TRAVEL
Far right : Former Swiss President Adolf Ogi
There are many excellent accommodation hotel options , but ours for the past nine years has been the Bernerhof Hotel , which affords the most magnificent mountain views from its guest rooms , along with excellent dining and a friendly welcome . An International Scouts Centre is also located at the far end of the village , towards the cable car to Sunnbuel with an altitude of 2000 metres and it ’ s here that serious walking and skiing can be undertaken . Back in the village lie two impressive churches ; one Roman Catholic and the other Evangelical , both offering regular services to the villagers and special concerts from time to time as an added attraction . The locals are very welcoming and always keen to offer you the best possible hospitality , communicating with impressive ease in Swiss , German , French and English . Kandersteg has the sense of being almost a ‘ lost world ’ in the middle of the Swiss mountains , and for moments in high altitudes and when walking through the forests , it ’ s possible to experience that special moment of ‘ total ’ silence . I shall never forget our first visit in 2000 with our family . We arrived in the village at around teatime to witness hundreds of people gathered in the centre
with a Swiss band playing and awaiting with much excitement , the arrival of a former native of the village , Adolf Ogi , a member of the Swiss Government from 1988 to 2000 , who was twice President of Switzerland during his time in Government . He was in Kandersteg to open a newly-provided street that would connect the village by either car or foot to the cable car station to Oeschinen and to be named in his honour as the Ogi Strasse . During his reign as President , he was able to demonstrate the individuality of Switzerland using Kandersteg as a fine example to many distinguished guests from all over the world and as a result of this , the people of Kandersteg became more aware of political affairs both internally and externally . Unlike the villagers and other regular tourists present at this special event , we were far from prepared for the shivering , sub-zero temperatures - but it was well worth the chill to have experienced this very special occasion ! Whether you visit Kandersteg in the summer or during the winter months , it ’ s unlikely to disappoint you with its magnificent scenery , numerous outdoor options and warm hospitality . It is most certainly a village that should not be missed should you travel to Switzerland .
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