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.

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Press kit for the opening in Switzerland

The post The Swiss section is opened! first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

In January of this year, Miniatur Wunderland auctioned off five plots of land in Wunderland Switzerland. The proceeds from the auctions were donated to organisations that work for the welfare of children. The 0.3 square metre plots ultimately went for over 30,000 euros under the hammer!

The third plot was purchased at auction by the family man Hartmut Villinger from Waiblingen near Stuttgart in favour of Dunkelziffer e.V.. The German entrepreneur would like to build this property together with his three sons Georg, Moritz and Cristof.

Over the last few days and weeks, the Wunderland’s mini carpenters have been busy hammering the laths together on the 400 cm² site and are expected to hammer in the last nail on 22 March at around 9.30 am.

And so we have spent the last few weeks sending invitations to Wunderland and the real world to give the carpenters an unforgettable celebration. A host of Wunderland celebrities have already announced their attendance to feast on sausages, potato salad and pea soup.

But an illustrious company from the real world will also be attending the topping-out ceremony. Dana Schweiger, as godmother of Dunkelziffer e.V., will pronounce the blessing for the house and one of the two mayors of the Swiss village, Gerrit Braun, will nail the obligatory birch branch to the roof truss.

We would be delighted if you would do the carpenters the honour of attending the inauguration. Of course, there will also be the usual food and drink for all real people (even if the latter is not everyone’s cup of tea at this time of day J)

Dates:
Topping-out ceremony with Dana Schweiger in Wunderland Switzerland and handover of the ownership certificate to Hartmut Villinger

Date: 22/03/2007

Time: 09.30 – 10.30 a.m.

Location: Miniatur Wunderland, Switzerland section

Contact person:

Miniatur Wunderland: Sebastian Drechsler (040 / 300 6 800 or
0163/4183600)
Dunkelziffer e.V.: Julia Falck (040 / 48 48 48)15

The post Invitation by the association of very small carpenters to the gala with Dana Schweiger first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

1. …modelling is addictive,
2. …we have many perfect artists that we would like to continue to employ,
3. …it’s fantastic for guests to be able to explore something new every time they visit,
4. …as a journalist you always have new material to write about … J

We currently have a further 5 construction phases planned until 2014. We have been building the 5th construction phase ‘Switzerland’ for a year now.

Special features: This section will be the biggest highlight! We have taken out the ceiling on approx. 100 m2. You walk between the Alps and suddenly find yourself on the edge of the abyss! At this point, the mountains are already almost 6 metres high. They reach up to the 3rd floor in the 100 m2 opening and thus realistically connect the two floors. You can walk down a staircase in the mountains and arrive on the third floor. A magnificent impression when you look up from there – mountains up to the ceiling of the 4th floor – i.e. over six metres high. On the 3rd floor, the path continues through a gorge and the visitor eventually arrives in southern Switzerland.

There will be plenty of highlights. The Matterhorn can already be recognised. Famous railway lines such as the Glacier Express or the Gotthard route will be just as present as the fantastic mountain lakes and reservoirs. Visitors will be able to go inside a mountain and see underground scenarios. We expect to open the most elaborate construction phase to date in autumn 2007.

according to current sections
Final expansion (2014) incl. Switzerland
Rental space 6,000 sqm 6,000 sqm
Model area over 1,600 sqm approx. 1,150 sqm
Construction phases 10 construction phases 5 construction phases
Track length approx. 20,000 metres 12,000 metres
Trains 1,300 830
Wagons 15,000 13,900
Longest train 14.51 m 14.51 m
Computer 64 40
Lights approx. 500,000 approx. 275,000
Houses+bridges 6,000 3,500
Figures 250,000 180,000
Cars 10,000 5,000
Trees 330,000 205,000
Construction time 850,000 hours 605,000 hours
Employees 170 162
Construction costs approx. 15,000,000 7.3 million (excl. Switzerland)

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