The Alps 1900. A Portrait in Color

In 1868, the esteemed French historian Jules Michelet declared that "nothing compares to the Alps," encapsulating the awe that this vast mountain range inspires. Situated at the core of Europe, the Alps encompass some of the planet’s most magnificent natural wonders, including Mont Blanc, the Jungfrau, and the Matterhorn, alongside their breathtaking glaciers. The tourism industry in this region began to flourish in the late 19th century, expanding substantially with the growing appeal of winter sports over the following decades. This book invites readers to embark on a nostalgic journey through a period when early mountain trains and cog railways transported men in lederhosen and women in long dresses to the glaciers' edges. Tourists of the era were led by local guides and often rode on mules, while the first climbers were viewed with skepticism, and skiing was a rare spectacle. The narrative unfolds through captivating 19th- and 20th-century photochromes, photographs, and color postcards, as well as vintage travel posters and brochures. It traverses high-altitude passes such as Mont-Cenis, Simplon, Brenner, and St. Gotthard; scales peaks like Mont Blanc, the Eiger, the Wetterhorn, and the Dolomites; and admires the serene lakes of Switzerland, Italy, Bavaria, and Slovenia. Additionally, it offers explorations of regions like Tyrol, the Via Mala, and the Engadin, and depicts luxurious winter stays at grand hotels in Gstaad, Grindelwald, Davos, St. Moritz, and Cortina. The journey is enriched with evocative literary references from travel writers, capturing the joyful days of untouched slopes and immaculate snow.