The virtually endless stairs of Mount Niesen The steps that run alongside the Niesen funicular railway, in the Bernese Oberland, number over 11,000. Being able to boast the longest stairway in the world is quite the claim to fame, even if it is not open to the public. The mountain itself has been a source of fascination since the 18th century. STÉPHANE HERZOG The little red Niesen train is at a bit of a slant, as is tradition for this type of train. This is to ensure it can tackle the steep slope leading to the peak of Mount Niesen (2,362 m) in the Bernese Oberland, which has been a Swiss tourist hotspot since the 19th century. The route, divided into two legs, is virtually a straight line. The steps running up the side of the funicular railway are equally straight. There are 11,674 of them, making it the longest stairway in the world. It is quite the claim to fame but, naturally, almost all visitors to Niesen – 84,000 a year on average – expend no effort in reaching the peak other than hanging onto their seats when the funicular begins to climb. We have come a long way from the days when the first tourists climbed the mountain on foot, on muleback or, for the wealthier, in sedan chairs carried by people! They used to sleep in the hut erected at the peak in 1856. This was before the funicular became operational in 1910. Nowadays, access to the famous stairway is reserved for top athletes. Every June, the sporting elite meet up to climb the Niesen train’s metal and stone steps over 1,669 metres of elevation gain, at a constant incline of 68 percent. Unlike with alpine routes, the effort is mind-numbing. The Dead straight and parallel to the Niesen railway track: the world’s longest stairway, with 11,674 steps. Photo: Stéphane Herzog Higher, farther, faster, more beautiful? In search of somewhat unconventional Swiss records Today, we look at the Niesen Stairway, which at 11,674 steps is the longest stairway in the world. Swiss Review / July 2025 / No.3 19 Report
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYwNzMx