Obergschwend–Ribi Burggeist Cable Car

Rigi is the mountain that Swiss tourism calls the Queen of the Mountains, an isolated massif between Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug and Lake Lauerz whose summit gives a view over a large part of central Switzerland. It was one of the first mountains in Europe to develop as a destination for visitors, and it still carries one of the densest networks of mountain transport in the Alps: cogwheel railways from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau, aerial cable cars from Weggis and Kräbel, and a few smaller lifts that serve individual farms and hamlets. The cable car named here belongs to this last group.

Its name points to Obergschwend and Ribi, places on the slopes above the lake that are far less well known than Rigi Kaltbad or Rigi Kulm. Lifts of this kind are working infrastructure first and tourist attractions second, and they exist so that farmers, innkeepers and residents can reach homes and pastures that would otherwise be a long climb. Because details such as timetables, fares and whether the lift is open to the general public vary, it is wise to check the operator's information before planning a trip around it.

The Rigi Kaltbad area itself is well worth the journey. The village sits on a sunny terrace at about 1,450 metres, reached by the cogwheel train from Vitznau, which opened in 1871 and was the first mountain railway in Europe, or by the cable car from Weggis. From the terrace the view opens across Lake Lucerne to Pilatus and the peaks of central Switzerland. Rigi Kaltbad is also known for its mineral baths, a modern spa building set into the mountain, and for its promenades and short walks. A footpath leads on toward Rigi First and the summit at Rigi Kulm, about 1,800 metres, where the panorama includes the Alps, the Jura and the lakes of the Swiss Plateau.

Walking on the Rigi is easy, with wide paths, many benches and inns along the way, and the slopes are green in summer and white in winter. The area has a long tradition of hospitality, and mountain inns offer regional dishes and a place to rest.

Bring a jacket even in summer, since the wind can be cool, and check weather conditions before going up, because fog on the Rigi can hide the view completely.