Have you ever been to the Alps? This beautiful mountain system is the largest in Europe. It is among these fabulous mountains that magnificent Switzerland is located. There are many applicants for records in the Guinness book. One of them is the longest staircase in the world - Niesenban. Tourists can climb it to the mountain Nizen. If you look at the Alps on a map, then this place falls on the canton of Bern. In our article you will learn about this Swiss attraction, as well as about other long stairs of the world.
A bit about Mount Nizen
In the world there are many amazing tourist places testifying to the creativity and perseverance of the human mind. It is on Mount Nisen that the longest staircase in the world is built. Next to it is a path for the funicular. The length of the longest staircase in the world is 3.5 km.
Mount Nizen is characterized by an almost regular pyramidal shape. Next to it is the picturesque alpine lake Thun. In height, Nizen rises to 2, 362 meters. In German, "low" means "sneezing." For its clear form, the mountain was called the "Swiss pyramid." But not the appearance and location became the reason that the mountain fell into the Guinness Book of Records. This is due to the longest staircase in the world, with 11, 674 steps.
What was the staircase built for?
In 1906, they decided to build a funicular railway on Mount Niesen. The construction went on for four years and was completed in 1910. So the Niesenbahn funicular appeared. Every day, thousands of tourists coming here climb it to the top of the mountain to enjoy the beauty of the Swiss Alps.
In parallel to the funicular line, they decided to build a staircase. For starters, it was designed for technical work. Through it, workers could reach any Niesenbahn site.
How does the staircase serve today?
Today, the Niesenbahn funicular is very popular among tourists. And the staircase on Mount Niesen in Switzerland has already become part of it. For the public, the staircase is open only once a year. And on the funicular in 30 minutes you can climb the mountain at least every day.
But what about those who want to walk the stairs? This is possible only by pre-registration to participate in the annual high-speed ascent (competition) to the top of Nizen.
They decided to hold such an original contest here annually since 1990. It is usually held in June. Five hundred people are allowed to register. Sometimes not everyone can get the opportunity to climb. Many are signed up to participate one year in advance.
The fact that you can only go up the stairs once a year, and even by appointment, makes it even more mysterious. The record for overcoming 11 674 steps was the time of 52 minutes. And so all year round the staircase is closed for the safety of tourists.
Panorama from above
Why should a tourist climb Mount Nizen at least by funicular? From there you can admire the panorama of the most magnificent peaks of Switzerland, ancient historical cities. Among them are Spitz, Interlaken, Kandersteg. At the very top of the stairs is the Berghaus Niesen building. Entering there, you can plunge into a hundred years ago. Inside this house is a restaurant. Prices are high there, but the view from the windows is simply bewitching. Green valleys and Lake Thun are visible from above. The restaurant will delight you with delicious dishes of traditional Swiss cuisine.
Fleurly Staircase in Norway
There are a lot of unusual stairs in the world. In Norway, for example, you can stroll along the longest wooden gangway. This attraction is located in the small town of Fleurly. The wooden staircase stretches for 1, 600 m. It consists of 4, 400 steps. It was built to rise to an important facility - power plants. Construction began at the beginning of the XX century. In the photo above you can observe this staircase, which has no fences. It passes near the pipeline.
A traveler who decides to walk along a wooden ladder can see the beautiful historic buildings in the Art Nouveau style. Huge pipes running along the stairs supply water to the power plant. Anyone who is afraid to climb stairs can take a funicular along a historic landmark.
The pipeline and stairs are in a very beautiful mountainous area. In late spring and summer, many tourists come to the town of Fleurly. At this time of the year, a peculiar tunnel of green leaves forms above the stairs. The nature around is simply mesmerizing. It is not easy to climb the stairs to the very top, and not all travelers can do it.
