Rigi Mountain: The "Queen of the Mountains"
Rigi at the Vierwaldstädtteresee.Rigi is a mountain in central Switzerland and part of the Swiss Alps. It's also known as the "Queen of the Mountains."
The mountain is easily accessible by public transportation. It offers many winter and summer excursions such as skiing or sledding. Hiking there is also a favorite. It can be reached from Goldau and Vitznau by the Rigi-Bahnen, a rack railway, and from Weggis by cable car.
The Rigi has been further made famous through paintings by JMW Turner, including "The Blue Rigi, Lake of Lucerne, Sunrise".
Rigi behind Lake Lauerz.
The Rigi is a quite well-known 1800m mountain in the pre-Alps, occupying a spectacular location above the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) and offering on a clear day splendid views south to the Alps as well as north back to the area around Zurich. The Rigi featured in a book by Mark Twain and in a number of paintings by J.M.W. Turner. The Rigi, while not the highest, is one of the best known mountains in Switzerland and is named "Queen of the mountains". Its proximity to Zurich and Lucerne make it a magnet for tourists visiting the area.
Rigi consists of many peaks. Vitznauerstock V (also called Gersauerstock), Kulm K, Hochfluh H.One may choose to hike to the top or climb or combine hiking with a climb up one of the several rock routes in the 4+ to 6 range.
Swiss Railways offer a special round-trip excursion, the “Rigi-Rundfahrt”, covering multiple segments by train, cog-railway, gondola (optional) and lake steamer.
If you had a toy cablecar as a kid, chances are it was a Rigi Seilbahn replica manufactured nearby.