A Wonderful Day at our favourite Mountain Restaurant: Alpstübli Selez.

(This post published Feb.8, 2025. Side note: The hosts, Joe and Mary Arnold, retired in 2022 and the restaurant is unfortunately no longer in operation.)

Thursday June 13, 2019 -- The last day before the end of my Mom's two-week trip to Europe (possibly her final trip) to visit family mostly, we had a final very nice day after mostly nice weather, although at times too warm for this time of year (plus a couple of rainy days).  

My Mom has a fear of riding cable-cars, but was determined to overcome that fear as we really wanted to take her up to our favourite Alp Restaurant in the Schächental Valley not far from where we live, located on a fabulous alpine meadow called Alp Selez. This upper region can be accessed by a variety of convenient cable cars at various distances, so we went with the one with the shortest amount of walking required. It was only one km to walk each way, and with her nimble 82 years she even managed to navigate a couple of snowy patches and cross a couple of streams. (She also had no fear of the cable-car, as it was small and not so high above the ground). We had a superb lunch, lounged in the sun and watched a couple of calves ride the cable car up to alpine pastures. What started as a foggy morning turned out to be a splendid day, and a great way to end the vacation. 

This is the little cable car from Bürglen to Ruogig, which is the closest station to the Alp Selez Restaurant. It runs in two sections: The first section is a four-man cabin, the second is a six-man cabin. It looks like there is fog up where we are headed. 

Riding the first section of the cable-way, with a view over the town of Bürglen at the junction of the Reuss and Schächen Valleys. 

Mum had no problem riding the cable-car and rather seems to be enjoying it!

View as we head up the mountain. 

And this view is up the Schächen Valley

Starting off on our little walk toward the restaurant (1 km each way). There are wisps of fog here. 

There is still a surprising amount of snow up here, which we have to navigate through. 

Look at Mum, hopping over a rivulet!

A look up at the cliffs which form a ringed background around the alpine pasture. 

This is the lovely farm where the owners run a small restaurant called "Alpstübli Selez". 

Even though we had wisps of fog up here, there was lots of sunshine and only a handful of people, so we had a lovely sunny spot at one of the picnic tables on the patio. 

The owners of the small restaurant made the best grilled pork steak with a fine macaroni and cheese (with what was surely a schabziger cream sauce!)

Our view while enjoying our lunch! Much of the fog has lifted now. 

The end of a lovely two weeks with my lovely mom!

Close-up view of the mountains on the south side of the Schächen Valley. 

Here's what Mum was taking a photo of!

Enjoying the sunshine in the lawn chairs offered by the hosts!

Enjoying the sunshine in the lawn chairs offered by the hosts! And the day turned out to be quite spectacular. 

A short walk past the little farm before heading back to the cable-car station. 

Some early summer meadow flowers! We especially love the first Gentians. 

Heading back now to the farm and then the cable-car station, along a wide and easy road (1 km each way). 

A look back at the Alpstübli Selez as we head back to the cable-car station. 

Another look back toward the little Alpstübli

The road back to the cable-car station

What a beautiful view down into the Reuss Valley at the entrance of the Schächen Valley. Here comes the little cable car which we are going to take down now. 

What a surprise to see two very little cows riding up in the cable car!

VIDEO:

The farmers use these little cabins to transport cargo as well as livestock!

On the way down, we spotted a deer below us. 

Another look up the Schächen Valley on our way back down.

Now the lower section of the cable-car ride in the smaller cabin, to Bürglen below. From there it's a bus ride to Flüelen, and then the train back home. It's not even a 1½-hour trip from here! 

The Schächental Valley is near Altdorf in Canton Uri.