fina bilder.
Förstår att du älskar era skidhelger. SÅ himla härligt att ni så lätt kan ta dem!
Underbart med all snö på träden.
OCH vilka fina hus. DÄR skulle jag vilja bo.
Kramar!

Desiree said...

Annika, ja visst ar det vackert. Alskar dessa charmiga sma byar. Snon gor att det ser ut som ett vintervykort.
Jag hade ocksa garna bott I ett av dessa hus :-)
Kram!

Anne said...

Åh så mysigt, det ser jättecharmigt ut. Häftigt det där med vattenfontänen, att man kan ta dricksvatten på det där sättet. Nästan som att dricka direkt ur en bäck...
Förresten, när ni gör de här skidhelgerna, behöver ny byta till vinterdäck på bilen, ha kedjor eller funkar det bra med era vanliga sommar/allround däck ni har på bilen i Basel?
Kram!

eastcoastmom said...

Så otroligt fina byar det finns i dina trakter. Maten är ju bra också. Maten i amerikanska skidbackar är ju oftast ingen höjdare däremot...

Anne-Marie said...

Vilken fin helg ni hade.
Så otroligt vackert och carmigt med husen och stilen på staden/byn.
Hela Schweiz verkar taget litet ur en sagobok. :)
Kram!

Desiree said...

Anne, jag gillar att det alltid finns den har typen av vattenfontaner overallt I Schweiz. Vi korde med vanliga vinterdack pa var bil. Men jag sag flera bilar som faktiskt hade satt pa snokedjor pa sina bilar.
Kram!

Anne-Marie, ja den har gammla stilen tycker jag ar jattevacker och lacker.
Kram!

Eastcoastmom, basta maten vi fatt I skidbacken har vi fatt har. Pa visa stallen kan det vara ratt trist mat I form av mest fastfood alternative.
Kram!