Saas-Fee, population 1,500, was way ahead of the environmental pack. It's been car-free since 1951. That means cars are parked in parking structures at the edge of town and you hoof it from there.
See those wooden huts on stilts (some date back more than 200 years)? Those are raccards. Farmers used them to store grain and/or animal feed. Why are they on stilts? To keep rodents from getting in and eating the food. Right above each stilt you'll see a large round stone--though rodents could climb up the wood--the round stone stops them from going further.
It's pretty quiet on the main street in June. Saas-Fee isn't upscale and doesn't have high-end stores and hordes of tourists like Zermatt, its neighbor on the other side of the mountain but, I think that's why it's a draw for the Swiss.
Building something new in ski resorts in Switzerland is always a long, very restrictive process. Any new housing has to be 40% wood to keep Saas-Fee's character
Small electric vehicles are allowed. This is a hotel's transport vehicle.
Jeez, one of Saas-Fee's main streets is being torn up. Not good for business but, guess it's better to do it during the off-season.
Building on left is school and city hall.
You can see a ski lift on the left (one of 22 ski lifts). Tennis courts, soccer fields and golf driving range in center.
Wouldn't mind whacking a few though it's a good thing the netting is up on the left.
View from below of that bridge I took earlier from above.
At the edge of town next to car parking structures are several car repair shops. Funny seeing only mini-electric vehicles being serviced.
One of several multi-story parking structures.
I'm cycling down the mountain. That the village of Saas-Grund below.
Usually in cemeteries you see headstones of all shapes, sizes, colors along with family plots. Here in Saas-Grund one size fits all as there's no deviation. Beautiful chapel.
Going down I find myself cycling in the middle of the road in some steep parts as the railing doesn't give me peace of mind.
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