2011.09.05 14:26:40

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Engelberg is a village in the canton of Obwalden in the very heart of Switzerland, close to the cities of Lucerne and Zurich. At approximately 1000 metres above sea-level, the holiday resort offers a very high quality of life in both winter and summer.

It is the leading mountain resort (Urner Alps) in central Switzerland. In the Middle Ages, Engelberg was known for the educational accomplishments of its Benedictine monastery, the Engelberg Abbey, whose school was well-known and regarded throughout the country. From the 19th Century, Engelberg became internationally known as a resort and spa, but is today visited as much for skiing as for its clean air. With its combination of modern sports facilities and alpine location, Engelberg is a magnet for both summer and winter tourism.

Engelberg is first mentioned as Engilperc in 1122,  although the mountain pasture of Trübsee was already exploited collectively before this time.

Engelberg is the first large mountain the low pressures hit on their way from the North Sea, resulting in huge snowfalls. Had he come here in the winter, maybe it was the deep snow that the monk Konrad von Sellenbüren fell in love with when he founded the monastery in the village in 1120. Perhaps he made a snow angel and named the place at the end of the valley Engelberg. The monastery is still today active and you will meet monks on the cobbled streets.

From 1850, Engelberg became an international vacation resort (mineral water, milk serum and fresh air cures). Many hotels were built by the families Cattani, Hess and Odermatt, pioneers of tourism. From 1872 to 1874, a new, wider road was built, and the Stansstad-Engelberg electric railway was opened in 1898.

Hiking and other mountain sports developed at the end of 19th Century and Engelberg first held a winter season in 1903-1904. Since 1913, a funicular railway connects Engelberg to Gerschnialp and, from there, the second cable car in Switzerland (1927) led to Trübsee. The decade preceding the First World War was a period of boom conditions. The widening of the road and the extension of the railway to Luzern (1964) considerably opened up the tourism catchment area of the station and, in 1967, the higher section of the Titlis cable car was opened. Recently, regular conferences in Engelberg came to supplement winter tourism.

The highest point in the borders of the town is Mt. Titlis which is 3,239 m (10,627 ft). It is a snow-sure ski resort, with an unusually long season, generally opening for skiing at the start of October and remaining open until the end of May.

It's also a major summer resort, with many activities available both at village level and on the mountain. The lift system operates throughout the year, allowing a wide range of walking and cycling trails to be available even to the more fitness-challenged visitor.

In recent years, Engelberg has become something of an off-piste mecca, with many winter visitors, particularly from Scandinavia, coming specifically for its many challenging descents. Many of these are accessible from the lift-served ski areas of Titlis or Jochpass, on the predominantly North-facing slopes leading down from Mt Titlis.

Engelberg also hosts a round of the ski jumping world cup.

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