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SCHILTHORN – PIZ GLORIA
James Bond and Beyond - Best Revolving Alps Views

It is twenty some films in the James Bond 007 series of movie adventures with the “Quantum of Solace” the latest, but remaining one of the most memorable sequences of the famous spy series is the assault on the snow capped alps peak fortress of villain Ernst Stavros Blofeld in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. The film was shot on location at Schiltorn in the Jungfrau region of central Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland in 1967. The incredible views of the mighty Alps still attract mountain lovers to this mountain top restaurant and viewing platform ever since. The filming of the James Bond adventure was instrumental in bringing one of the world’s wonders to life as well. The cable car aerial lift to the planned Schiltorn restaurant had run out of money when the Bond film was being planned. The Broccoli & Saltzman film company agreed to finance the completion of the cable tramway in exchange for exclusive filming. The rest as they say, is movie, and spy history.

Whether one comes to Switzerland with skis or without, winter or summer, one of the most incredible views of the Alps can be had from Schiltorn with its Piz Gloria revolving restaurant at 9748 feet altitude. The 360 degree view is of the Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger triplet of Alps mountain peaks. The Eiger was made famous by its own movie “The Eiger Sanction” with Clint Eastwood. The views in the other direction are of the Bernese and Valais Alps. In clear weather one can see as far as Mont Blanc in France and the Black Forest of Germany. The restaurant serves ala carte dishes and a popular James Bond 007 breakfast buffet until 11 am. While not always true and a matter of luck, the best Alps viewing weather is often in the morning. A film of the climatic James Bond sequences filmed at the location are shown in the “Touristorama” theater.

Schilthorn is reached by the cable car from Stechelberg, about an hour train ride from Interlaken or Grindelwald via Lauterbrunnen. The journey actually takes four separate cable rides and about a half hour in all from Stechelberg through Gimmelwald. It is also possible to go from Lauterbrunnen via the Murrenbahn cable to Mürren, a carless Alps village which is the highest ski resort area in the Bernese Oberland. The Schilthornbahn ticket cost is 96 Swiss Francs for adults and 46 for children. The fare is half-price with a Swiss Pass (see Swiss Rail Pass Value). To save a little more money, there is a discount for early morning departures until 8:55 or late day trips departing Stechelberg after 3:25. Schilthorn - Piz Gloria is open all year except for periods of cable maintenance. Tickets can be purchased at any rail station. If one mountain peak isn’t enough the Jungfraubahn goes up through the mountains to the highest rail station in the world, the Jungfraujoch, connecting from Lauterbrunnen to Klein Scheidegg (see Jungfraujoch - Scenic Rail to Top of Alps). Or for a cheaper trip to an Alps view restaurant the funicular cog railway from Mürren to Allmendhubel at 6273 feet is only 12 Swiss Francs, though not as impressive as the Bond spy view mission to Schiltorn. © Bargain Travel Europe

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These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photos courtesy Schilthorn Cableway, Ltd Interlaken

SEE ALSO:

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