Holidays, events and national customs
Carnival in Basel, Chienbäse parade
Carnival in Basel
The Basel Carnival
Chienbäse parade in Liestal
This move in Liestal in the canton of Basel-Land in Switzerland is a very special one. On the evening before Rose Monday, numerous people walk through the old town of Liestal with pine brooms attached to beech poles. Pine brooms are a number of logs made of pine – to look like a kind of broom. These pine brooms are set on fire and are supposed to symbolize the power of the sun when walking through the city and to help break the power of winter. In the early 1930s, young men filled iron kettles with wood, which they put on an iron cart and then set the wood on fire. They pulled these self-made fire wagons through the city next to the pine broom supports. These burning wagons grew in popularity in the years that followed, until they were banned in 1948 due to the risk of fire.
Legal holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the location of Easter. Easter takes place on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, is 46 days before Holy Saturday. The date for Pentecost is then 50 days after Easter. Corpus Christi is celebrated on the second Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the first Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
6th January | Holy Three Kings |
March April | Good Friday, Easter Monday |
April | Ascension of Christ |
April May | Whit Monday |
May | Corpus Christi |
1st of May | Labor Day |
August 1 | National holiday |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
25./26. December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Switzerland Holidays
Cultural events
Month | Events |
January | Film days in SolothurnDreikönigsspiel in Weiler/Löschental |
February | Mardi Gras celebrations and paradesrisotto meals in Ascona’s piazza in many places |
March | Sample fair in BaselMarch 6th Fridolin fire in Glarus
International tourist salon in Lausanne Chalandarmarz in many places (spring festival) Primavera Concertistica di Lugano (spring concerts) |
April | Art and antiques fair, jewelry and watch fair in BaselEiermarkt before Easter in Basel
Näfelserfahrt in the Glarner Land (commemoration of the victory over Austria in 1388), six-bell ringing, spring festival concerts in Zurich |
May | Maycelebrations in many places International Jazz Festival in Bern
Swiss Amateur Film Days in Baden International Opera Festival in Lausanne Music festival “Golden Rose” in Montreux Summer fair in Zurich International music festival in Lausanne |
June | Traditional costume festival in BaarART (international art fair) in Basel
Small stage festival in Bern Jazz festival in Geneva Lake night festival in Lucerne Lake night festival in Zurich Western Swiss drummers and piper festival in Neuchatel |
July | Jazz Festival in Lugano and MontreuxCastle Concerts in Spieß
Beginning of the Tell open-air theater in Interlaken Old Town Festival in Lausanne Lake Night Festival in Lugano |
August | 1st August National holidayChess festival in Biel
Music festival weeks in Interlaken Engadine concert weeks in Pontresina Village festival in Mürren Horse market in Saignelegier Castle festival in Spieß |
September | Kleinbaslerfest in BaselInternational Music Weeks in Lucerne
Music Festival Weeks in Winterthur Music Festival Weeks in Ascona Mineral Exchange in Bern Alpine Gala in Gstaad Grape Festival in Locarno Wine Festival in Neuchâtel Jazz Festival in Zurich |
October | Basel autumn fair (fair)Chestnut
festival in Locarno Vintner festival parade in Lugano Folk festival in Bern |
November | Fair for inventions in GenevaAntiques fair in Lausanne
International mineral fair in Zurich |
December | In many places mask festivals around December 6 |
Sporting events
Month | Events |
January | Ballet Prize in LausanneInferno ski race in Lauterbrunnen
Inferno ski race and Swiss curling championship in Mürren International ski jumping in Gstaad |
February | Swiss Curling Championships in Leukerbad |
May | Cow fighting in Valais |
June | 100 km run in BielInternational high alpine balloon sport weeks in Mürren
Horse races in Yverdon-les-Bains |
July | Swiss Alpine Marathon in DavosInternational tennis championships in Gstaad
Inferno mountain run in Mürren |
September | Rotsee rowing regatta in LucerneInternational horse race in Lucerne |
October | Memorial run Murten FreiburgOlympic week in Lausanne |
November | Rütli shooting in Rütli |
climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a beach holiday at one of the numerous lakes, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role. A visit to Switzerland is worthwhile in every season. It is wonderful, for example, to hike or walk through the colorful lonely forests in autumn. And in winter Switzerland is a paradise in white.
For skiers
The ideal time for a skiing holiday in Switzerland is March. Then the sun already has a warming function when the snow conditions are mostly optimal. But on a number of glaciers you can also pursue your skiing pleasure in summer – then in a short shirt and in wonderful warmth.
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country. However, the values shown must be viewed very carefully, as the climate in the various regions of Switzerland can change considerably due to the differences in altitude.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 12 | 02 | -04 |
February | 12 | 04 | -02 |
March | 10 | 08 | 0 |
April | 12 | 14 | 04 |
May | 14 | 18 | 08 |
June | 14 | 20 | 10 |
July | 12 | 22 | 12 |
August | 14 | 22 | 12 |
September | 12 | 20 | 10 |
October | 12 | 12 | 06 |
November | 12 | 08 | 02 |
December | 10 | 04 | -02 |
Switzerland: sights
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that SZ stands for the nation of Switzerland as a two-letter acronym.
Bigger cities
Not only the landscape of Switzerland, but also numerous cities are fantastic vacation and travel destinations. The table shows the cities in Switzerland with over 30,000 residents:
Surname | Residents | Canton | Particularities |
Zurich | 380,5001.1 million in the agglomeration | Zurich | Zurich has the largest train station in Switzerland and the international Zurich-Kloten airport.Numerous large banks and insurance companies are also based here |
Geneva | 185,000 | Geneva | Geneva is the seat of numerous international organizations (UN, Red Cross) |
Basel | approx. 170,000approx. 190,000 [Canton Basel-Stadt] | Basel city | The city at the border triangle Switzerland-Germany-France with the motto “Basel ticks differently”. |
Bern | 123,000 | Bern | The medieval old town of Bern has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983 |
Lausanne | 122,000 | Vaud | The city is located on Lake Geneva in French-speaking Switzerland on Lake Geneva.Lausanne the seat of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). |
Winterthur | a little less than 100,000 | Zurich | “Gateway” to Eastern Switzerland and the seat of the Winterthur Group |
St. Gallen | 75,000 | St. Gallen | City of a Thousand StaircasesGateway to Appenzellerland
City in the Green Ring |
Lucerne | 60,000 | Lucerne | Lucerne is the social, economic and cultural center of Central Switzerla |
Lugano | 57,000 | Ticino | University, congress and culture city approx. 1 hour by car or train ride from Milan |
Biel/Bienne | 51,000 | Bern | Bilingual city and headquarters of the Swatch Group and headquarters of the Rolex manufacturing plant.Sees itself as a world watch metropolis |
Tuna | 42,700 | Bern | Thun is the largest garrison town of the Swiss army |
Koeniz | 38,000 | Bern | Seat of the Federal Veterinary Office and the Federal Office of Public Heal |
La Chaux-de-Fonds | Neuchâtel | ||
Freiburg | Freiburg | ||
Chur | 36,000 | Grisons | Chur The beginning or end and end of the mountain railway lines Albula and Bernina, which lead over the two alpine passes Albula and Bernina to Tirano in Italy. The railways have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 |
Schaffhausen | 35,000 | Schaffhausen | The Rhine Falls of Schaffhausen are just south of the city |
Nuenburg | Neuchâtel | ||
Vernier | Geneva | ||
Uster | Zurich |
Special buildings
City Hall of Basel
The city hall of Basel is a red building from the Burgundian late Gothic. It was built from 1504 to 1521 and has a beautiful clock from 1511/12 and facade paintings.
Appenzeller Show Dairy
The Appenzeller Show Dairy near Hundwil shows the production of Appenzeller cheese from milk delivery to sale.
Augusta Raurica
The Augusta Raurica near Basel was a 27 BC. Roman colony founded in BC, of which only the large amphitheater and the remains of a few temples are preserved today. The complex shows some restored houses and a museum.
Goetheanum
The Goetheanum near Dornachbrugg is a large concrete building in an expressionist style. It houses the Free University of Humanities founded by Rudolf Steiner.
Maison Tavel
The Maison Tavel in Geneva is the oldest private house in the city. It was built in the early 14th century in a Gothic style. Today you can admire souvenirs from the city’s history there.
League of Nations Palace
The League of Nations Palace in Geneva is the seat of the United Nations. The building was built between 1927 and 1939 and covers an area of 25,000 km². In the middle of the building is the assembly hall, the council chamber, conference rooms and a library. In the south are the secretariat buildings, in the north offices and consultation rooms.
Hotel Monte Verita
The Hotel Monte Verita in Ascona has served as a hostel since 1990 as the Centro Stefano Frascini international scientific symposia.
Spalentor
The remarkable Spalentor in Basel dates from the 14th century and is located at the end of the old town.
Technical buildings
Clock Tower
The landmark of Bern is the clock tower, the old city gate until 1250. On the east side, in 1530, an astronomical clock with figures that starts moving four minutes before every hour on the hour was attached.
Devil’s Bridge
The Devil’s Bridge from 1955/56 crosses the Reuss near Andermatt with a length of 86 m.
Oberhasliwerk
The Oberhasliwerk near Andermatt was built between 1925 and 1954 and consists of four individual power stations. It uses the amount of water from the Grimselsee, which is dammed by the Seeuferegg lock.
Jet d´eau
The Jet d´eau in Geneva is a fountain that shoots water up to 145 m high and is considered a symbol of the city.
Chapel
Bridge The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne was built in 1333 and spans the Reuss at 170 m. The covered wooden bridge is one of the oldest in Switzerland and the city’s landmark. In the attic it houses a collection of paintings on the history of the city.
Gotthard Tunnel
The Gotthard Tunnel, completed in 1980, is 17 km long and is one of the longest road tunnels in the world.
Special railways
Jungfraubahn, Höchst station
The Jungfraubahn travels in 50 minutes from the Kleine Scheideck station to the station on the Jungfraujoch, which is 3,454 m high. The railway was built between 1896 and 1912 and runs through an extremely beautiful alpine environment. The train stops in the middle of the Eiger north face and offers passengers a unique view of the north face through a glass wall. The cogwheel railway overcomes almost 1,400 meters in altitude over a length of 9.34 km – with a little more than 7 km in the tunnel.
At the centenary of the opening of the Jungfrau Railway on August 1, 2012, the upper part of the Jungfrau shone at the beginning of January 2012 – with the help of four floodlights with a respective output of 12,000 watts – the Swiss coat of arms.
The 4,158 m high summit of the Jungfrau was climbed for the first time on August 3, 1811 by the brothers Johann Rudolf and Hieronymus Meyer.
Davos-Parsenn-Bahn
The Davos-Parsenn-Bahn is 4,106 m long and overcomes an altitude difference of 1,106 m in 25 minutes.
Glacier Express
This narrow-gauge railway has been connecting the two winter sports resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz since 1930. The train has been running all year round since the Furka Base Tunnel was completed in 1982. The train takes about 8 hours for the 290 km long route. A train connection between Visp and Zermatt was opened as early as 1891 and was extended to Brig in 1930. The highest point of the route is at 2,033 m. A ride on this train is an unforgettable experience, also from a culinary point of view and at the end of the entire journey the traveler even receives a certificate of the trip. Parts of the railway line are to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the next few years.
Castles
Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon) Chillon
Castle is one of the most beautiful moated castles in Switzerland on the east bank of Lake Geneva.
Lenzberg Castle Lenzberg
Castle in Aarau dates from the 11th to 16th centuries and rises above the beautiful old town.
Aigle Castle Aigle
Castle near Aigle is one of the most important castle complexes in Switzerland. The castle, which dates from the 12th century, is surrounded by vineyards and impresses with its numerous turrets. It served as a prison until 1972; today it houses a wine museum.
Oberhofen Castle Oberhofen
Castle is located on Lake Thun.
Tellhaus
The Tellhaus from 1925 is located in Altdorf, where the Tellspiel is performed by Altdorf citizens.
Schloss a Pro
The Uri Mineral Museum is located in Schloss a Pro near Altdorf.
Munot Fort The Munot
Fort in Schaffhausen was built between 1564 and 1585 with walls over 5 m thick. From the fort you have a beautiful view of the city.
Arenenberg
Castle Arenenberg Castle near Mannenbach was built from 1540 to 1546 and was the residence of Queen Hortense de Beauharnais, the stepdaughter of Napoleon I and mother of Napoleon III, from 1830 to 1837.
Stockalper Castle
The Stockalper Castle in Brig is a baroque palace and was built between 1658 and 1678. Today the castle houses a library, the local history museum and two galleries.
Museums and collections
Note
You can find more museums than the ones shown here in the illustration of the Swiss site, such as Basel, Bern or Zurich.
Public Art Collection
The Basel Public Art Collection shows one of the most important art collections in Switzerland with old masters and modern art.
Kunstmuseum in Bern
The Kunstmuseum Bern houses an important collection of Swiss art as well as Italian paintings from the 14th to 16th centuries and French paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Kunstmuseum Luzern
The Kunstmuseum Luzern covers an area of around 2,000 m² on the 4th floor of the culture and congress center from the year 2000, the plans of which come from the architect Jean Nouvel (born 1945). The beginnings of the museum as an art collection go back to 1819. The representative of English Romanticism – Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) – was fascinated by Switzerland and its scenic attractions. Therefore, for example, he was in Lucerne on Lake Lucerne six times between 1802 and 1844. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Kunstmuseum Luzern, his works were on view here from July 6th to August 13th, 2019.
Europaplatz 1
6005 Lucerne T
el.: 0041 – (0) 41 – 226 78 00
Swiss Alpine Museum
The Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern provides a comprehensive picture of the Swiss Alps and their development.
Bernisches Historisches Museum
The Bernisches Historisches Museum was built from 1892 to 1894 in the form of a castle from the 16th century and shows a collection of prehistory and early history up to modern times, including an ethnography department.
Guild house of the forest people
The former guild house of the forest people in Biel was built between 1559 and 1561 in late Gothic style. Today the building with the stepped gable roof houses the seat of the art association and the music school.
Conny Island
The Conny Island theme park near Lipperswill includes a dolphinarium, a petting zoo and other leisure facilities.
Brownsche Kunstsammlung
The Brownsche Kunstsammlung in Baden shows works of impressionism, English and German painting.
Swiss Open Air Museum for Rural Building and Living Culture
The Swiss Open Air Museum for Rural Building and Living Culture in Ballenberg shows the traditional and economic ways of life of the old rural Swiss culture.
I nternational Clock Museum
The remarkable International Clock Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds shows timepieces from ancient Egypt to the present day and has a workshop for restoring antique clocks.
Historical Museum
The Historical Museum in Basel shows an important cultural and art history collection of late Gothic tapestries, ecclesiastical art as well as a representation of Basel city life from the Celts to today.
Bellinzola
The main attractions of Bellinzona are the three castles that dominate the cityscape. The Castello Grande dates from the 13th century and was built over a Roman fortress. The Castello di Montebello also dates from the 13th century, but was expanded from 1460 to 1480. Inside the castle there is a historical and archaeological museum. The third castle is the Castello di Sasso Corbaro from the 15th century. It houses a museum of arts, folk costumes and handicrafts.
Lugano
This is where the Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC), which opened in September 2015, is located. The new cultural center in Lugano in Ticino is dedicated to the visual and performing arts.
The museum is near the lake. The Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana located here emerged from the merger of the cantonal art museum and the museum of modern art of the city of Lugano. The exhibition area of 2,500 m² is spread over 5 floors. In addition, an area of 800 m² with around 1,000 seats offers the possibility of symphony concerts, opera, ballet or theater performances.
Piazza Bernardino Luini 6
6900 Lugano
Tel.: 0041 (0) 58 – 866 42 22
Reformation Monument
The Reformation Monument from 1917 in Geneva shows the main representatives of Calvinism as well as the state supporters of the Reformation.
Art and Antiques Museum
The Art and Antiques Museum in Geneva has a rich arts and crafts and archaeological collection, a weapons collection and a collection of paintings.
Ariana
The Ariana in Geneva was built between 1877 and 1884 and houses the International Academy of Ceramics as well as a ceramic and porcelain collection.
Swissminiatur
Swissminiatur in Melide shows Switzerland and Swiss sights on a scale of 1:25.
Olympic Museum
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne was opened on June 23, 1993 by Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Thyssen-Bornemisza
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection in Lugano is one of the most beautiful private picture galleries in Europe. The art collection includes Italian, Flemish, Spanish, German and French works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Swiss
Museum of Transport The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne shows the country’s transport system in 12 buildings, from cable cars to space travel.
Fondation Pierre Gianadda
The Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny includes a Gallo-Roman museum, exhibition galleries and a vintage car collection with automobiles from 1897 to 1939.
Swiss National Museum
The Swiss National Museum in Zurich was built from 1893 to 1898 as a castle-like complex and houses the most important collection on Swiss culture and history.
Alimentarium
Museum of Food in Vevey on Lake Geneva.
Aigle Castle Aigle
Castle near Aigle is one of the most important castle complexes in Switzerland. The castle, which dates from the 12th century, is surrounded by vineyards and impresses with its numerous turrets. It served as a prison until 1972; today it houses a wine museum.
Schloss a Pro
The Uri Mineral Museum is located in Schloss a Pro near Altdorf.
Stockalper Castle
The Stockalper Castle in Brig is a baroque palace and was built between 1658 and 1678. Today the castle houses a library, the local history museum and two galleries.
Churches and other sacred buildings
Minster of Basel
The Minster of Basel dates from the 9th to 13th centuries, but was renewed in the Gothic style in the 14th century. The towers date from the 11th and 15th centuries and are both over 60 m high. The Gallus Gate with its Romanesque figures and inside the church the pillar friezes, ceiling frescos and the cloister are particularly beautiful.
Königsfelden Monastery Königsfelden
Monastery near Brugg was founded in 1308. Beautiful glass windows from the 14th century are worth seeing.
Monastery complex in Disentis
This Benedictine monastery in the Bündner Oberland is considered the largest north of the Alps. Its origins go back to 720. Disentis is located at a train station for the Glacier Express from Zermatt via Brig to St. Moritz.
Collegiate Church
The Collegiate Church of Bellinzona was rebuilt from 1517 in Renaissance style. Baroque elements were added in the 17th and 18th centuries. The crucifixion and the marble altar inside the church are worth seeing.
St. Vincent Minster
The late Gothic St. Vincent Minster of Bern was started in 1421. The church tower dates from the 19th century. The beautiful west portal is richly decorated with sculptures. Inside the church, the beautiful carved choir stalls and the large organ with its 5,404 pipes are impressive.
St. Mariae Himmelfahrt
The St. Mariae Himmelfahrt cathedral in Chur dates from the 12th and 13th centuries and combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The rich sculptures and interior fittings, which range from the Carolingian period to the Baroque, are worth seeing. In the cathedral museum there is a valuable church treasure with objects from the 2nd and 4th centuries.
Benedictine Abbey Maria Einsiedeln
The Benedictine Abbey Maria Einsiedeln in Einsiedeln is a worth seeing example of Swiss baroque. The abbey was built in the 17th and 18th centuries and houses the famous monastery library of Einsiedeln Abbey with around 150,000 works.
St-Nicolas
The St-Nicolas Cathedral in Friborg was built in the 14th and 15th centuries as a three-nave Gothic church with a 76 m high front tower. Noteworthy are the figural decorations on the exterior and interior, the choir stalls, the font, the modern glass paintings and the beautiful organ.
St.Peter’s Cathedral St.Peter’s
Cathedral in Geneva was built between 1150 and 1232 in a Romanesque style with Gothic elements at the highest point in the old town. The two unfinished main towers date from the 13th century, the pointed tower from the 19th century. The late Gothic choir stalls, the capitals and the modern organ with 6,000 pipes make up the interior of the church.
St-Pierre et st-Paul Abbey
One of the oldest abbeys in Switzerland is the St-Pierre et st-Paul Abbey in Romainmotier, founded in the 5th century and dissolved in 1537. The former monastery church shows valuable frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Lausanne
Cathedral The Lausanne Cathedral, Notre-Dame, is a five-towered Gothic structure consecrated by Pope Gregory X in 1275. Protestant services are held there today. The beautiful glass paintings are particularly worth seeing, especially in the rose window.
Ringackerkapelle
The Ringackerkapelle in Leuk Stadt is considered to be one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Switzerland. It was built between 1690 and 1694, the large high altar dates from the 18th century. The interior of the chapel is decorated with beautiful stucco work.
Madonna del Sasso
The pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso with Capuchin monastery in Locarno dates from the 15th and 17th centuries. The paintings inside the church and the collection of sacred art in the monastery museum are worth seeing.
Abbey Church in Payerne
One of the main structures of Romanesque church architecture in Switzerland dates from the 11th century and is located in Payerne. The abbey church is laid out in the shape of a Latin cross and made of yellow and gray stone blocks. Inside there are frescoes from the 12th century that are worth seeing.
St.Martin
The church of St.Martin in Zillis is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Inside the church is the oldest fully painted wooden ceiling in the West. It consists of 153 pictures showing scenes from the Bible.
Benedictine abbey
The Benedictine abbey in St.Gallen dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and is now the seat of the bishop.
Collegiate Church
The collegiate church was built from 1755 to 1766 and stands out for its beautiful stucco work and colorful ceiling paintings. The famous abbey library comprises 130,000 volumes.
Augustinian
Abbey The Augustinian Abbey is the oldest monastery in Switzerland and was founded in 515. It houses the famous church treasure, which contains objects from the Merovingian period such as reliquaries, a collection of inscriptions and other valuable items.
Major universities
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, or ETH Zurich for short, founded in 1855 as the Eidgenössisches Polytechnikum, is a technical and scientific university. It is spread across two locations – in the center of Zurich and the Hönggerberg location outside the city center. The university has an excellent reputation and is one of the most renowned universities in Europe. Around 21,000 female and male students (32%) study here. The proportion of foreigners is around 39%. The university is divided into 16 departments and offers 23 Bachelor’s and 43 Master’s courses.
Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger
See under UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Lake Geneva
For a detailed description of the lake, see Geography of Switzerland.
Säntis
The Säntis is 2,504 m high and thus the highest point of the Alpstein massif and offers a very nice view over the Vorarlberg Alps and Lake Constance. A cable car leads from Schwägalp up to the summit.
Zoological Garden in Basel
The Zoological Garden in Basel is a large zoo that is well worth seeing and which the people of Basel affectionately call Zolli. It was opened in 1874 exclusively with European animals, but today it is mainly home to exotic animals.
Diavolezza
The Diavolezza is one of the most popular ski areas in the Alps. From there you also have a very nice view over the peaks of the Bernina group.
Griesbach Falls
The Griesbach Falls near Brienz plunge into Lake Brienz from a height of 300 m in 14 steps and offer a natural spectacle that is well worth seeing.
Great Aletsch Glacier
The Great Aletsch Glacier near Brig has an area of 170 km² and a length of around 22 km. Its ice cover is up to 800 m deep.
Rhine Falls
The most powerful waterfall in Central Europe is the Rhine Falls near Neuhausen. The Rhine pours there over a width of 150 m over a 22 m high cliff.
natural beauties
Swiss National Park
The Swiss National Park in the canton of Graubünden covers around 168 km² of nature reserve. Around a third of the park area is covered by forest.
Dufourspitze
The Dent Blanche with a height of 4,357 m. The mountain lies in the Valais Alps entirely on the territory of Switzerland. The first ascent was made on July 18, 1862 by mountaineers Jean-Baptiste Croz, Thomas Stuart Kennedy, Johann Kronig and William Wigram
Lauterbrunnen Valley
The Trümmelbach Falls are located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley between Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. They are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jungfrau Alpine Region with Eiger and Mönch, Aletsch Glacier and Bietschhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn with a height of 4,478 m is not the highest but without a doubt the most famous mountain in Switzerland. It lies between Zermatt in Switzerland and Breuil-Cervinia in Italy. It was first established on July 14, 1865 under the direction of the British mountaineer Edward Whymper and Michel-Auguste Croz from Chamonix, the British Francis Douglas, the British Douglas R. Hadow, the British clergyman Charles and by Peter Taugwalder and his son Peter Climbed the Taugwalder from Zermatt. Four of the rope team died on the descent – only Whymper and his father and son Taugwalder returned to Zermatt unharmed.
Switzerland: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Benedictine monastery St. Gallen (1983)
The Benedictine Abbey of St. Gallen was founded in 719 AD and the very influential monastery was expropriated through secularization in 1805. The monastery was rebuilt several times in the 18th century in the Baroque style.
The library has remained, with over 160,000 books on its shelves. These include valuable manuscripts and architectural drawings – and there are more than 400 books that are over 1,000 years old. The Benedictine monastery was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Benedictine monastery St. Johann in Müstair (1983)
The Benedictine monastery of St. Johann in Müstair is located in the canton of Graubünden. The ceiling of the monastery was in the Gothic style and when the ceiling was removed and the plaster removed in the last century, frescoes from Romanesque and Carolingian times were found. These pictures show biblical scenes.
There are also sculptures from the Romanesque period in the monastery. The Benedictine monastery of St. Johann in Müstair was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Old town of Bern (2000)
The old town of Bern was founded in 1191 as the “Zähringerstadt” (a family related to the Hohenstaufen), became a free imperial city in 1218 and became part of the Swiss Confederation in 1553. The old town has been divided into five quarters since 1798. The districts are connected to each other by high bridges.
The old town is about 535 m high and the river Aare flows around it in a loop. Here you will find romantic alleys, such as B. the Kramgasse, which leads from the clock tower “Zytglogge” into the city. Albert Einstein lived here in an apartment on the 2nd floor of the house “at Kramgasse 49”, which now houses a museum about the life and work of Albert Einstein. Einstein lived in Bern from 1902-1909 and in this house from 1903-1905.
The old town of Bern was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000.
The three castles of Bellinzona (2000)
The three castles are in Bellinzona in Ticino. The Castelgrande castle is centrally located, around which the other fortifications are grouped. Castelgrande has an area of approx. 30,000 m² = 3 hectares. From the location of the castle one overlooks the entire Ticino valley. The second castle, the Montebello, is integrated into the complex. This complex of castles completely monitored the passage into the valley. The third castle is located in the southeast of the other two castles and is built on a rock. The castles are part of a defense system that was expanded in the 15th century and was intended to serve as a “dam”. The fortifications were considered impregnable and protected Bellinzona from armed attacks. In 1503, Arona was in the peace of France and Milan recognized that Bellinzona belongs to the Swiss Confederation. The weir systems were no longer needed. The three castles of Bellinzona were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000
Alpine region Jungfrau with Eiger and Mönch, Aletsch Glacier and Bietschhorn (2001, 2007)
The three mountains Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger lie next to each other, the Mönch has a height of 4,107 m, the Jungrau of 4,158 m and the Eiger of 3,970 m. The Jungfrau Railway, a cogwheel railway that runs through the middle of the Eiger rock up to a height of 3,454 m – the highest railway station in Europe offers a really unique view of the Eiger north face..
In 2006, around 500,000 m³ of rocks broke off on the east side of the Eiger on the lower Grindelwald glacier. A cloud of dust enveloped Grindelwald and the surrounding area for hours. Before that, a rock, the so-called “Madonna from the Eiger”, an approx. 30 m high rock peak, had already broken off. The legendary north face was climbed for the first time in 1938.
At the centenary of the opening of the Jungfrau Railway on August 1, 2012, the upper part of the Jungfrau shone at the beginning of January 2012 – with the help of four floodlights with a respective output of 12,000 watts – the Swiss coat of arms.
The Trümmelbach Falls are located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley between Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. They are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jungfrau Alpine Region.
On the greasy meadows of the mountains, among other things, bellflowers, cork’s beaks, snake knot oak, parsley, columbines, alpine roses and forest hyacinths grow at different heights. The area is wooded up to an altitude of 1,800 m. Up to there are sycamore, rowan, pine and spruce forests. In even higher regions arnica, edelweiss and gentian grow among others. Many different animal species live in these high mountains. Over 110 species of butterflies were counted, reptiles, several species of amphibians and numerous species of birds were found. Among the mammals are deer, marmots, chamois and ibex.
These Alpine regions were added to the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in 2001 and expanded in 2007.
Monte San Giorgio (2003, 2010)
The Monte San Giorgio mountain is located in Ticino on Lake Lugano, its height is 1,097 m. Significant fossils from the Middle Triassic were found there, the fossilized fossils of ichthyosaurs, fish and invertebrates such as insects and reptiles are particularly numerous. The mountain is forested and many rare plants grow there. There are numerous caves in the mountain and marble is mined.
Monte San Giorgio was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2003. In 2010 it was expanded to include the part in Italy. The world natural heritage is thus cross-border to Italy.
Vineyard terraces in Lavaux (2007)
The Lavaux wine-growing region lies between Lausanne and Vevey.
The Romans were already growing wine on the steep slopes in this area around 100 AD. The Cistercian monks built step-shaped, fortified terraces in the Middle Ages.
As the harvest and maintenance on the slopes were extremely difficult to manage, monorails were built to transport them upwards. The wines made there are very noble and are among the top wines. The vineyard terraces were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007.
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina cultural landscape (2008)
The Albula Railway is part of the Rhaetian Railway, it connects Thusis in Graubünden with the health resort of St. Moritz in the Engadine. Some sections of the route are spectacular, for example it leads over Landquart and Chur, crosses the Hinterrhein, the 89 m high Soliser Viaduct and the 65 m high Landwasser Viaduct, which describes an arc with a radius of 100 m, which then leads into a tunnel of the opposite rock face opens. The route is 63 km long, has 55 bridges, goes through 39 tunnels and overcomes a difference in altitude of around 1,000 m. There is a difference in altitude of 417 m between Bergün and Preda, whereby the route is only 6.5 km long (as the crow flies). The route was lengthened and spiral and spiral tunnels and viaducts crossing the valley were created artificially. The train crosses itself twice on the route. Construction of the railway began in 1898 and the line to St. Moritz was expanded in 1904. The Rhaetian Railway was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008. The world heritage is cross-border too Italy.
Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (2008)
The Sardona Tectonic Arena is located between Elm, Schwanden, Kerenzerberg, Flums, Bad Ragaz and Flims. The “Glarus Thrust” is recognizable as a yellow-colored scratch in the rock walls from a great distance. It rises from the Vorderrhein Valley to a height of 3,000 m and then falls from the Hausstock-Sardona to the north Millions of years ago on flysch rock that is 35 to 50 million years old. Old rock lies on much younger rock.
The landscape here is almost untouched, so the biodiversity of flora and fauna is great. Ibex have been resettled here, which in of Switzerland were nearly extinct..
said to be included in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 2008:
1. The visibility of the occurrence of a mountain formation in a mountain landscape
2. The site as a research object
3. The significance for geology
Urban landscape of the watch industry: La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle (2009)
The towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are located in the Neuchâtel Jura at an altitude of around 1,000 m. The villages that existed there before were cremated by devastating fires in 1833 and 1844, so that something new could arise. This is how two cities arose that were built by watchmakers for the watchmaking industry.
The growing industry of clock mechanics in both cities shaped the cityscape of both cities at the end of the 19th century. Apartments were built coupled with light-flooded workshops so that workers could work at home, and factories were built. The streets are laid out like a chessboard, so sobriety and economy prevailed in the planning of the city. The quality of life of the workers was taken into account and small gardens were promoted at the workers’ apartments and attention was paid to cleanliness and clarity. Nowadays, research and work in the field of microtechnology and micromechanics is also being carried out in cities.
The watchmaking urban landscape was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2009
Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps (2011)
At the meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris in June 2011, the archaeological pile dwellings around the Alps in Switzerland were added to the list of German UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
At this meeting, a total of 111 pile construction sites in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia were included in the UNESCO list as cross-border world heritage sites.
The oldest sites are dated 5,000 years BC. Dated. Through these finds, the life of the then residents as well as their habits can be well understood and one gained knowledge about the cattle breeding and agriculture of that time. Textiles, bicycles and even wagons and dugout canoes for moving on the water were found.
The architectural work of Le Corbusier (2016)
On July 17, 2016, 17 works in seven countries in honor of the architectural works of Le Corbusier were presented under the heading “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement” at the conference in Istanbul added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Therefore, this world cultural heritage is considered to be cross-border. According to UNESCO, these structures are a testament to a new architectural language that had meant a break with the past. The award-winning structures were built over a period of around half a century.
In addition to the Villa le Lac and the Maison Clarté house in Switzerland, there
are plans for the new city of Chandigarh in Punschab in India,
the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo in Japan,
the house of Dr. Curutchet in La Plata in Argentina,
the large residential building (Unité d’habitation) in Marseille in France
and the Maison Guitte in Antwerp in Belgium.
– Maison Clarté residential building The Maison Clarté
residential building in Geneva, Switzerland dates from 1930–32 and is located on the edge of the city center with a view of Lake Geneva. The client was the Swiss industrialist Edmond Wanner, who also worked as a building contractor. The steel frame building houses 45 duplex apartments in the then current standard. There are two apartments per floor on each of the two stairwells in a block of the house. The building was extensively renovated between 2007 and 2009.
– Villa le Lac
The Villa le Lac was built between 1923 and 1924 according to plans by Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier’s mother, a musician, lived here until her death and the musician Albert Jeanneret (1886-1973) – a brother of Le Corbusier – lived there until 1973. The villa is currently a Swiss cultural monument of national importance. Route de Lavaux 21 1802 Corseaux Switzerland
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier (originally: Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris) was born on October 6, 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel.
He was a Swiss-French architect, architectural theorist, urban planner and painter and furniture designer. Le Corbusier is one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, but his works also led to fierce controversy and in some cases are still controversial today.
He died on August 1965 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin near Monaco.