Titlis

Engelberg is a small town in central Switzerland near Lucerne which, thanks to its location at the foot of the Titlis glacier (3,238 m), has become a year-round ski resort. Engelberg has two ski areas. On the north side, on sunny slopes, is the Brunni ski area, whose pistes are mostly easy. To the south lie the ski areas on the slopes of the Titlis, served by the modern Rotair revolving cable car. Part of the Titlis massif is covered by a glacier whose lower sections pose no particular skiing challenge, while the upper ones demand solid skills and strong nerves. Cross-country skiers have attractive trails both in the valley and higher up in the mountains. The trails total 40 km. Engelberg was once a small monastery village cut off from the rest of the world; today it is a modern winter sports resort. As befits an Alpine resort, the accommodation is wide-ranging, from inexpensive apartments to exclusive hotels. The mighty Benedictine abbey from 1120, still standing today, is one of the area's biggest tourist attractions. For those arriving in Engelberg by car: the car parks at the mountain railways charge a fee. Local transport, however, is free and, interestingly, not only holders of valid ski passes but all visitors and residents can ride free of charge.