Beatrice Tan
Image credit: Zermatt Tourism
Standing tall and proud, and spanning across the backdrop of the mighty Swiss Alps, the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is quite a sight. Cutting the usual journey duration between Swiss towns, Zermatt and Grächen, from 3-4 hours to a mere 10 minutes, the bridge offers hikers absolutely breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and the Bernese Alps.
As you can imagine, it offers hikers an experience like no other. As the bridge as a width of only 65cm, hikers have to go across in a single file – which means no hand holding as you cross, sorry! Adrenaline junkies would most definitely appreciate the thrill of being suspended high above precipices – at 1,600m to 2,200m above the sea level – with a perfect bird’s eye view of the sublime surroundings.
Image credit: Zermatt Tourism
The new bridge cost over 750,000 Swiss Francs (S$1.05m), and took engineers 10 weeks to erect. It effectively replaces an older suspension bridge that had been damaged and closed in 2010 due to falling rocks. At roughly 500m across and 85m high, it is now the longest bridge in the world, beating the record that was previously set by China’s Zhangjiajie Canyon.
The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge bridge is most certainly a structure of magnificence. Zermatt Tourism, however, warns that going on the bridge is definitely not for the faint-hearted; those with a fear of heights or easily affected by vertigo should think carefully before deciding to attempt it!
What about you? Would you dare to take a step on it? Given the opportunity, we know that we definitely would!
