Crystal clear mountain air, alpine climate, impeccable level of tourist infrastructure, beautiful landscapes, medieval architecture - you can enjoy all this when you come to Switzerland. The country is famous for the presence of a lot of interesting places that are worth seeing for connoisseurs of European culture and history.
Holiday season in Switzerland
The choice of time of year for travel depends entirely on your individual preferences. Those who love skiing go to local resorts in winter and early spring. The air temperature during these periods is comfortable for skiing and snowboarding.
In spring and autumn, people come to Switzerland, as a rule, for the purpose of excursion tourism. Favorable weather allows for key attractions and cultural heritage.
In summer, the tourist business is concentrated in the area of Luganskoe, Zhenevskoe and Ritsa lakes. Despite the glacial origin of the reservoirs, the water temperature in July-August is warm enough for swimming and sunbathing.
TOP 15 interesting places in Switzerland
Basilica of Notre Dame in Geneva
One of the most important Catholic churches in the city is located near the Geneva train station. The Gothic style clearly distinguishes the building from the background of others and emphasizes the luxurious decoration. As a material for the construction, the craftsmen of the 19th century used sandstone rocks, due to which the temple turned out to be of a light yellow color.
In the vast halls of Notre Dame, there is a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary made of white stone. The walls are decorated with ancient bas-reliefs, and in the window openings there are marvelous stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of the Middle Ages.
Castle Gruyères
The magnificent building is located in the town of the same name and is considered the most visited. The construction of the castle dates back to 1282, after which the owners of Gruyere changed 20 times. Each of the owners of the castle supplemented it with new architectural elements, which made it possible to create an individual style.
Several centuries ago, the main function of the castle was to protect the city from the raids of foreign invaders. Nowadays, Gruyeres has turned into a museum that is best visited in summer or spring. The numerous rooms display a collection of knightly armor, paintings and clothing.
Rhine Falls
Near the Swiss town of Neuhausen am Rheinfall, every summer there is a congestion of tourists who want to see the largest waterfall in Europe with their own eyes. Turbulent streams of water descend from a twenty-meter height, creating a striking visual effect.
To make it convenient for visitors to admire this natural phenomenon, the local authorities decided to build five viewing platforms, from where the most successful views open. So, by boat, you can swim to the central platform, and then continue your route towards the Laufen castle.
Capellbrücke
The inhabitants of Lucerne are proud of the ancient European bridge, built in 1365. Initially, the building served as a covered defensive fortification and connected the old and new parts of the city. In the middle of the bridge rises the Wasserturm tower, where a dungeon was located 10 centuries ago, and then a fire tower.
The peculiarity of the Capellbrücke is that the inside of the building resembles a gallery, along which pictures of a triangular shape are hung. Unfortunately, in 1993 there was a fire that destroyed 78 paintings.
Gornergrat railway
It is also considered a famous landmark in Switzerland, as it passes through the most beautiful natural areas of the country. The trains run along the road thanks to the well-functioning electrification system that supplies the trains with the necessary energy. The length of the railway line is nine kilometers.
Tourists use Gornergrat most often to get to the territory of the popular resort of Zermatt. The train ride will give you maximum pleasure, as you will be able to admire the surrounding landscapes to your heart's content.
Berne cathedral
The tallest building in the city of Bern is also part of the UNESCO cultural heritage. The characteristic features of the cathedral are the slenderness of the lines, the gabled roof, the bell tower towering 100 meters and the octagonal apses.
The first building was built in 1224, as evidenced by numerous historical sources. Later, other buildings appeared near the cathedral, and later a bell weighing 100 tons was cast. To this day, the cathedral can hear the resounding sound of bells during divine services.
Botanical Garden
In Geneva, there are not only architectural objects, but also beautiful park complexes, which include the Botanical Garden. You can get to this place absolutely free. The territory of the garden is designed according to the thematic principle and includes:
- Zone of exotic plants;
- Fauna zone;
- Pavilion with pink flamingos;
- A zone of unusual aromas;
- Pavilion of touches.
Walking from one part of the garden to another, tourists stop at cozy cafes to taste delicious national cuisine and buy souvenirs.
Museum of Art and History
The structure is considered the largest museum in Switzerland and attracts tourists thanks to its unique collections. A chic palace built in the style of late classicism was allocated for the building of the museum.
The spacious halls house priceless exhibits from different eras, presented by the paintings of the Impressionists, products made of stone, clay and precious metals, sculptures, as well as household items. At the request of visitors, the museum staff conduct excursions, during which you can learn interesting historical facts.
Matterhorn
In the Alps region, not far from the resort area of Zermatt, there is a mountain with a height of 4500 meters. The slopes of the Matterhorn are a favorite place for climbers, as they have an unusual shape and a high level of difficulty of the ascent. The first attempts to conquer the mountain were successfully completed in the middle of the 19th century, after which a special tourist route was laid to the peak.
Today, travelers who prefer extreme types of recreation, come to the foot of the Matterhorn to admire the winter landscapes and try their hand at climbing the top.
Cathedral grossmünster
The main building of the landmark was built back in 1090 on the site where the Carolingian church used to stand in Zurich. However, it became active only after 180 years. For a long time there was a monastery at the Grossmünster base, shrouded in legend.
Tradition says that the founder of the cathedral, Charlemagne, rode his horse through the streets of the city. The animal stopped and fell to its knees where the patron saints of Zurich were buried. After this incident, Karl ordered to build a church, not inferior in its grandeur to other temples.
St. Moritz
The resort is located in the Engadine Valley and is considered the oldest in Switzerland. It is worth noting that the Olympic Games were held in St. Moritz twice, making it the country's hallmark.
The main flow of tourists is directed to this resort area in winter, when bobsleigh, alpine skiing and snowboarding competitions are held here. In free time from competitions, music festivals and gastronomic events are organized, where dishes of national cuisine are tasted. Visiting St. Moritz is a great opportunity to see not only the key sights of the country, but also to plunge into the resort life of Switzerland.
Lake Geneva
Another natural site of the country, where connoisseurs of calm and fashionable rest come all year round. The reservoir is located on the border of France and Switzerland. Not far away, you can see the village of Yvoire, whose residents welcome foreign guests with cordiality.
The surroundings of the lake are ideal for a relaxing holiday. Walking along the coastline can be combined with a tour of Chillon Castle, one of the ten best architectural creations in Switzerland. In July and August, the water in the lake warms up quite well, and visitors often have picnics on the coast.
Zurich Old Town
The area of Zurich, where the construction of the city began, deserves special attention. 20 years after the appearance of the first quarters, the old part of the city had to be divided into two large zones, which are separated by the Limmat River.
No trip to Switzerland is complete without an excursion to this place, since here the spirit of the past is harmoniously combined with the features of a modern metropolis. Town halls, churches, cobbled streets, cozy courtyards, boutiques, bars and unusual shaped lanterns are the pride of Zurich and its inhabitants.
Transport Museum
Such an unusual museum is located in Lucerne and is part of a huge entertainment complex that houses a cinema, planetarium and theme parks. The opening of the museum took place in 1959, and even then, in addition to the exhibition pavilions, open areas were equipped to demonstrate exhibits.
The collection mainly consists of various types of transport, and is also represented by the works of the famous sculptor Hans Erni in the country. The museum differs from others in that each visitor can get behind the wheel of an old car and travel back several decades.
Clock tower
The medieval building is a symbol of Bern due to the fact that the central part of the tower is decorated with a large clock made many centuries ago. The uniqueness of the movement lies in its complexity: a separate device for the correct movement of the hands and a system of parts that drives the figures.
Every day, people gather near the tower to hear and see the grandiose spectacle of the chiming clock. Outwardly, it resembles a theatrical performance, accompanied by the sounds of the countdown, dancing bears and original lighting.
