Switzerland 2008

Join Pomegranate Tours for an amazing Historical and Geological journey through Switzerland. The students will be introduced to five different components throughout the tour.

‘The Gorge’

From the source of the Rhine River students will cycle by pushbikes alongside the river. The young river flows through magnificent landscape including a dramatic gorge. Of major interest is the geological facts of how the gorge came into existence and how the river shaped the landscape. In the beauty of this landscape the river will be approached by Kayak under the careful and expert supervision of the Kanuschule Versam .(www.kanuschule.ch).

Between Lake Constance and Basel.

Water has always been one of the most important considerations in the strategic decision about where to create a settlement. On the German side of Lake Constance there will be an excursion to a museum of Early Settlement.We travel further down the lake, following the Rhine again , pass the magnificent Rhine Falls. Eventually we will arrive at the Roman settlements of Augusta Raurica.

Basel.

Basel has three differing borders. France, Germany and Switzerland all converge in the one place which makes for a unique cultural centre. The river acts as a centre for trade, a means of transportation ( goods and ideas alike) and a border between the countries. It is here that students will visit some of the industries that traditionally have developed in sympathy with the environment. They will look at the history of papermaking, printing and bookbinding for example.

World of the Mountains.

The Engadine is home to the Morteratsch Glacier. It is here that students will be able to examine the different aspects of mountains, including the parts and mechanics of a glacier, the impact of Global Warming, glaciers as water reservoirs as well as being witness to the well documented example of the retreat of Glaciers. There will also be a visit to the Aletsch glacier.

Settlement Ballenburg - www.ballenburg.ch

With 100 original century-old buildings from all over Switzerland, "historical" gardens and fields, demonstrations of typical crafts, many special events and 250 native farmyard animals Ballenberg creates a vivid impression of rural life in bygone days. Ballenberg is in fact absolutely unique. You will find kitchens, bedrooms and living-rooms of reconstructed original houses and farm buildings from past centuries. In  workshops, craftsmen, using authentic tools, demonstrate old handcrafts and trades: from wood-carving, basket-weaving, spinning, weaving, bobbin-lace making and forging to making cheese and baking bread. You can see them close-up and even have a go yourself.