Press release on the Swiss opening on 12 November 2007 – The Alps have moved.
Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg opens a new section on 12 November – Switzerland. It took 130,000 hours of work to create Switzerland with six metre high mountains, breathtaking landscapes and many other attractions.
The construction of this section often posed problems for the modellers. Never before has a model section of such dimensions been built in Wunderland. ‘Just four years ago, we were of the opinion that it would be almost impossible to realise such a construction project. We are all more proud to finally open Switzerland after two and a half years of planning and construction,’ says Gerrit Braun, adding: ’The construction was a huge challenge for us. For example, the trains have to bridge a height difference of six metres in a very confined space so that the entire system remains coherent.’ These and many other requirements had to be taken into account during the construction of Switzerland. The planning of the substructure alone, a 15-tonne steel frame, took over a year. Every angle of incline in the track layout had to be calculated with millimetre precision and treads had to be installed every few centimetres for cleaning. The effort was worth it. The result is a section of superlatives that will undoubtedly become the new highlight of Miniatur Wunderland. The Swiss Alps, with peaks up to six metres high, rise up through a 100 square metre opening in the ceiling. On the slopes of the Matterhorn and the Bietschhorn, the cable cars wind their way down through breathtaking gorges one storey below into the valley. Visitors reach the new floor via a winding metal staircase that leads through the interior of the Alps past stalactite caves and grottos. From there, they will have a unique view of a marvellous mountain massif, the summit of which disappears into the ceiling. ‘Switzerland is already my new favourite section. The landscape is unique and full of sights. I can hardly wait to present our mini-Switzerland to visitors,’ says Frederik Braun.
A total of three cantons have been recreated with their own architecture and landscapes. Graubünden in the Wonderland Alps, Valais at the foot of the Matterhorn and Ticino in the far south. The cantons are full of loving details, such as a large open-air concert with 21,000 visitors or a chocolate factory with a real chocolate dispenser.
The new visitor areas will once again increase the capacity of Miniatur Wunderland. Over 900,000 visitors are expected in 2007 alone. ‘We are dreaming of perhaps breaking the 1,000,000 visitor barrier for the first time next year. With Switzerland, this is now possible,’ hopes Frederik Braun.
Let’s see whether this mountain can also be scaled.
Downloads
Press kit for the opening in Switzerland
