Lausanne
Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud, is located on the north shore of Lake Geneva. Landmarks are the Notre Dame Cathedral in the Cité, the old town, and the neighboring castle (1397-1431). The best way to explore the old town of Lausanne is on foot. A walk along the old port of Port d’Ouchy is nice. From Ouchy you can take the subway to the center of Lausanne. Lausanne is the headquarters of the Olympic Committee, founded in 1894. Numerous museums and a wide range of cultural and sports activities ensure variety. The Musée Olympique provides an overview of the history of the modern Olympic Games. The town hall with its Renaissance façade is also worth seeing. A museum that is unique in the world is the Musée de l’Art Brut, which exhibits Art Brut (outsider art).
Lavaux wine region
Vineyards cover the slopes of the Monts du Lavaux. Riex and Epesses are two of the most famous wine villages on the north shore of Lake Geneva. The steep slopes of the Lavaux above Lake Geneva between Lausanne and Vevey have been transformed into a terraced landscape for viticulture since the 12th century. Since June 2007, the Lavaux wine region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Andyeducation: Introduction to education system in Switzerland, including compulsory schooling and higher education.
Bern
In Bern, the capital of Switzerland, you have a view of the Jura to the west and the Prealps and the Alps to the south. The medieval town center, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is located on the Aare peninsula between the Clock Tower and the Nydegg Church. The numerous museums are worth seeing. Bern has the largest collection of works by the painter Paul Klee.
Lucerne
Lucerne is located on Lake Lucerne, where paddle steamer trips are offered. The Hofkirche, the town hall and the lion monument are just a few of the most interesting buildings in the city. The 170 m long covered chapel bridge, which leads over the Reuss, was originally one of the oldest wooden bridges in the country (built in 1333). It burned down in the summer of 1993 but was rebuilt within a year. The Richard Wagner House and the Swiss Museum of Transport are also worth a visit. The Rotsee Regatta is held every year on the nearby Rotsee. Sonnenberg, Gütsch, Pilatus and all other mountains in the Lucerne area can be reached by cable cars, ski lifts and cog railways.
Grisons
In Graubünden people practice alpine farming, agriculture, animal husbandry and in the warm valleys also viticulture. There are a total of 150 valleys in the rough Graubünden mountain region. 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. St. Moritz is the epitome of elegance, while Davos, at an altitude of 1560 m, also offers something for those interested in art – the Kirchner Museum Davos shows the largest private collection of the works of the painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Typical Engadin stone houses can be found in St. Moritz, Pontresina and Zuoz. The Inn flows through the high valley of the Engadin, whose slopes are covered with larch forests. The highest point in Graubünden is the Bernina group.
Palaces and castles
In Switzerland there are numerous palaces, castles and ruins worth seeing. Chillon Castle near Montreux is located on a rocky island on the shore of Lake Geneva. It is the most visited historical building in Switzerland. On the mountain on which Lenzburg Castle stands, a dragon is said to have lived before the castle was built. Today you can visit several exhibitions of the Aargau Museum in Lenzburg Castle. The three very well-preserved medieval castles of Bellinzona (Castelgrande, Castello di Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the historic small town of Brig on the southern bank of the Rhone is the most important baroque palace in Switzerland and a symbol of the Upper Valais, the Stockalper Palace. If you like castles, you should go to Leuk, Sierre, Sion and Monthey.
Monasteries and churches
The monastery of St. Johann in Müstair is one of the world cultural assets of UNESCO. It dates from Carolingian times. One of the most important architectural monuments in Switzerland is the former Benedictine monastery church of St-Pierre in the small town of Romainmôtier. In Engelberg there is a magnificent Benedictine monastery and a baroque church that houses the largest organ in Switzerland. The pilgrimage church of Madonna del Sasso in Orselina above Locarno and Lake Maggiore is famous. The Benedictine monastery of Einsiedeln is located in a landscape with a deep blue lake and rugged mountain peaks. In this monastery is the famous Black Madonna from the 15th century.
Rhine Falls
The area around Lake Constance on the northern edge of the Alps has an exceptionally mild climate, which favors wine and fruit growing. The Rhine flows through Lake Constance and forms the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, the largest waterfall in Central Europe. The mighty rock in the middle of the waterfall is remarkable. The Rhine Falls basin and the castles of Wörth and Laufen can be reached by boat. Schloss Laufen houses the Historama, an interactive exhibition dedicated to the Rhine Falls.
