Geneva
The university city of Geneva is located on the Rhône outlet of Lake Geneva. The city’s landmark is the Jet d’Eau fountain. Over 200 international organizations are based in Geneva, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Red Cross. The United Nations (UN) has its European headquarters in the Palais des Nations. From here there is also a wonderful view over Lake Geneva and the mountains opposite. One of the most beautiful sights is the Romanesque St-Pierre Cathedral, which lies in the middle of Geneva’s picturesque old town. Antiquarian shops and elegant shops crowd along the winding cobbled streets. Geneva has around 30 museums and over 100 art galleries. Worth a visit are the art museum Musée d’art et d’histoire.
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UNESCO World Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch
The Jungfrau-Aletsch area has been the first alpine UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. It is located in the Bernese Alps and has the Oberland mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as a backdrop. It has the most glaciers and, with the Great Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps. There are also numerous glacial phenomena such as U-shaped valleys, glacial hollows, glacial horns and moraines. Rare animals such as the alpine ibex and the western green lizard live in this part of the Bernese Alps. Rare plant species can also be found here.
Winter sports
Switzerland is one of the most popular winter sports countries in the world. Whether skiing on slopes, in deep snow or on glaciers, whether cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, diaper changing courses, ice diving, snowbiking or snowboarding, in Switzerland winter sports fans are spoiled for choice against which breathtaking backdrop they want to be physically active. The country offers plenty of renowned winter holiday resorts and well over 200 winter sports areas: Villars is a popular winter sports and climatic health resort. The 1300 m high spa town of Leysin offers wonderful panoramic views of the Rhone plain, the Mont Blanc massif and Lake Geneva. The world-famous winter sports resort of St. Moritz is located in the Engadine region. Davos, Klosters and Arosa are also known all over the world for their excellent winter sports facilities.
Gruyères /Greyere
Gruyeres is a small, medieval and very picturesque town on a hill above the Saane. There are good restaurants, museums and a castle as well as rows of houses from the 15th to 17th centuries in the old town. Gruyeres Castle houses a museum exhibiting regional architecture, history and culture over eight centuries. The Tibet Museum in Gruyeres displays over 300 Buddhist sculptures, images and ritual works from various Himalayan regions. A visit to the show dairy in Gruyeres is also recommended.
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland with the Jungfrau region is one of the most beautiful holiday areas in Switzerland. Adelboden, Grindelwald and Lenk were popular with European nobility as early as the 19th century. The holiday and climatic health resort of Interlaken, located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, is the gateway to the Bernese Oberland and the starting point of the narrow-gauge Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB). Jungfrau (4158 m), Mönch (4099 m) and Eiger (3970 m), whose dangerous, almost vertical north face was not climbed until 1938, are among the most famous peaks in Switzerland. In the summer of 2006, a massive rockfall occurred on the Eiger, approx. 700,000 cubic meters of stones broke out of the east face.
Montreux and Chateau de Chillon
Montreux on Lake Geneva is often called the ‘Pearl of the Swiss Riviera’. From here there are classically beautiful views of the lake and the mountains. Montreux is known for its mild climate and relaxed spa town atmosphere. The world-famous international jazz festival takes place here every July – advance booking is recommended. Just a short bus ride away is the Château de Chillon, a defiant 12th-century moated castle and one of Switzerland’s most visited attractions.
Basel
The old university and commercial city of Basel is located in the border triangle between Alsace and the Jura on the Rhine. The medieval old town with its winding streets is worth seeing, as is the University of Basel, founded in 1460 and the oldest university in Switzerland. The oldest parts of the Minster date back to the 9th-13th centuries. Century, its two towers are visible from afar. Also noteworthy are the Spalentor and St. Peter’s Church. The city has a lot to offer culturally. There are over 30 museums, the Historical Museum Basel and the Toy World Museum Basel are particularly interesting. The Kunstmuseum Basel includes extensive collections of Dutch and German paintings from the 15th-17th centuries. Century, the print room and the museum for contemporary art.
Zurich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and is located on Lake Zurich, from which the Limmat flows. Boat trips on Lake Zurich are popular in summer. The city’s landmarks are the twin towers of the Großmünster. The town hall dates from the late Renaissance. The Bahnhofstrasse is one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Europe. Zurich has more than 50 museums. A visit to the State Museum is worthwhile because of its important cultural and historical collection. The Zurich Schauspielhaus is one of the most renowned German-speaking theaters. There are stained glass windows by Marc Chagall in the Fraumünster Basilica. If possible, you should take a day trip to the Üetliberg, which you can reach with the Üetlibergbahn. In good weather, a wonderful panoramic view of the Alps opens up from the viewing platform.
