Check out the latest news from Switzerland.

1. Zermatt – Voted best ski resort 2002
2. Winter Resort Up-date
3. Package offer for MTV Winter Jam 2003
4. SNOWBOMBING 2003
5. Chocoholics beware! Schoggiland!
6. This Winters top ski offer!
7. Food & Wine – Classic Cheese Fondue
8. Interesting days out by train – 6

If you like to know more about these subjects, please scroll down.

1. Zermatt – Voted best ski resort 2002

In the Daily Telegraph readers poll ‘Travel Awards’, Zermatt has been voted best ski resort taking the much coveted award away from Whistler in Canada. To read the full report click on the link below.
http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=%2Ftravel%2F2002%2F10%2F12%2Fetawar2.xml
Information on Zermatt click here: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=www.zermatt.ch

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2. Winter Resort Up-date

The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St Moritz
1 ø 16 February 2003. With a budget of 80 million Swiss Francs, the Alpine World Ski Championships 2003 return for the 4th time to St. Moritz and are set to be the largest and costliest sports event ever to be staged in Switzerland. St. Moritz is expecting 400 athletes from 60 nations, 2,500 media representatives and 100,000 spectators to attend the ten races.

Zermatt News: A comfortable 8-person gondola-lift from Zermatt via Furi to Schwarzsee will dramatically increase transportation capacity from Zermatt to the Matterhorn area. The 6 seater Furggsattel Express chair-lift in the Klein Matterhorn ski area will be the first chair-lift on a glacier in Switzerland. In mid-December, a semicircular underground Casino will open next to the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof and will provide an additional tourist attraction in Zermatt.

Crans Montana – New Snow Park
A new snow and fun park covering 25ø000m2 is due to open at the start of the winter season, the park also has its own cool bar. Last July the Crans-Montana casino held its grand opening and it is there for you to enjoy a great night out. As an alternative to the Casino ski fans can choose to hit the slopes every Saturday night, a specially illuminated slope will be open from 7 to 10 p.m.

Verbier øFamily-Friendly in every Way
A new six-seater, detachable chairlift, with a capacity of 3000 people per hour, will turn the Savoleyres ski area, with its gentle and varied slopes, into a totally family friendly sporting zone. Additional gondolas on the `Funispaceø which links up Ruinettes and Attelas, means it can now transport up to 3000 people per hour. A new hotel – `Verbier Lodgeø*** is located close to the `Medranø lift station and can sleep up to 21 guests. It will offer packages including accommodation, skiing lesson with a former Swiss downhill skier William Besse.

Great ski pass deals for Families in Saas Fee
Purchase only a ski pass for the first child ø all our children ski for free. New: the flexi lift pass ø choose 5 days out of a period of 7 days

Happy Birthday in the Jungfrau Region
Jungfrau has a fantastic Birthday offer that you can simply not say no to. If you spent your Birthday in the Jungfrau region in the winter months, you will be invited to stay free in an hotel on a B&B basis and receive a lift pass as a birthday present! All you have do to get your hands on this brilliant birthday offer is to travel along with one other full fare paying person.

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3. Package offer for MTV Winter Jam 2003

MTV Winterjam in Davos 14th March 2003
Packages available from 2 nights to 7 nights. Prices start from £273 in the 4 star Hotel Derby including flights, transfer, breakfast and free use of the wellness facilities as well as local buses in Davos. 7 night packages start from £405 for dates 8-15th March or 9-16th March 2003. Bookings can be made through the Switzerland Travel Centre. Packages include entrance to the MTV Winterjam outdoor concert on Friday 14th March 2003. This event will be televised on the MTV network channels. More info from: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=uk.myswitzerland.com/en/special.cfm?id=431

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4. SNOWBOMBING 2003

Youv’e read about it, seen the pictures, it’s now time to think about booking. Following the resounding success of last years event, Snowbombing 2003 will once again be held in Villars, Lake Geneva 29 March – 5 April 2003. Join the biggest Snowboarding and Music Holiday Festival. Boarding during the day and clubbing at night. For further information and bookings please call Wasteland: 0870 8444644. You can also check out: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=www.snowbombing.com or send an e -mail to: [email protected]

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5. Chocoholics beware! Schoggiland!

Visit the most modern Swiss Chocolate factory; Schoggiland from Maestrani, one of the leading suppliers of fine Swiss Chocolate. Schoggiland is open for groups, individuals and the general public. The factory is based in Flawil in the canton of St Gallen. During opening hours, visitors may observe the chocolate production from the visitor gallery. On video terminals, you will learn everything about the secrets of chocolate production and the fine Maestrani specialities. There is also a Schoggiland sweet shop where produce can be purchased! No booking necessary. Guided tours require a booking by calling 0041 71 394 5712. Further info from: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=www.schoggi-land.ch

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6. This Winters top ski offer!

7 nights Ski holiday in Meiringen, Switzerland from just £499! including free 6 day lift pass and free ski hire.
Further details from: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=58111&tid=167&url=www.MySwitzerland.com

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7. Food & Wine – Classic Cheese Fondue

For 4 Persons
1 clove of garlic, peeled
4 dl of dry white wine, e.g. Chasselas/Fendant
1 tbs corn starch
400g grated Gruyere
400g grated Vacherin or Appenzeller
0,2 dl colourless schnapps (kirsch)
Freshly ground black pepper
1 loaf of fresh crusty bread cut into cubes.

1. Rub the inside of the fondue pan with the garlic clove, pour in the wine and heat slowly. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the cheese and mix, add to the wine, and return to the heat, stirring until the mixture takes on a creamy consistency. Add the kirsch and season with pepper.
2. Serve simmering hot on a fondue burner. Spear the cubes of bread on fondue forks and start stirring immediately.

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8. Interesting days out by train – 6

If you are staying in or near to the Rhone valley why not travel to Brig or Visp and take the BVZ (Brig-Visp-Zermatt Bahn) to Zermatt. The views are splendid travelling along the valley over some fine bridges. When you arrive in Zermatt, walk through this pedestrianised village and at the far end of the village you can look at the famous Matterhorn, alternatively you can take the Gornergrat Bahn (GGB), the station is across the road from the BVZ station. From the Gornergrat top station you look across at this magnificent mountain, be warned, sometimes the Matterhorn has a ring of cloud around it. The village of Zermatt has many shops and restaurants offering souvenirs and local cuisine as well as boutiques etc. If you are thinking about travelling by car to Zermatt you will have to leave your car at Tasch in a relatively expensive car park and continue by train to the resort.
By: Les Heath – Swiss Transport News, for subscriptions call: 01277 626 628

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London, 06.11.2002
Don’t forget to visit http://www.MySwitzerland.com

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