* sommermagazin 2016 (78018en)

mySwitzerland#INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND

The Swiss holiday magazine . Summer 2016

Dusk on Lago Maggiore: looking southwards from the mild shores of Ascona to the two Brissago islands.

From palm-lined lakeshores to sparkling glaciers, from medieval villages to

buzzing cities – the Grand Tour of Switzerland packs in an incredible

number of sights. The concentration of attractions is unrivalled worldwide.

No wonder so many Grand Tour travellers are #INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND.

Along the Grand Tour, variety is the order of the day. Up in the Engadin valley,

you will probably hear “Bun di” – that’s “Good morning” or “Good afternoon”

in Romansh, Switzerland’s fourth national language. That evening, in a traditional

“grotto” restaurant on the shores of Lago Maggiore, you will probably be greeted

with “Buona sera”. Here dinner might be “Brasato di manzo”, braised beef served

with polenta; the following day, you could well be enjoying a delicious cheese

fondue in a typical Valais chalet.

Sounds tempting? But perhaps you’d rather not drive … No problem, you can

still enjoy the country’s most impressive scenery on the Grand Train Tour of

Switzerland. Just relax in your comfortable seat and enjoy every moment of the

spectacular journey.

We wish you a very warm welcome on the Grand Tour – and countless wonderful

experiences in our diverse and beautiful Switzerland.

Jürg Schmid

Director, Switzerland Tourism

Welcome

Editorial

mySwitzerland 3 #INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND

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In love with Switzerland

6 On the road Grand Tour appetisers

10 Picture-perfect Swiss Stories

12 Enchanted journey Driving the Grand Tour

SPECIAL

18 Hidden places

Secret spots along the Grand Tour

30 A taste of the real Switzerland Swiss Tavolata

34 Gems of the sunny south Family holidays

38 Swiss cities reinvented Urban hotspots

SPECIAL

48 The journey is the goal

Route highlights

56 Chosen for you Regional tours

58 Cultural crossroads Kunstmuseum Basel

62 Knight for a day Lenzburg Castle

EXPERT TIPS

64 Be our guest Accommodation along the Grand Tour

66 Tips to smooth the way

68 Switzerland Tourism recommends

69 The Grand Tour of Switzerland at a glance

Contents


On the road

Grand Tour appetisers: can we tempt you?The Grand Tour of Switzerland boasts one inviting highlight after another. The better you know what’s in store, the more fun the journey becomes. Here, MySwitzerland presents an assortment of tips, facts and touring suggestions to whet your appetite. Happy exploring!

1

Lago Maggiore – Ticino

Low point as highlightThe lowest point along the Grand Tour is also

one of its highlights: Lago Maggiore, whose

surface lies 193 metres above sea level. Two

of the lake’s gems are Locarno and Ascona,

sun-blessed resorts that delight visitors with their

southern charm, palm-fringed lake promenades

and tempting street cafes.

2

St. Peter’s church, Zurich – Zurich Region

Bigger than Big Ben

Record-breaking time:

with a diameter of 8,64 metres,

the tower clock of St. Peter’s

church in Zurich has the

biggest clock face in Europe.

Touring Switzerland on a Harley-Davidson was

great fun back in 1926 – just as it is today.

Beautiful ScenesIn the Spring 1927 edition of “Harley-Davidson

Enthusiast”, E.R. Jenny describes his two-month

tour through Switzerland on a Harley-Davidson

single-cylinder motorbike. Along his 1,200-mile journey,

much of which followed today’s Grand Tour, he

enjoyed many dramatic experiences – such as riding

by the Rhône Glacier at the Furka Pass (pictured).

Courtesy of Harley-Davidson Archives


3

Flüela Pass – Graubünden

Smile, please

Would you like a cool picture of

yourself in a pristine mountain

landscape? Easy. Just make

a quick stop up at the Flüela

Pass between Davos

and Susch, where there’s

a special “Swiss Selfie Spot”

right on the Grand Tour.

#SwissSelfie

#SwissGrandTour

4

Ice grotto, Furka Pass – Valais

Into the glacierThe source of the mighty River Rhône is a glacier

high in the Swiss Alps; an impressive ice cavern,

100 metres long, leads deep into its heart. The

entrance to the tunnel is located by the Hotel

Belvédère on the western side of the Furka Pass.

gletscher.ch

1

2

4 5

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5

Cascata della Boffalora, Mesocco – Graubünden

Fancy a refreshing shower? The Cascata della Boffalora, a 243-metre-high waterfall, offers a wonderful chance

to cool off right beside the route.

6

Drive-in cinema – Basel Region

Happy endingFilm fans, car enthusiasts and all who love a little

nostalgia will enjoy seeing their favourite stars at

a drive-in cinema with a difference near Basel. While

classic movies light up the big screen, “roller-skate

girls” and “popcorn boys” serve cheeseburgers,

hot dogs and milkshakes at the car window. Enjoy!

cinema-drive-in.ch

6


CHOCOLATE MOULDING AT CHOCOLAT FREY

DESIGN YOUR OWN TWO CHOCOLATE

BARS

Registration and information: Tel. 0041 (0) 62 836 24 25, [email protected]

Besucherzentrum Chocolat Frey AG,

Bresteneggstrasse 4, CH-5033 Buchs (Aargau), Switzerland

www.chocolatfrey.ch

Switzerland’s

most popular chocolate.

Design your own chocolate bars

at the Chocolat Frey Visitor Centre,

open from Tuesday to Sunday,

10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

NEWPoème Frey

Chocolate attraction

with robot and live

packaging machine

We’re looking forward to your visit.

8

7

On the road

Quotation from the Lonely Planet guide:

“This backdrop of breathtaking

landscapes is so beautiful it makes

you want to weep.”

Chaplin’s World, Vevey – Lake Geneva Region

Star attractionCharlie Chaplin lived for many happy years

with his family in a villa above Vevey. A new

museum devoted to the great comic actor’s

life and work opened here in spring 2016.

chaplinmuseum.com

Saillon – Valais

1,67 square metresThe Valais winemaking village of Saillon is home to

the world’s smallest vineyard, with just three vines.

Owned by the Dalai Lama, it raises funds for charity.

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Bolderhof farm – Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein

Cool cow trekkingEver dreamed of being a real cowboy

or cowgirl? Now you can, at this

friendly farm near Hemishofen.

You don’t need a saddle as you barely

notice any rocking. Great fun for all,

with no riding experience required!

bolderhof.ch

10

Arosa ClassicCar – Graubünden

Ready, steady, go!Arosa ClassicCar is an international mountain

race held on the 7,8-kilometre climb from Langwies to Arosa.

Up to 25,000 spectators cheer on cars built between

1905 and 1990 as they tackle the route’s 76 corners.

The date: 1– 4 September 2016.

arosaclassiccar.ch

10


Swiss stories

Picture- perfect

See the breathtaking mountain views, the deep-blue lakes, pretty villages and historic cities, and you can’t help falling for the Grand Tour’s scenic perfection. Visit

Inlovewithswitzerland.com to discover tales of travellers who have lost their heart here. Tell us your story, too,

using the hashtag #INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

via Twitter @delishdirection

Prachi Joshi

Mumbai, India

“I fell in love with Switzerland

because it revealed to me my

adventurous side.”

via Instagram @vakanterasen

Mario van de Luijtgaarden

Leiden, Netherlands

“We fell in love with Valais

because of the wonderful

walks, amazing family

activities and friendly people.

We will be back for sure!”

via Instagram @marievallieres

Marie-Eve Vallières

Montreal, Canada

“Switzerland lives up to the

expectations of beauty, purity,

efficiency and hospitality so

often associated with it.

The hardest part is leaving.”


Read more stories at:

e Inlovewithswitzerland.com

and tell your own story via

#INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND:

e facebook.com/MySwitzerland

e instagram.com/MySwitzerland

e twitter.com/MySwitzerland

via Facebook

Hans-Peter Bruder

Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland

“Like my father I worked for

SBB, the Swiss federal rail -

ways. With the GA travelcard

I was able to admire the

incredible variety Switzerland

packs into a small area.”

via Twitter @mattiasnutt

Mattias Nutt

Chur, Switzerland

“From Lake Zurich to the

Swiss mountains, the

golden moments in early

morning and late evening

are amazing. Get out there

and experience them!”

via Instagram @angelinka

Angelina Krupnova

Moscow, Russia

“First time I just wanted to

see the Matterhorn. But then

I realised that wherever I

went there were amazing

landscapes, which has kept

me coming back.”

Re

e

and

#IN

e

e

e


Driving the Grand Tour

Enchanted journey

Text: Gabrielle Attinger

The Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva is Switzerland’s most visited historic building.

The Grand Tour leads more than 1,600 kilometres through Switzerland,

past countless dramatic sights. Along many stretches, the scenery changes

remarkably quickly – as on the drive from Leuk to Lausanne.

Why start at Leuk? My friend

was sceptical when I told her

my itinerary. “I know the

spa resort of Leukerbad,” she

said, “but is there anything

to see in Leuk?” I stuck to

my plans, however – and didn’t regret it for a

moment. Leuk’s Old Town looks like a three-

dimensional drawing from a book of fairy tales.

The village with its mighty town hall and castle 1

overlooks the whole valley. The castle is worth

seeing for three reasons that also make it an apt

symbol for the Grand Tour and the concentration

of attractions en route. The first historical refer-

ence to the castle dates from 1254, so its walls are

older than the Swiss Confederation. Second, it

features striking modern design: the glass cupola

on the tower is by the leading Swiss architect

Mario Botta. Third, its rooms are used intensively

to this day – notably for art exhibitions.

Vineyards instead of roses

Below Leuk, the Grand Tour leads along the

Rhône, here a milky river of glacial water twist-

ing between gravel beds. A giant sculpture of

grapes marks the entrance to the winemaking

village of Salgesch 2 . Appropriately enough: it

seems every third house in the village is a winery,

and even in the front gardens, where you might

expect blossoming roses or tulips, you see vines

growing.

Within the village, a midday calm reigns. Just

one workman is out and about, and he bids me

The area around the Valais village of Salgesch is one of Switzerland’s

most important winegrowing regions (above). One of the local

landmarks is Leuk Castle with its “rogues’ tower”, first mentioned

in 1254 (below).

The Val d’Anniviers, with its wild alpine landscapes, is one

of seven large side valleys in Valais (above). Picturesque

Grimentz is one of the valley’s traditional villages, located at

an altitude of 1,552 metres (right).

1

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good morning in the broadest of Swiss-German

accents. I continue towards the city of Sierre, less

than five kilometres further on. Almost exactly

midway, there’s a sudden change in the signs on

both sides of the road. The billboards and signposts

are now all in French instead of German: I have

crossed one of Switzerland’s linguistic boundaries.

In Sierre, people are eating lunch at the pave-

ment cafes and soaking up the sunshine in the gar-

dens of the town hall. The atmosphere is peaceful.

Folk know one another and greet each other

politely. Is this already the more genial character of

French-speaking Switzerland revealing itself, or

maybe influence from nearby Italy? Whatever, it

makes for a wonderful holiday mood.

From Sierre, there’s the option to make a de-

tour into the Val d’Anniviers 3 . A journey into the

wilderness: for long stretches, all I can see is forest

covering the steep mountainsides. Eventually the

valley opens up to reveal pastures and unspoilt

mountain villages – and, at the far end, views of

the distant, snow-capped Matterhorn.

Road decorations and cave creatures

Grimentz 4 is known for its many sun-bronzed

wooden chalets, typical of Valais. In fact almost the

entire heart of the village consists of houses that

are anything from dark brown to black, and

adorned with red geraniums. The love for floral

decoration here extends further still: even the

crash barriers on the corners of the road twisting

up to the village have pots of geraniums. On the

steep slopes high above, the mountain farmers are

making hay – although in this vast, pristine land-

scape, they appear merely as dots of colour. Back

in the Rhône valley, it’s just a few kilometres to St-

Léonard. Here I make a spontaneous stop, because

right by the road there’s the entrance to a natural

underground lake – the largest in Europe, it says.

Long rowing boats carry visitors over the turquoise

water, under an illuminated ceiling of rock. Our

oarsman and guide shines his torch on cracks

caused by an earthquake – yes, even down here –

and on trout living in the lake and on remarkable

rock formations, including one resembling the

head of a gorilla. The group of excited nursery

school children in the boat falls silent in awe.

Landscape full of mystery

Five kilometres further on, in Sion, a road sign

catches my eye: the word Derborence awakens

memories of French lessons at school. The novel

of the same name by the Swiss writer Charles-

Ferdinand Ramuz tells the story of a colossal rock-

slide onto the Derborence pastures and the mystery

that follows. Good enough reason to explore. The

narrow road winds in countless curves along the

cliffs, in and out of tight tunnels and up into sparse

mountain forest. But the journey is well worth the

effort: the high plateau of Derborence 5 really is

wonderfully mysterious – yet also charming, with

its colourful mountain meadows and sparkling lake.

I make my next stop in Saillon. From the tower

above the little medieval town, I look out over vine-

yards stretching as far as the eye can see. Tourists

stroll through the narrow alleys; two of them

The protected Derborence valley is a place of raw beauty:

a paradise for nature lovers.

5


The drive through the terraced vineyards of

Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Property,

is one of the highlights of the Grand Tour.

Driving the Grand Tour

8

7

9 10

A sculpture in Montreux pays tribute to the late

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen (left).

Lausanne’s Olympic Museum (centre) and cathedral

(right) are two of many fascinating sights in the city.

separately ask me the way to the Farinet vineyard,

the world’s smallest.

Culture across the centuries

The next day, the second stage of my journey

begins in Martigny with a visit to the Fondation

Gianadda 6 , taking in its sculpture garden and a

world-class art exhibition. Next to

it I find a Roman amphitheatre

and the remains of ancient thermal

baths. “We owe these sights, too,

to the Gianadda family,” a visibly

proud waitress tells me back at the

hotel. The property developers

stumbled across the remains during

building projects and had them ex-

cavated professionally. Martigny is

also home to the Barry Founda-

tion, devoted to the famous St

Bernards. The dogs in the mu-

seum are still fast asleep, apart from

one who is gnawing leisurely at a

wooden railing. The soft toy St

Bernards in the museum shop,

however, look patiently at the

camera. “Adoptez-nous!” says the

label: “Adopt us!”

Another national treasure

awaits in nearby St-Maurice. The abbey, which

celebrated its 1,500 th anniversary in 2015, owns

one of Europe’s most precious ecclesiastical treas-

ures. Many items date from the early Middle Ages;

showpiece is the exquisite shrine holding the relics

of the martyr Mauritius, after whom the town is

named.

Rendezvous with Freddie Mercury

The Grand Tour leads on via Aigle and past the

Château de Chillon to Montreux. What a contrast

to yesterday’s mountain valleys! The wide expanse

of Lake Geneva extends to the west; palms and

palace hotels dot its shores. Montreux has wel-

comed famous guests for generations: Empress

“Sissi” of Austria stayed, as did Igor Stravinsky and

Ernest Hemingway. Freddie Mercury 7 made his

home here; a statue of him stands by the lake. Day

trippers photograph each other in front of it as

they eat ice creams, admiring the historic paddle

steamers that call at the adjacent jetty.

Today, workers are putting up marquees by the

lake – “pour le festival,” they tell me. It goes with-

out saying they mean the Montreux Jazz Festival –

the event is world-famous, after all.

The route continues along the lakeshore and

through the Lavaux winegrowing region, a spec-

tacular UNESCO World Heritage Property 8 .

I pass through villages such as St-Saphorin, Epesses,

Lutry and Villette – familiar names thanks to their

superb white wines – until I finally reach Laus-

anne-Ouchy. The atmo s phere around the yacht

harbour is as chic as on the Côte d’Azur, with the

local jeunesse dorée gliding along the lake road in

luxury cars. Higher up, the Olympic Museum 9

rises above the shore like a giant champions’ po-

dium. Inside, hundreds of Olympic heroes greet

me in every language from bright screens.

The Metro railway leads straight up to the

fashionable Flon quarter. This former industrial

area is now home to countless stylish boutiques and

lounge bars. At Flon Plage, an outdoor beach-style

bar, I stop for a drink and enjoy feeling the warm

sand between my toes. Even without the sound of

the sea there’s an infectious summer holiday atmo s -

phere. Refreshed, I stroll up to the cathedral 10 ,

the largest in Switzerland. A night watchman still

calls out the hours from its high tower.

Late in the day I return to my hotel room, my

mind filled with an undreamed-of abundance of

impressions and experiences. I try to count all the

sights I have encountered along my journey of

barely 150 kilometres, but fail. Instead, I dream of

my next goal: continuing the Grand Tour, all

1,600-plus kilometres of it, to travel once around

the whole of Switzerland.

The Fondation Pierre Gianadda

in Martigny has a spacious and

well-endowed sculpture park with

works by Rodin, Brancusi, Miró,

Calder and Niki de Saint Phalle.

6

Lausanne

Leuk

Salgesch

Château de Chillon

Martigny

Grimentz

St-Léonard

LakeDerborence Sierre

Sion

Montreux

St-Maurice

Saillon

Lake Geneva

From Leuk to Lausanne in two days on the

Grand Tour of Switzerland.


Ticino. The romantic church of Sant’Abbondio near Montagnola,

a popular venue for weddings, stands at a panoramic viewpoint

close to the Grand Tour. Its origins date to 1372.

Photograph: Jan Geerk

Hidden places

Secret spots along the Grand Tour

The Grand Tour leads to many locations that offer a fresh view of Switzerland. Some are

by the route, others take a little more effort to reach. MySwitzerland presents six of the best.

Aargau. At the northern end of Lake Hallwil, it is worth making

a stop near Seengen. From here, beautiful walks lead along the

lakeshore with views of the snow-capped Alps.

Photograph: Roland Gerth

Basel Region. The Breite lido on the Rhine offers swimmers and diners

a superb view of Switzerland’s tallest building, the Roche tower, designed

by the renowned Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.

Photograph: Andreas Gerth

Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region. The panoramic view from the summit

of the Grosser Mythen near Schwyz is breathtaking but requires effort. The

only way up the 1,899-metre peak is on foot, along a path with 47 twists.

Photograph: Stefan Zürrer

Jura & Three-Lakes. The Etang de la Gruère, a moorland lake in the

Doubs Nature Park, is known for its magical moods. The idyllic site lies

near Saignelégier on the Grand Tour, and is easy to reach on foot.

Photograph: Ivo Scholz

Fribourg Region. Located directly on the Grand Tour, Gruyères seems

to belong in a book of fairy tales. The overall appearance of the small town

and its 13 th-century castle has barely changed since the Middle Ages.

Photograph: Editions Berra

Swiss Tavolata

To discover a country’s true soul, travellers must get to know its people. And the best place to

meet them is where the family gathers, where strangers become friends: at home, around the dining table.

A taste of the real Switzerland

Text: Jean-Pierre Ritler Photographs: Marco Zaugg, Jean-Pierre Ritler

The magnificent farmhouse dating

from 1810 stands proudly among

the soft, silky hills of the Emmental

region; the sweeping views reach as

far as the Bernese Alps. Lush fields,

a large garden, chickens, rabbits,

cattle grazing peacefully: the farm is a picture of

perfection. As you approach, questions fill your

mind. Who lives here? What does the farm look

like inside? And what is it like living here?

The answers soon come from Stefanie Gfeller-

Jaberg, who lives here. The cheerful young woman

welcomes paying guests to her home thanks to the

Swiss Tavolata project (see overleaf). Diners take a seat

in the cosy farmhouse dining room or in the atmos-

pheric vaulted cellar, and the hostess serves gastro-

nomic delicacies she has prepared herself: seasoned,

hand-chopped “Natura” beef tartare, followed by a

ragout of the farm’s own beef, slow-cooked over a

low flame with bacon from the village butcher’s

and apples from the farm. The crowning conclu-

sion of this lavish meal is a cream-and-egg cake

made to an ancient family recipe, served fresh from

the oven. To prepare it, Stefanie lights the wood

oven hours before guests arrive, and bakes her own

bread there alongside the dessert. Her enthusiasm is

infectious, and her commitment to using the most

natural products possible is impressive. Her motiva-

tion for taking part in the scheme is the same as

that of her guests, only in reverse: “I enjoy bringing

the world into my home,” she says.

Stefanie Gfeller-Jaberg is just one of many Swiss

Tavolata hostesses at farms located along the Grand

Tour of Switzerland. Each offers visitors from all

over the world a gastronomic and also intercultural

highlight of their journey through Switzerland,


Stefanie’s menu

Appetiser

Seasoned, hand-cut

“Natura” beef tartare

from the farm

Slow-cooked ragout

of “Natura” beef

from the farm with

bacon from the

village butcher’s,

apples and apple

juice, served with

Spätzli noodles

Egg-and-cream cake

made to an old

family recipe, fresh

from the oven

A meal on a farm, as if visiting

friends. Stefanie Gfeller-Jaberg

opens her garden, dining room

and vaulted cellar to guests.

Stefanie

Gfeller-Jaberg

Wichtrach, Bern


regardless of location – whether in sunny Ticino,

in French-speaking Switzerland or on the Swiss

Plateau.

This last region is home to Eveline Ott, who

lives near the small rural town of Sattel between

Schwyz and Lake Zurich. The skilled cook and

farmer delights guests right from the starter: hay

soup served in a bread bowl. In fact this is none

other than a classic cream soup – except that the

main ingredient is fresh hay. Eveline adds water,

brings the mixture to the boil and simmers it for

an hour; she then sieves the liquid and uses it like

stock, adding onions, potatoes and cream to make

the soup. Don’t worry, the hay is totally clean and

comes from the farm’s own meadows, which meet

eco-friendly integrated production (IP) standards.

As a main course, Eveline serves a delicious roll

of veal sausage meat filled with wild garlic pesto

and wrapped in her own filo pastry. For dessert,

there’s home-made ice cream flavoured with kirsch

– cherry brandy – distilled on the farm. Eveline’s

goal as hostess is clear: “I love cooking and being

able to put a smile on the faces of my guests,”

she says. Given her culinary skills, this invariably

happens quickly.

The food is delicious at all Swiss Tavolata

venues, but they have other features in common

too. For example, all the dishes served to guests

must be made with native produce from the farm

itself or from the region. This form of cookery,

close to nature, is rare to find these days. Guests are

also encouraged to explore the farm before their

meal, in order to see, smell, feel and experience

what living on the land is really like.

The success of Swiss Tavolata comes as no sur-

prise. It is the result of a longing for authenticity,

tradition, regional cuisine and local produce – an

appealing antithesis to the fast-paced life and

globalised world of today. The fact that on the

Grand Tour of Switzerland you can look forward

not only to delicious meals but also fascinating

encounters certainly creates an appetite for more.

Swiss Tavolata: an authentic local welcome

Swiss Tavolata enables visitors from

Switzerland and abroad to gain an

insight into the daily life of Swiss farmers,

to enjoy gastronomic delicacies made

with produce fresh from the farm and to

get to know local people. The hostesses

cook and serve the meals in their own

home: guests might eat in the kitchen

or dining room, in the garden, a barn

or wine cellar. The special atmosphere

on the Swiss Tavolata farms promises

an unforgettable experience. Venues

are located throughout Switzerland;

guests can book in advance through

the website.

swisstavolata.ch

With Swiss Tavolata,

guests enjoy the

finest cuisine in the

privacy of a Swiss

farm. The hostesses

cook with produce

from their own farm

or the region.


A passion for cooking and countryside:

Eveline Ott conjures gastronomic delights

with produce from her farm.

Eveline’s menu

Eveline’s appetisers

Hay soup served in

a bread bowl

Veal sausage meat

filled with wild garlic

pesto and wrapped

in home-made filo

pastry, served with

duchess potatoes

and vegetables

Dessert platter

including home-made

ice cream flavoured

with the farm’s

own cherry brandy

Swiss Tavolata

Eveline Ott

Sattel, Schwyz


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetuer adipiscinelit

Familien

Gems of the sunny south

Text : Christoph Zurfluh

Family holidays

Twin emeralds: the Brissago islands on Lago Maggiore.

Spitzmarke

Today, Ticino is living up to its repu-

tation as Switzerland’s suntrap: the

sun is beaming in a piercing blue

sky and the air above the asphalt

is shimmering. Just right for a foray

into the relaxed world of the

Albergo Losone hotel. We’ve barely climbed out

of the car when a member of staff greets us warmly

and leads us through the quirky grounds to recep-

tion. There’s home-made iced tea at check-in, a

cool berry soup as “amuse-bouche” in our room

and the prospect of a magical break as we look out

of the window: more than 500 palm trees make

the hotel’s grounds an exotic tropical garden.

By the time I tear myself away from the lovely

view, the children have already disappeared. As

bath robes and slippers are gone, I reckon the kids

must be at the pool and set off to join them. A

bridge leads from the thatched “beach bar” over the

swimming pool. My daugh-

ters dive beneath me like

dolphins, while over on the

sunbathing lawn, hotel guests

are lounging in the cool shade

of the trees. There’s a colour-

ful variety: not just families

but also cou ples of all ages,

with a re markable number of

grandparents. The Albergo

Loso ne’s concept of “three-

ge ne ration holidays” seems to

have caught on.

Diego Glaus, the hotelier,

came up with the idea of

offering grandparents, parents

and children a setting for a

shared break while he was on

trip through the jungle. Dur-

ing a visit to a native tribe, he

was fascinated by the social

microsystem: everyone from

grandfather to granddaughter clearly benefited

from one another. Surely, he reckoned, this should

also be the recipe for a relaxed holiday. And it is.

The Albergo Losone adds an additional incentive

in the form of an unusual price reduction: a daily

discount in francs equal to the age difference be-

tween the youngest and oldest family member.

“This way,” Glaus says, “we managed to win a cus-

tomer segment that we would have lost otherwise:

the grandparents. And for once, they are actually

proud of their age!”

From the first motel to family hotel

The successful hotelier may have inherited his

inventiveness: his father, Charly, realised his dream

of opening Europe’s first motel back in 1965. As

funds were short at the time, not all rooms had

windows at first; these rooms cost four francs per

night instead of six. After some teething prob-

The Albergo Losone has been named Switzerland’s best family hotel 14 times in

a row by the newspaper “SonntagsZeitung”. On our own Grand Tour of Switzerland,

we check in to the legendary hideaway – and set off on a treasure hunt.

Albergo Losone: a taste of the tropics under the radiant Ticino sky.


More than 35 years of quattro technology.

Now in the Audi A6 and 160 other Audi models.

www.audi.ch

Offi cial Partner of

1600 kilometres of sheer

driving pleasure.

Welcome to the land of quattro.

lems, the motel evolved into a hotel; soon it was

awarded stars and began to win more and more re-

peat guests. Today, the Albergo Losone is a mem-

ber of Premium Swiss Family Hotels, with attrac-

tions including daily childcare from morning until

evening and inviting facilities and activities for

families.

Ready for the islands’ treasures

The next day, it takes the magic of Lago Maggiore

to tempt my children out of the hotel – and into

the fun-filled world of the Ascona-Locarno re-

gion, awarded the Family Destination label thanks

to its huge choice of leisure attractions. But we’re

on the Grand Tour of Switzerland, and adventures

already await: so we set off on our treasure hunt to

the Brissago islands. “If we found a real treasure

now,” my elder daughter says, as her chocolate ice

Where family holidays mean fun.

e Braunwald, Bellevue “fairy-tale hotel”: hikes with llamas and Bartli the dwarf’s forest trail

e Zermatt, Hotel La Ginabelle: playground and swimming at Leisee lake with Matterhorn views

e Hasliberg, Reka holiday village: thrilling walkway through the deep and spectacular Aare gorge

e Davos, Hotel Muchetta: fun world of myths and legends to explore at Madrisa-Land

e Laax, rocksresort: family bike rides through the Flims forest and to the Caumasee swimming lake

MySwitzerland.com/families

cream drips onto her pale shorts, “I would stay on

here another week.” “Best of all, we’d buy the

whole hotel,” her sister says. “Why not?” I think, as

we board the boat and, shortly after, start gliding

across the silvery, spark ling lake towards our treas-

ure island.

When we arrive, we are amply rewarded – not

with a chest full of gold ducats, but with all the

exotic, colourful charm of the “floating gardens”

of Brissago. We spend a couple of happy hours

among the lush vegetation – and once again, we

are overwhelmed by Switzerland’s beauty. While I

am already thinking about the next destination on

our Grand Tour, the children, busy exploring

among the giant bamboo stems, are discussing

whether to bring a tent next time to spend the

night on the treasure island. Just like proper treas-

ure hunters …

The only way to the “floating

gardens”, the islands of Brissago,

is by boat. A visit to this sub -

tropical sanctuary delights visitors

of all ages.


Swiss cities reinvented

Photograph: Roland Gerth

Urban hotspots

Switzerland’s charming cities may be best known for their historic centres, but their innovative

modern quarters also offer delightful surprises – such as the Roter Platz (“Red Square”) in St.Gallen, by the artist Pipilotti Rist.

This former waterworks in the centre of Geneva, inaugurated in 1886, is now a much-loved cultural venue.

A three-year conversion project gave the historic monument a new life as a theatre.

Photograph: Geneva Tourism

Frau Gerolds Garten in the fashionable “Züri West” district of Zurich is a modular city garden featuring its own herb garden, fresh cuisine, small shops, art and colourful events. It’s also a popular meeting point.

Photograph: André Meier

Urban hotspots

9 am Cappuccino and brioche, fresh from Caredda’s patisserie

The best place to start a day in Zurich West is

Caredda. You order coffee direct from the bar. A

heavenly smell of fresh bread drifts in through the

door from the adjacent bakery. The displays are full

of Paolo Caredda’s mouth-watering creations,

from brioches filled with apricot jam, chocolate or

vanilla cream to miniature fruit made of marzipan

and amazingly realistic. Mmm, it all looks fabu-

lous. Paolo Caredda, originally from the island of

Ischia near Naples, has made a name for himself

well beyond Zurich with his superb patisserie and

beautiful wedding cakes.

10.30 am Contemporary art in a former brewery

Anyone interested in contemporary art should take

a look around the Löwenbräu-Areal. The pro-

tected buildings of the former Löwenbräu brewery

are now home to renowned cultural venues includ-

ing the Migros Museum for Contemporary Art

and the Kunsthalle Zürich art exhibition centre.

The area also houses a publisher’s and a bookshop

where you can linger and browse to your heart’s

content.

11.30 am Shopping under the viaduct or a bike ride to Frau Gerolds Garten

A few paces away are the viaduct arches with the

Markthalle, an indoor market hall. At the left by the

entrance you’ll find a bakery with sandwiches and

cakes: something for every taste. There are also stalls

selling everything from vegetables, fruit and meat to

a huge variety of cheeses. If you leave the hall via

the Markthalle restaurant, you’ll see a parade of cool

boutiques nestled inside the arches of the viaduct. If

you’re in the mood for shopping, stroll along the

row to find original and stylish products for the

kitchen and wardrobe. If you’d prefer to explore a

little further afield, head for the green-and-white

container by arch 25, where you can hire a bike for

the day free of charge; you just have to leave a

deposit. Pedal off past the colourful umbrellas sus-

pended above the tables of Geroldchuchi, a popular

restaurant off the beaten track. Close by you’ll find

Frau Gerolds Garten, a modular city garden created

in 2012 as a focus for the community. Perhaps stop

for a refreshing drink at one of the bars before

scaling the Freitag tower, formed of recycled freight

To discover these exciting new city districts, you can happily leave your car parked for once.

Zurich’s fashionable “Züri West”, for example, is a delight to explore on foot or by bike.

Text: Vanessa Simili

Art in a former brewery: the Löwenbräu-Areal.

Treats in store: stylish boutiques under the viaduct.

The 26-metre-high Freitag

tower consists of 17 piled-up

freight containers.


containers piled one on top of the other. Freitag is

the legendary brand created by the graphic design-

ers Markus and Daniel Freitag, and their bags and

other products made from recycled truck tarpaulins

are fashionable the world over. From the roof of

their flagship store you enjoy an impressive view of

the whole buzzing district.

1 pm Lunch by the Limmat

After climbing the container tower it’s time to

cycle on – to Bogen 33. This shop’s cellar contains

objects that bring to life 80 years of design history.

The courtyard is also a wonderful sight, with gar-

den chairs, tables and a sailing boat stranded on the

asphalt. From here it’s not far to Sphères, an oasis

of urban delights by the River Limmat. This is an

original spot for a bite to eat, surrounded by a sea

of books: as well as a bar and cafe, Sphères is also a

bookshop, performance venue and publisher’s.

3 pm Urban gardening and a museum of design

A pleasant cycle trail leads downstream to the

Werd insel island. The River Limmat offers some

delightful spots at which to relax and also enjoy a

refreshing dip. For more city greenery, pedal on

to the grounds of the former Hardturm football

stadium, now the setting for Zurich’s biggest urban

gardening project. From here, it’s a short ride to

the Toni-Areal. This site was originally home to a

dairy food manufacturer; following redevelopment,

Zurich University of the Arts relocated here in

2014 to create a single campus. This also includes

the Museum für Gestaltung, Switzerland’s leading

museum of design and visual communication –

and well worth a visit.

5 pm Drinks down on the

ground or high in the sky

At Hotel Rivington & Sons on the ground floor

of the Prime Tower, business people, locals and

visitors gather from 5 pm for beer and cocktails.

The interior décor in New York style dates from

the 1930s to 1950s, although the customers at the

bar are “up to date”, the managers assure. In fact

Rivington & Sons isn’t a hotel at all: no guest rooms,

just a bar with curtains like waterfalls. If you’d

Frau Gerolds Garten is a

charming oasis of greenery

in “Züri West”.

Colourful sky: the umbrellas outside Geroldchuchi.

Once a dairy complex, now an arts hotspot.


We make sure you experience Switzerland before you even arrive.airline shows you what makes it so unique. We ensure that Swiss quality never remains just a

Swiss holiday starts with us.

like a spectacular backdrop to enjoy with your

drinks, step in the lift and press the top button.

Right at the top of the Prime Tower, more than

100 metres above the ground, the Clouds bar offers

the best views far and wide.

6.30 pm Dinner in a restaurant that doesn’t look like one

Rosso is a restaurant with a lot of character. The

entrance is a little set back from the Geroldstrasse.

You may be unsure you’ve found the right place

at first as Rosso looks little like a restaurant. The

single doorway in the long glass front is strikingly

plain. Inside, however, there’s an attractive open

fire, and the pizzas cooked in the wood oven are

among the finest in Zurich. Guests eat at wooden

tables. The head chef, Ivo Müller, selects his ingre-

dients carefully, buying direct from producers for

top quality.

8 pm Cool music and hot clubbing

Ships were once built in the Schiffbau; following a

stylish conversion, the former industrial site is now

one of the city’s most exciting cultural and gastro-

nomic centres. Enter the impressive hall to see

through a vast engraved glass facade into the re-

fined LaSalle restaurant. Elsewhere in the complex,

the Schauspielhaus Zürich theatre operates three

stages, while the live music venue Moods hosts

more than 300 concerts a season with local and

international bands performing jazz, funk, electro

and soul. Late in the evening, set off from here to

explore the city’s buzzing nightlife: some of the

top clubs are within walking distance, including

Helsinki, Supermarket and Exil.

Heavenly drinks: Clouds bar at the

top of the 126-metre Prime Tower.

Schiffbau: restaurant, three theatres

and a live music venue.

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1 Caredda patisserie

2 Löwenbräu-Areal 3 Markthalle

4 Viaduct arches 5 “Züri rollt” bike hire

6 Geroldchuchi 7 Freitag tower

8 Frau Gerolds Garten 9 Rosso 10 Bogen 33

11 Sphères 12 Cycle trail to Werdinsel island

13 Hardturm stadium grounds 14 Museum für Gestaltung

15 Prime Tower: Hotel Rivington&Sons and Clouds

16 Schiffbau: LaSalle, Moods and theatre

17 Helsinki 18 Supermarket 19 Exil

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Limmat

Har

dst

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e

Main

railway

station

Urban hotspots across Switzerland.

e Basel, Kleinbasel: see a dance performance at the converted barracks of Kaserne Basel

e Winterthur, Sulzerareal: explore this fashionable former industrial area on a guided tour

e Lausanne, Flon district: enjoy the view from the roof terrace of the Friends Café

e Geneva, Bains district: visit the museum of modern and contemporary art (Mamco)

MySwitzerland.com/cities


Lake Geneva Region. The Lavaux region on Lake Geneva is a

UNESCO World Heritage Property. Here, the Grand Tour leads

through vineyards and picturesque winemaking villages such as Cully.


The journey is the goal Throughout Switzerland, the Grand Tour leads through breathtaking landscapes. Some stretches,

however, are a particular pleasure to drive – such as the sections on the following pages.

Route highlights

Bern-Bernese Oberland. The turquoise waters of Lake Thun

and the mountains on its southern shore make for spectacular

views along this section of the Grand Tour.

Photograph: Martin Maegli

Valais. The Furka Pass is the highest point along the Grand Tour

at 2,429 metres above sea level. Close by, the Rhône Glacier

is the source of the River Rhône, bound for the Mediterranean.


Graubünden. The Flüela Pass road twists down from the summit at

2,383 metres through a mountain landscape of pristine beauty. The dramatic

winding road links the resort of Davos with Susch in the Lower Engadin.

Photograph: Andreas Gerth

Regional toursThe Grand Tour offers many scenic and cultural highlights. You may be tempted, however, to explore parts of the country in greater detail. MySwitzerland presents four regional themed tours that promise a delightful diversion.

Chosen for you

The Fribourg discovery tour Fribourg Region

Idyllic lakes, a historic city and the wild, pristine natural landscapes of the Pre-Alps are among the highlights of the wonderfully

diverse Fribourg Region, full of little-known gems. Hire a pedalo, rowing boat or sailing boat, for example, to explore the Lac de

la Gruyère; or discover the wonders of the Grande Cariçaie, one of Europe’s most beautiful nature reserves, on the southern

shores of Lake Neuchâtel; or stroll around Fribourg’s Old Town, with its medieval houses and towering cathedral. The tour also

features another 12 fascinating experiences, and they all combine to give a unique insight into this charming region.

1 fribourgregion.ch/unique

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Interested in other regional tours?

Webcode: G72940

Textilland Explorer Tour Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein

The region extending from Lake Constance to the city of St.Gallen

and the Appenzellerland is famous for its history of making embroidery

and other exquisite fabrics; textiles from the area continue to feature

in leading fashion design worldwide. The “Textilland” project pays

homage to this tradition, and this tour explores its highlights. The

route takes in a variety of sights in Eastern Switzerland, from muse-

ums and historic buildings to shops and boutiques; it also reveals

the region’s great scenic beauty. Visitors can begin the itinerary at

any point, and have plenty of opportunity to shop along the way.

2 textilland.ch

The time tour Jura & Three-Lakes

This tour is a trip in time through the wild and enchanting Jura

region at the north-western fringes of Switzerland. It starts in

Neuchâtel, a city with more than 1,000 years of history, and leads

initially to the twin watchmaking centres of La Chaux-de-Fonds and

Le Locle – central to the industry’s development, and now jointly a

UNESCO World Heritage Property. The route continues along the

twisting River Doubs and through the high valley of La Brévine. The

Val de Travers is famous as the home of the “green fairy”, absinthe;

the natural rock arena of Creux du Van forms a dramatic conclusion.

3 j3l.ch/timeroad

The 9 passes trip Graubünden

This route over nine mountain passes in the Graubünden region

features a combination of sections of the Grand Tour plus other

spectacular stretches of road. It leads from the glaciers to the palm

trees, through three linguistic regions and to three UNESCO World

Heritage Properties. Highlights include the drive through the forests

of the pristine Swiss National Park up to the Ofen Pass, and the road

over the Bernina Pass revealing fabulous views of the Bernina

massif, draped with glaciers. Chic resorts, historic mountain villages

and the majestic Rhine valley all contribute to a mesmerising trip.

4 graubuenden.ch/pass-trip

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No Grand Tour would be complete without a stop in Basel, a multicultural metropolis that celebrates art

and architecture in grand style. Newest attraction is the dazzling extension to the Kunstmuseum Basel,

the city’s world-famous art museum.

Kunstmuseum Basel

Cultural

crossroads Text : Monique Rijks

New extension and main building of the Kunstmuseum Basel.


Amodern castle might look some-

thing like this, you imagine: monu-

mental, yet inviting, self-assured

without being overbearing. And

beautiful. When you stand in front

of the imposing brick facade, you

marvel at the delicate structure and the interplay of

light and shadow on the walls. The new extension

to the Kunstmuseum Basel – the city’s fine arts

museum – by the young Basel architects Christ &

Gantenbein stands directly opposite the main build-

ing dating from 1936. The new construction

changes this previously mundane crossroads into a

striking piazza that makes a clear connection be-

tween the two museum buildings. The extension

increases the size of the Kunstmuseum by nearly a

third: 2,740 square metres of new floor space in all.

The new museum experience begins in the

bright foyer and the inner courtyard of the main

building, where the bistro and the art education

workshops with their large glass facades and doors

create an attractive campus-style atmosphere.

“From here, visitors can set off to explore about

10,000 square metres of exhibition space,” says

Stefan Charles, the museum’s Director of Adminis-

tration and project manager for the new extension.

In future, the main building will display works

dating from the 15th century up to 1960. The

spacious rooms of the new extension will house

the temporary exhibitions, while three of its four

floors will be used to present works from the years

1960 to 1990. Art from 1990 will continue to be

shown at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Mu-

seum of Contemporary Art), which also belongs to

the Kunstmuseum and is located down by the

Rhine.

“The extension allows us to show a greater

number of works from our collection at the same

time,” Stefan Charles says. The prospect clearly

delights him; indeed the whole art world is excit ed.

The Kunstmuseum Basel enjoys an outstanding

international reputation; three years ago, the Brit-

ish newspaper “The Times” ranked it among the

top five museums in the world. It traces its origins

to the city’s acquisition of the privately owned

Amerbach Cabinet in 1661, which thereby became

the world’s first municipal art collection. Today,


Relaxing yet exciting – Switzerland offers the perfect balance for a great journey. Come on board

and experience the most scenic rail, bus and boat journeys. SwissTravelSystem.com

The best way toexperience Switzerland.

highlights include the largest collection of works

worldwide by the Holbein family, along with

masterpieces of classic modernist art, from Pablo

Picasso to Gerhard Richter.

Newcomers to fine art need not be shy. Art

and architecture are part of daily life for the people

of Basel, as central to their city as the River Rhine:

offered in abundance and enjoyed at leisure. And

not only at the world-famous Art Basel fair held

every June: throughout the year visitors encounter

an abundance of galleries along the historic alleys

and broad boulevards. More than 40 museums in

an area of just 37 square kilometres nourish the

city’s exceptionally rich and colourful cultural life.

This combination of superb architecture and

top-class art in a delightful, manageable setting

makes Basel especially enjoyable to visit, according

to Sam Keller, director of the Fondation Beyeler

and former director of Art Basel. He was born in

Basel and adores his home city. “The short dis-

tances between outstanding sights, the charm of

the city and its proximity to surrounding nature

offer guests a wonderful experience,” he says.

Other Art Museums of Switzerland along the Grand Tour. e Basel, Museum Tinguely: the world’s largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely

e Basel, Fondation Beyeler: Switzerland’s most visited museum, with a world-class collection

e Bern, ZPK & Museum of Fine Arts: “Chinese Whispers”, Chinese art from the famous Sigg Collection

e Geneva, Mamco: leading contemporary art museum with ground-breaking special exhibitions

e Lausanne, Musée de l’Elysée: one of the world’s foremost museums for photography

e Lugano, LAC: Switzerland’s newest art museum. “Press art: from Picasso to Warhol”, May to August 2016

e Zurich, Kunsthaus: major exhibition on 50th anniversary of Alberto Giacometti’s death, from October 2016

e Zurich, Museum für Gestaltung: design museum with collection of more than 500,000 objects

MySwitzerland.com/artmuseums

The new extension by the architects Christ & Gantenbein

gives the Kunstmuseum additional display rooms. What are

you looking forward to most of all?

“All the extra space! Until now, whenever we wanted to stage

temporary exhibitions we had to clear the second floor of the

old building to make room – in other words, we had to remove

paintings and sculptures of the permanent collection and put

them into storage. This “either-or” situation is now a thing of

the past. The main building of the museum will be used in a

‘classical’ way again for a generally static display of the famous

collection of works from Holbein to Picasso, while the extension

gives us a new platform we can operate more dynamically.”

The inaugural exhibition is called “Sculpture on the Move”.

What can visitors expect?

“We are showing sculptures made from 1946 to the present

day, starting with Constantin Brancusi and Alberto Giacometti

and following the thread to contemporary artists such as

Damien Hirst and Monika Sosnowska. Visitors will see how

much and how diversely traditional sculpture has moved on:

how it has become more abstract, or has blurred the boun-

daries with banal everyday objects or with the surrounding

landscape. Works created from the 1990s onwards are

displayed in the Museum für Gegenwartskunst – our Museum

of Contemporary Art – which will continue in its original role.”

Kunstmuseum Basel

Display room with overhead lighting in the

Kunstmuseum Basel’s new extension.

Interview with Dr. Bernhard Mendes BürgiDirector of the

Kunstmuseum Basel


Lenzburg Castle

Knight for a dayText: Lucas Roos

At many locations along the Grand Tour, visitors can make a fascinating detour into the past. At Lenzburg

Castle, for example, time travellers are greeted by lords, knights and princesses.

Lenzburg Castle stands on a hilltop high

above the eponymous town.


Other castles along the Grand Tour.

e Aargau Region, Wildegg Castle: eight centuries of history and glorious gardens to explore

e Bernese Oberland, Oberhofen Castle: majestic keep and a romantic setting on the shore of Lake Thun

e Lake Geneva Region, Château de Prangins: baroque palace with fine historic kitchen garden

e Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein, Arenenberg Palace: French charm on Lake Constance

e Ticino, Bellinzona’s 3 castles: mighty 15th-century fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage Property

MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: 25173 / theswisscastles.ch

ern tower, conjures scenes from

the Middle Ages with voices

from the past and interactive

displays. Women in flowing

robes and knights in armour

come to life on the walls, ac-

companied by festive music.

From here, a steep spiral stair-

case leads up to the battlements,

which offer glorious views of

the Jura mountains on the hori-

zon and the town of Lenzburg

way below.

Other fascinating exhibi-

tions recreate the life of castle

residents of later generations,

from the late Middle Ages to

the 19th century; displays also

explore the themes of war and

conflict. Goosebumps are guar-

anteed on a visit to the jail,

where two original cells dating

from the 17th century and the torture chamber

reveal the brutal reality of punishment of the day.

Younger visitors love the children’s museum,

where, if they dare, they can meet the castle’s own

(relatively) friendly dragon, Fauchi, in his den.

They can find out more about his kind at the

“dragon research station”, and also have fun dress-

ing up as a prince or princess, knight or robber.

This journey across the centuries makes for a

healthy appetite. The castle cafe offers the chance

to eat, relax and relive the day’s highlights in a

suitably evocative setting. It also provides the ideal

opportunity to plan the next trip through time: at

any of the other enchanting sites presented by

“The Swiss Castles”, an association that groups 17

of Switzerland’s finest castles and fortresses in ten

cantons and three linguistic regions.

Adragon once lived on the hill above

Lenzburg in the Aargau region.

The knights Wolfram and Guntram

slew him and so won the rocky

outcrop for themselves. This, ac-

cording to legend, is the origin of

Lenzburg Castle, one of Switzerland’s finest and

most important hilltop castles. The first docu-

mented reference to “Castellum Lenciburg” dates

from 1077; in 1987, the site and its fascinating

museum opened to the public.

Today, visitors only need set foot in the castle

to feel transported back to the age of chivalry. Four

themed exhibitions tell the castle’s story in a way

that is accessible and entertaining for visitors of all

ages. The “Knighthood and Nobility” exhibition,

for example, located in the residential and south-

In the castle courtyard, jesters and fools bring the Middle Ages to life.


Be our guest

Hôtel de Gruyères Ô

Gruyères, Fribourg Region

At the end of an exhilarating day’s exploring, this venue offers a wonder-

fully peaceful retreat. The charming and authentic hotel is located in

the heart of Gruyères at the foot of the Pre-Alps, in sight of the famous

castle. The spa is freshly renovated; the 37 well-kept, country-style

rooms offer glorious views of the surrounding mountain scenery.

1 gruyereshotels.ch

Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern Ö

Lucerne, Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region

A stylish combination of tradition and innovation is the hallmark of

this welcoming five-star festival hotel, family-run for five generations.

The tasteful new themed rooms pay homage to writers, musicians

and actors who have stayed here. Other attractions at the waterfront

hotel include the excellent cuisine and the bar with live music.

3 schweizerhof-luzern.ch

Stump’s Alpenrose Wildhaus, Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein

High in the rural Toggenburg valley, guests find a charming country

hotel known for its warm welcome and superb cuisine. From locally

sourced game to creative vegetarian dishes, Stump’s Alpenrose

showcases the best the region has to offer. Family-run for more than

100 years, the hotel takes pride in its personal, attentive service.

4 stumps-alpenrose.ch

Beatus, Wellness- & Spa-Hotel Ö

Merligen, Bern-Bernese Oberland

Water, water, everywhere: the Beatus boasts an unbeatable location

on Lake Thun, a glorious garden with its own sand beach and

a heated open-air saltwater pool, among other attractions. Stylish

rooms, a large spa area (2,000 sq. m) with lake views and superb

gourmet cuisine make this an ideal place to relax after a day’s touring.

2 beatus.ch

Homes from home After a day on the Grand Tour, nothing beats the pleasure of arriving at a welcoming hotel and feeling instantly at home. These venues offer the perfect setting in which to relax, look back on the day’s delights – and forward to tomorrow’s adventures.


Accommodation along the Grand Tour

Discover other restful hotels along the tour:

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Beau-Rivage Hotel Ä

Neuchâtel, Jura & Three-Lakes

This oasis of luxury on Lake Neuchâtel charms guests with its fabulous

views of the lake, Jura hills, Pre-Alps and Alps. Elegant rooms, sophis-

ticated regional and international cuisine and a spa with hammam

provide all-round relaxation. A local watchmaker offers guests the

chance to create their own watch before continuing on the Grand Tour.

8 beau-rivage-hotel.ch

TCS Camping Lugano Muzzano Muzzano, Ticino

At this idyllic location on Lake Lugano, it is a pleasure to indulge in

what locals call “dolce far niente” – the sweet art of doing nothing.

A wide range of water sports facilities, a lively activity programme,

a pleasant restaurant and a barbecue area make the campsite ideal

for a stop on the Grand Tour – as active or relaxing as you wish.

6 tcs-camping.ch/muzzano

Parkhotel BeauSite À

Zermatt, Valais

A blend of belle époque elegance and chalet-style charm characterises

this hotel with fine views of the Matterhorn. The emphasis is on

carefree relaxation, from the spa area with indoor pool, saunas and

hammam to the tower suite with rooftop cupola. Highlights of the varied

cuisine include delicious themed dinners and popular grill evenings.

7 parkhotel-beausite.ch

Hotel Chesa Salis Ã

Bever, Graubünden

The first documented record of this aristocratic house dates from

1590. The hotel is located in the historic heart of the pretty village of

Bever; full of Engadin charm, it boasts typical “sgraffito” decoration on

its facade, antique furniture, traditional panelled dining rooms and a

delightful garden. The regional cuisine is delicious and artfully served.

5 chesa-salis.ch


GRAND TOURof Switzerland

Touring Map

Schweiz . Switzerland . 1 : 275 000

ap

Grand Tour map

The special road map from Hallwag Kümmerly + Frey

with marked route is the ideal travel companion

on the Grand Tour of Switzerland. Find this and other

navigation aids at:

e MySwitzerland.com, Webcode: 218720

Harley-Davidson

Experience the ultimate riding adventure with

Harley-Davidson® Authorized Rentals. Whatever

your plans – anything from a day trip to a journey

of several weeks – you can book the latest

Harley-Davidson® models quickly and easily online.


Europcar

Europcar is Switzerland’s no. 1 car rental company.

More than 80 rental locations have up to

4,500 vehicles ready. From small cars to people

carriers, from luxury limousines to off-road vehicles

and from convertibles to 4x4s, Europcar has the

right rental car for every need.


Nikon

A camera from Nikon is the perfect companion

on the Grand Tour of Switzerland. Photograph

and film your experiences along the route to create

a record that does justice to a journey like no other.


Tips to smooth the way

Explore and enjoy.With its endless scenic diversity, Switzerland seems

to be made for touring. Whether you opt for a cool

convertible, a powerful motorbike or a comfortable

train, you’ll find the following offers will enhance an

unforgettable journey.Grand Train Tour

The Grand Train Tour of Switzer -

land links Switzerland’s most

beautiful scenic routes.

These panoramic journeys

include sections by bus and

boat as well as by train and

can be enjoyed year-round.

e MySwitzerland.com,

Webcode: 223899

Grand Tour

packages

Book your own personal

journey of discovery on the

Grand Tour of Switzerland.


Webcode: F72940

e 00800 100 200 30 (international toll-free*)

* Local charges may apply.

Swiss

Coupon Pass

Get inspiration for your journey

and save money en route: the

Swiss Coupon Pass offers

attractive 2-for-1 deals at

gastronomic and tourist attrac-

tions along the Grand Tour.


Webcode: 225518


Get advice and book.With our extensive knowledge of Switzerland,

we can help you plan the best possible holiday.

Call: 00800 100 200 30 (international toll-free*)

*Local charges may apply.

Travel in comfort

Tips and information about travelling to Switzerland.

Whether you plan to come by plane, train or car,

Switzerland has excellent international connections.


Enjoy the ride

Travel in comfort and enjoy every moment of the journey.

A well-served public transport network makes exploring

Switzerland fun – and offers total flexibility.


Find accommodation

From stylish spa hotels to authentic mountain inns and rural farms,

the choice of accommodation in Switzerland is vast.

Booking is quick and easy.



MySwitzerland.com /strategicpartners

Swiss Chocolate

chocolatfrey.com

The trade association of

the Swiss hotel industry

swisshotels.ch

Switzerland by train, bus and boat

SwissTravelSystem.com

The airline of Switzerland

swiss.com

Financial services

ubs.com

Strategic premium partners

Official partners

SWISS ARMY KNIVES |

TIMEPIECES | TRAVEL GEAR

victorinox.com

Interest group for Swiss

non-hotel accommodation

stnet.ch/parahotellerie

Strategic partners

American Express

in Switzerland

americanexpress.ch

Performance Bikes

bmc-switzerland.com

Car rental

europcar.ch

Retail and

wholesale trade

coop.ch

Gateway to the Alps

zurich-airport.comSwitzerland Cheese

Marketing

switzerland-cheese.com

Exquisite Swiss

biscuit specialities

kambly.ch

swisstravelcenter.chgastrosuisse.ch

swisscom.comsnowsports.chmammut.ch

visana.chswissrent.comswissinfo.ch

intersportrent.ch grimselstrom.chholycow.ch

appenzellerbier.ch guebelin.ch

lesambassadeurs.ch

hertz.ch

Publisher

Switzerland Tourism

Tödistrasse 7

Postfach

8027 Zurich

Switzerland

Editor

Switzerland Tourism

Design

Festland AG, St. Gallen / Zurich

Switzerland Tourism, Zurich

Photographs

Cover: Stephan Schacher

Page 45 (Toni Areal): Allreal / G. Potkonjak

Page 66 (Nikon): Robert Bösch

Other images: by kind permission of

our partners

Printer

Stämpfli AG, Bern

Auflage

310 ,000 copies

Languages

The Swiss holiday magazine

mySwitzerland is published

twice a year in German, French,

Italian, English, Dutch and Spanish.

Switzerland Tourism recommends


Digital Switzerland

Best Swiss Hotels

Swiss Events

Family Trips

Swiss Hike

Swiss City Guide

All the top tips for the

Grand Tour gathered in a practical

e-brochure: ideal inspiration for your trip!

Mobile apps

Useful info and handy practical services are always

at your fingertips with our free mobile apps.

e MySwitzerland.com/mobile

Swiss Mag app for iPad

Install to download brochures

e MySwitzerland.com/ipad

Grand Tour

on your iPad

practical

ion for your trip!

Get a foretaste of the pleasures

awaiting you on the Grand Tour

as you set off on an interactive

virtual journey – from the comfort

of your sofa. Enjoy the ride!

e grandtour.MySwitzerland.com

A virtual road

trip through

Switzerland

A to Z of the Grand Tour

Find all the information you need for the

Grand Tour, including practical tips on driving

in Switzerland and general travel facts, at:

e MySwitzerland.com/grandtour

Sign up for our newsletter

e MySwitzerland.com/newsletter

#INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND

See the best photos, videos and stories posted

by visitors to Switzerland on social media, gathered

by our team – and share your own experiences to

become part of the community.

e facebook.com/MySwitzerland

e instagram.com/MySwitzerland

e twitter.com/MySwitzerland

e Inlovewithswitzerland.com

Travellers’ tales from

the Grand Tour

8

FRANCE

3

5

6

10

11

The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a recommended route along the existing Swiss

road network. Visitors follow the route at their own risk. Switzerland Tourism and

the Grand Tour of Switzerland Association accept no liability for structural changes,

diversions, signage, special events or safety regulations along the route.

Hidden places Pages 18–29

1 Montagnola

2 Seengen

3 Basel

4 Grosser Mythen

5 Etang de la Gruère

6 Gruyères

Swiss cities reinvented Pages 38– 43

7 Roter Platz, St.Gallen

8 BFM, Geneva

9 Frau Gerolds Garten, Zurich

The journey is the goal Pages 48–55

10 Cully

11 Lake Thun

12 Furka Pass

13 Flüela Pass

The Grand Tour of Switzerland The Grand Tour of Switzerland links Switzerland’s cultural and scenic

highlights over a distance of more than 1,600 kilometres. The route leads

over 5 alpine passes, along 22 lakes and to 11 UNESCO World Heritage

Properties. The international access points are Basel, Geneva and Lugano;

within Switzerland, motorists can begin the tour at any chosen point.

The Grand Tour is signposted

in a clockwise direction.

0 20 40 80 km

0 10 20 40 miles

9

7

I TA LY

GERMANY

AUSTR IA

L IECHTENSTE IN

1

2

12

13

4

www.swisstravelcenter.ch

Motorway

Main road

Railway

Car transport by rail

Airport

MySwitzerland.com

Our partner regions

* sommermagazin 2016 (78018en)

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