Things to see and do German-Speaking Switzerland

The Jungfraujoch: top of Europe! Imagine reaching Europe's highest railway station at 3,454m. The view from the summit is breathtaking! An unmissable excursion awaits you. Plan to live the experience intensely using the Eiger Express cable car (open since December 2020) or opt for the traditional route by train. The Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, a Unesco Alpine World Heritage Site, is the pride of the region. For over a hundred years, this train has been linking towns on the plains to this observation deck, which is truly enthroned in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Up there, it's another world, one of eternal snow, perpetual cold (bring warm clothes!) and almost constant sunshine. It's hard to believe just how much titanic work went into making this line carved out of the mountain possible.

Incredible activities not to be missed on the summit:

The Jungfraujoch site houses a research laboratory for geology, climatology, physics, meteorology and astronomy. On site, you can sample chocolate or try your hand at snowtubing down the Snow Fun Park run on tires (May to October).

The Jungfraujoch observatory. Once you've reached the 3,454 m summit, the observatory is a real attraction! In addition to views of the entire surrounding Alpine chain, the circular walkway features a gallery of ice with sculpted animals, a 360° panoramic screen replicating the view from the summit, a collection of miniatures, restaurants and various observation terraces, including the glacier plateau - the ideal place to take photos with the Swiss flag and the longest glacier in the Alps: the Aletsch glacier.

The Ice Palace, lining the old galleries dug out by mountain guides, invites you to discover ephemeral works of art such as an eagle, a penguin... A special and unusual dimension for an art gallery made of ice.

The footpath to the Mönchsjoch hut. This is the one you absolutely must take, equipped with good hiking boots, to get away from the noisy crowds rushing to take selfies at the summit. Even in summer, the route is snow-covered, but it is marked and tamped by the hut keeper, the ultimate goal of this 45-minute hike. Beware: hiking at this altitude requires a lot of energy! Walk slowly to save your energy.

The portal of the hall bears the inscription Psyches latreion (Pharmacy of the Soul), borrowed from the library of Ramses II. The library was built between 1758 and 1767 and is the finest secular Baroque building in the country. The architecture of the room, by Peter Thumb, is baroque and the decoration rococo. The ceiling paintings are by Joseph Wannenmacher and represent the four councils. Under each of these frescoes, the parquet floor, also superb, is decorated with a star. The columns are surmounted by cherubs in different outfits, which were used to indicate the different categories of works by speciality, before the alphabetical classification. Three of the columns are movable and reveal the list of works that were contained in the related display cases. Beyond the beauty of the "packaging", the library, which is not a simple museum, is above all a treasure trove for medievalists, with an impressive collection of original manuscripts. Some of them are on display in the main hall in an exhibition that is renewed every year; the rest are carefully preserved on the floors. In total, the library holds more than 160,000 works. A model of the abbey church, a plan of the former abbey and a gift brought back from France by the mayor when the canton of St. Gallen was founded are on display in a corner of the library: a mummy inherited from Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt. As the mayor did not want it in her home, the mummy is kept in the library with the sarcophagus.

It's been around since 1959, and is one of the most popular museums in the country! The Swiss Museum of Transport presents the history of mobility and communication through exhibitions, interactive terminals and films. More than 3,000 exhibits are housed in an area of over 20 hectares, covering the history of traffic on road, rail and water, in the air and in space. A train simulator lets you slip into the shoes of a locomotive driver.

The view above Engelberg, at an altitude of 3,020 metres in a land of lakes and mountains, is of course magnificent. To make the most of it, you can take the Rotair cable car from Engelberg, which has the special feature of a steerable cabin. The experience continues with multiple activities on site such as the Titlis Cliff Walk at 3,041m. For a more fun activity to do with the family, snowtubing (a large buoy on the snow) will take you into great moments of laughter.

Looking for a thrill? Discover four activities offered in Grindelwald. The First Glider propels its four passengers at 72 km/h over the mountains, while the First Flyer offers unforgettable sensations during an 800 m crossing between the First and Schreckfeld at a maximum speed of 84 km/h. Other activities are possible on site such as the mountain cart, a cross between a go-kart and a sledge which allows you to race down the unpaved road linking Schreckfeld to Bort over 3 km. To be tried with the family!

The foundation has been in existence for fifty years and continues to perpetuate local traditions and know-how. You will be immersed in life-size Swiss architecture with more than 80 traditional Swiss houses and farms, in their original state, with their fields, their vegetable gardens and their animals. You will discover the medicinal plant garden and numerous crafts, from bakers to blacksmiths, lacemakers and weavers (daily demonstrations).

This is one of the highlights of your visit to Bern. The Institution is mainly devoted to the life and work of Paul Klee, a German artist born in Switzerland, near Bern, to a father who was a music teacher and a mother who was a singer. From an early age, Klee turned to the plastic arts. On a trip to Tunisia in 1914, he wrote in his diary: "Color possesses me, I no longer need to search for it. This is what this happy moment means: I and color are one

Paul Klee flourished in abstraction, playing with symbols and colors. A professor at the Bauhaus in Weimar, he was at the height of his artistic powers from 1920 onwards. But the coming to power of the Nazis precipitated his end. Classified by them as a "degenerate artist", he moved to Switzerland before his death in 1940.

In a wave-shaped building designed by architect Renzo Piano, inaugurated in 2005, the Centre houses the world's largest collection of over 4,000 works, including paintings, watercolours and drawings by the painter. It also features exhibitions dedicated to other artists. In 2023, the public will discover the late works of Joan Miró. Under the title "New Horizons", 74 works produced from the late 1960s onwards are presented for the first time in Switzerland. At the beginning of 2024, the German Dadaist Hanna Höch will be in the spotlight. Finally, as a true cultural center, the establishment offers concerts in its auditorium.

This 204 m-long wooden covered bridge is Lucerne's landmark! Built in the first half of the ^14th century, it takes its name from the nearby St. Peter's Chapel. Since the ^17th century, its framework has been adorned with numerous paintings depicting scenes from the history of the country, as well as the city's patron saints, St. Leodegar and St. Maurice. In the middle of the bridge, stop to admire the water tower, once used as a prison and torture chamber.

In Riehen, near Basel, this magnificent building was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who also created the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Nestled in an English-style park, amid wheat fields and lily ponds, this luminous structure blends into the landscape, surrounded by a winter garden and the Villa Berower, home to the museum's restaurant. Here, nature, art and architecture coexist in perfect harmony.

Founded by Basel gallery owners Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, collectors of ^20th-century masters, the foundation, inaugurated in 1997, houses a vast collection of 400 works of post-impressionist, modern and contemporary art, plus 30 ethnographic objects from Africa, Oceania and Alaska, which are presented several times a year in changing exhibitions. Thematic exhibitions devoted to cities and artistic movements that played a decisive role in the development of modern art are also regularly organized. The founding couple had a clear vision for their foundation: an open, lively museum capable of inspiring a broad public with a love of art, and which would not only promote cultural education, but also encourage exchange. Today, the Foundation's worldwide reputation makes it one of Switzerland's most popular museums. It is also one of the most beautiful, thanks to the generous proportions of its halls, which display works of art in remarkable natural light.

St. Elisabeth's Church in Basel, saved from demolition in the 1980s, has become an emblematic venue for spirituality, culture and events. In the heart of Basel, it hosts parades, banquets and spiritual practices. A 215-step ascent leads to a breathtaking panoramic view. Switzerland's first "urban church", it celebrates diversity. Its history and architecture make it a jewel of Basel, open to all.

Surrounded by an exceptional lake and mountains as far as the eye can see, Kloster Einsiedeln has been a place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. It is a splendid monument built in the early ^18th century. The abbey church is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture to be found anywhere in the country. The huge monastery, designed by Kaspar Moosbrugger, features the black marble Chapel of the Graces, in which the famous ^15th-century Black Madonna stands beneath a frescoed dome. The exterior is very imposing, with dimensions worthy of the castles of Schönbrunn or Versailles. The Baroque style lends an indisputable magnificence to this complex, built on the site of a first convent dating back to the ^9th century. The interior is even more remarkable, with a Baroque profusion that would make the finest Italian monuments pale in comparison. The total length of the church exceeds 100 m. The nave, over 40 m long, is a jewel, extended by the choir designed by Kraus. Einsiedeln Abbey is a Benedictine abbey rich in tradition, home to some 50 monks and Switzerland's most important place of pilgrimage. In addition to the monks' residence, the abbey includes a school, ten workshops, a wine cellar and stables. The monks also offer concerts, guided tours and masses. A place not to be missed.

A cruise on Lake Lucerne is a must and all seasons bring their own attractions. In addition to the simple pleasure of sailing and enjoying the magnificent scenery of the mountains and the city (the city lights at night are dazzling!), there is the added advantage of connecting interesting areas without taking your car. With its five historic paddlewheelers and fifteen elegant motor boats, you will travel back in time and reach the most important tourist destinations in the region.

The zoo is home to 5,500 animals from all over the world, divided into 360 species, including the exotic fish aquarium. The zoo fulfils two functions: raising visitors' awareness of nature conservation and preserving endangered species through exchange programs with other zoos. Constantly evolving, the park has seen the opening of the Masoala rainforest (2003) before the construction of the elephant dome (2014) and the Mongolian steppe (2015). Construction work on Panterra, the feline facility, began in July 2023.

Created in 1191, it is the first western gate of the city and has housed the city's main clock since 1530. The top of the tower offers a beautiful view of the city. The clock is famous for its carousel of figures that come to life every hour. This masterpiece was designed by Casper Brunner. The automatons, dating from 1527-1530, start their ballet early (4 min), with the crowing of the rooster and the jester's bell. Then, on time, come the bears, who make as many turns as there are hours. The central figure, Cronos, then turns over his hourglass and signals the hours with his sceptre, while the lion does the same with a nod of his head; meanwhile, at the very top, Hans Von Tal rings the hours on the bell. Above the dial, the Roman deities Venus, Mars and Jupiter are painted on the wall with their attributes. Then the rooster closes the ballet by crowing a third time (allusion to the words of Jesus to Saint Peter). The movement of the clock, which can be seen on request, is still provided, rarely, by the original mechanism; a golden hand indicates the solar time, the Sun, the current zodiac sign; in the outer red part appears the day of the week; a black and gold ball indicates the phases of the Moon by turning on itself; finally, a star indicates the day of the week, in the Julian calendar (i.e. without taking into account the leap years) A must-see at any time to admire the automatons.

Discover the botanical treasure trove of the University of Basel, founded in 1589. Nestled near the Spalentor since 1898, its elegant Victorian greenhouse bears witness to its history. With over 8,000 plant species, explore desert ecosystems to alpine gardens. An ideal learning ground for students, its greenhouse collections, including the famous Victoria House, are fascinating. Outside, a diversity of trees invites contemplation!

In the heart of the city of Zurich, in a small covered alleyway, the remains of a Roman thermal bath discovered in 1983 are on display. They have been left in situ and can be viewed as they are. Archaeologists estimate that the baths date from 160 AD and must have covered an area of 500 m². They were even enlarged at the beginning of the 3rd century. The baths were of great importance in the social life of the Romans and it is not surprising to have discovered them in the heart of the city. The visit is free and well worth the detour.

The Rhine Falls are a must for Swiss tourism! Formed some seventeen thousand years ago, the largest waterfall in Europe is an impressive sight: several hundred cubic metres of water per second, 23 metres high, 13 metres deep and 150 metres wide. The impressive waterfalls can be admired from various vantage points (free of charge)! The majestic castles of Wörth and Laufen are also accessible by boat.

Freitag is the Zurich brand that everyone is talking about all over the world! Created by two Zurich brothers, proud inhabitants of Zurich West, Freitag bags are handmade from colourful and above all madly trendy truck tarpaulins. The brand's flagship store is located in a surprising tower composed of seventeen colourful sea containers 26 metres high. Totally unusual, it's worth a look!

More than a chocolate museum, it's an immersion in the heart of a family saga, whose successive generations have handed down values of authenticity, innovation and sustainability, through their cult brands Ragusa and Torino. You'll get up close and personal with the company's history, its traditional brands and its modern production. Thanks to a discovery trail and workshops, the visit will appeal to all your senses in a playful way.

Date of the th century; from 1757 to 1806, he belonged to the Abbey of St. Gallen. It was then extensively transformed into the 1958 th century and now houses an evangelical home (since).