Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta

Brig is one of those quiet alpine towns where history still lingers in the streets. Tucked between steep mountains and narrow valleys, it has long been a crossroads between Switzerland and Italy.

Bernhard arrives from Zermatt, leaving the Matterhorn behind as the train follows the Rhône Valley north toward Brig. Today it’s peaceful and charming, but for centuries this town was an important gateway through the Alps, especially via the famous Simplon Pass.🌄

At the center of Brig stands the beautiful Stockalper Castle, built in the 17th century by Kaspar Stockalper von Thurm, one of the most powerful merchants of his time. Wealth from salt trade, mining, and transit routes turned Brig into a thriving alpine hub.🏰

Walking through the castle’s arcaded courtyard, Bernhard imagines the merchants and travelers who once passed through these same stone pathways centuries ago. 🪨

Fun fact: Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the first real road over the Simplon Pass, not for trade, but to move his massive cannons across the Alps after conquering northern Italy. The road was completed in 1805 and became one of the first engineered carriage roads through the Alps.

Meet the Swiss Faces of the Southeast U.S. 🇺🇸🇨🇭

The Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta is launching a new series, where we are spotlighting inspiring Swiss personalities living and working in the U.S. Southeast — from athletes to artists, researchers, and more.

We interviewed and watched a performance by .music, a musician and songwriter from Switzerland who is now based in Nashville. She talks about what led her to move to the United States, her musical inspiration, and where to find her music.

Stay tuned for more voices shaping Swiss-American stories.

Zermatt doesn’t feel real at first. It’s a small alpine village tucked under the unmistakable peak of the Matterhorn. Wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies, and that clean mountain air everywhere you turn. 🏔️🌬️

The Matterhorn rises to 4,478 meters and completely defines the skyline. Its pyramid shape is almost too perfect, four faces pointing roughly in different directions. Three are on the Swiss side in the Mattertal valley, and one faces Italy across the Valtournenche valley. 🏔️

Getting there is part of the experience. Cars are left in Täsch before boarding the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway for the final stretch, just 12 minutes, straight into the car-free village. 🚞 Bernhard presses his face to the window like it’s the first time seeing mountains.

Once arrived in Zermatt, everything slows down. No traffic, just electric taxis and the sound of footsteps on cobblestones. In winter it’s skiing ❄️; in summer it’s hiking trails, glaciers, and clear alpine lakes in every direction. ☀️🥾

At Stellisee, the Matterhorn shows up in the lake like it’s posing for a photo it already knows will turn out perfect. Bernhard goes quiet for a moment too, then a marmot sprints past way too close, and suddenly that’s all he cares about. 🦫

Montreux feels like a postcard come to life - lake, Alps, and flower-lined promenades bursting with color along the shore. 🌸🏔️

Bernhard arrived from the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, descending through centuries-old vineyards shaped by monks and generations of winemaking families. The train curves gently along the lake, vines on one side, open water on the other.

Every July, the town moves to the rhythm of the Montreux Jazz Festival. We couldn’t help but think back to Montreux Jazz Festival Miami and the weekend we spent with the Swiss Impact team from the Embassy, where we hosted a special activation representing Switzerland, followed by a reception at the end of February. That same spirit of music and connection continues to resonate across continents. ☀️

As evening settles, Bernhard walks along the promenade toward the Freddie Mercury statue. The singer recorded with Queen at Mountain Studios here and once called Montreux a place of peace and creativity. Facing the lake, he still seems part of it all.

The mountains fade into shadow, the water turns silver, and Montreux feels inseparable from music history, forever linked to Queen, and to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” born from the legendary 1971 casino fire. 🌄

In Montreux, the scenery sings and Bernhard enjoys every part of it 🎶✨