Monuments to visit German-Speaking Switzerland

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.

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.

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.

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!

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).

Ital Reding started building the manor house in 1609. In front of the house is a baroque garden, surrounded by two pavilions. But it is inside that the jewels of the residence are to be found: the large garden room on the ground floor, the vaulted cellar and, on the first floor, in accordance with tradition, the rooms decorated with rich wood panelling and ceilings. On a stone base, there is a room decorated with murals, built in the 16th century.

The Federal Palace building was completed in 1902 and is the seat of the Swiss government (Federal Council) and parliament (National Council and Council of States). Under the central dome and in the two council chambers, numerous symbolic representations of Swiss history are depicted. The square in front, with its 26 fountains symbolising the cantons, was opened in 2004 and is THE meeting place for the people of Bern. The National Bank's gold lies beneath your feet.

Discover Basel's town hall, emblem of government and parliament. Its charm lies in its red façade, imposing tower and polychrome paintings. Don't miss the Council Chamber, the inner courtyard, the romantic arcades and the belfry with its panoramic views. Built after an earthquake, the Town Hall symbolizes union with the Confederation. The battlements bear the coats of arms of the cantons. In the ^17th century, Hans Bock decorated the façade with trompe-l'oeil. In the ^20th century, a wing on the left and a belfry on the right enhanced its grandeur.

It was built around 1230 and is in a perfect state of preservation. It is now used for events, with the exception of a floor reserved for the Polish Museum. This museum was created in 1970 by Polish emigrants who came to Switzerland as a refugee following the unrest in their country (insurrection of January 1863). The exhibition deals with Polish history, its traditions, its struggles, its regained independence and its relations with Switzerland over the years.

It is the largest castle in the canton, once inhabited by a dragon according to legend. After killed, the two noble Wolfram knights and Guntram settled there. Although modified several times over the centuries, its foundations date back to the th century. Very well restored at the beginning of the th century, the castle fully captures this diversity of buildings, since there are three different sites: the house of the Knights, the Stapfer house and the historical museum of Aargau. The first, pleasant white construction, sober and impressive, the throne to the southwest of the courtyard and serves as an exhibition or banquet room.

The second, more classical, is not visiting because it is reserved for associative life, but it is an opportunity to cross the beautiful gardens, recreated according to the original th plans. Finally, the museum, housed in the residential unit of bailiffs, traces in its four sections the history of the canton.

Built between 1256 and 1344, this tower, the second western gate of Bern, was used as a prison from 1641 to 1897. Political exhibitions are regularly held here. It is said that the mother of Ferdinand Hodler (one of Switzerland's most famous painters) was a cook in the tower in the 19th century. Since 1999 it has been the seat of the political forum of the Swiss Confederation. The Prison Tower is now a symbol of democracy, participation and exchange.

Located 200 m from the Clock Tower, on the second and third floors of Kramgasse 49, this museum is a reconstruction of Einstein's apartment, where he carried out his early work on the theory of relativity. Portraits, photos, film, copies of documents and letters help us to better understand this genius. The tour takes you back to the life of Einstein, his wife Mileva and their son Hans Albert, between 1903 and 1905. Stroll through the two floors, surrounded by period furniture. A guided tour is also available.

Beuggen Castle is a jewel. Nestled in a nature reserve at the crossroads of Germany, Switzerland and France, it stands on the banks of the Rhine. The building is divided into two parts: the old castle, dating back to the ^13th century, and the new one, built in the ^16th century. From the Rhine, you can admire the façade of the old castle. Since 2017, this charming building has become a venue for accommodation, events and catering. This picturesque site also welcomes tourists for guided tours, subject to booking.

A small opera house worthy of the world's greatest! With its 1,100 seats, the Zurich Opera House - or Opernhaus - welcomes international stars. Each season, the opera's orchestra accompanies at least 250 performances with passion and artistic quality. As one of the world's most renowned opera houses, you won't be surprised to see debutantes dressed in ball gowns. You too can take a few waltz steps, visit the disco room, the cigar bar or relax in the lounge. Chic and expensive!

When the former orphanage was renovated at the beginning of the 20th century, the cellar became the entrance to the present Zurich police building. In 1924, Augusto Giacometti painted frescoes with other artist friends that give an incredible light to the dark vaults. The paintings represent the trades that contributed to the development of the city. The ceilings are adorned with beautiful flowers in orange and brick tones which have given their name to this very special place which the people of Zurich call Blüemlihalle (the hall of flowers). Not to be missed!

Right in the heart of the town of Baden lie the ruins of Stein Castle. Originally built in the year 1000, it has since been destroyed twice: once in 1415 by the Confederates, and again in 1712 during the Second Villmergen War. Today, only the ruins remain of the former castle, which once belonged to the Habsburgs. Overlooking the town, the castle is well worth a visit for its panoramic view of the old town and surrounding vineyards. A wonderful discovery for the whole family.

This leaning tower, a curiosity in the city, dates back to the 13th century. It is 33 m high and inclined at 5.5 degrees (its inclination is higher than that of the Tower of Pisa). It is the last vestige of the church of St. Mauritius, which was partially demolished in 1893. Rehabilitation work has been regularly undertaken: the latest was in 2013 to reduce the angle of inclination. If you're passing through St. Moritz in winter, stop here: the sight under the snow is worth the trip. A trip to take pictures with the family.

Above St. Moritz, you can discover the original alpine hut from the film Heidi. For your information, the adventures of the little alpine girl were set by the author, the Zurich writer Johanna Spyri, on the slopes of the Falknis, near Maienfeld, on the Austrian border. The film was made in 1952 and made the courageous and endearing little Swiss mountain girl famous all over the world.

Built in the 1226 th century by the lords of the Toggenburg, he commanded the provost abbots who were owners from 1798 to. These governors traditionally lived in the Maison zum Toggenburg, added in the th century to the south wing of the castle. Also admire the entrance gate of 1566, and the Household House (1540) in the east wing. Today, the castle houses a local museum.

Wartegg Castle on Lake Constance dates back to 1557 and is now privately owned. It served as a refuge for important personalities on several occasions: during the French Revolution, in 1860 for Louise de Bourbon-Parme, expelled from Italy, and finally in 1919-1921 for the Austrian imperial family. Today, the château, owned by the Mijnssen family since 1994, also serves as a hotel. The 25 rooms enjoy a superb view of the English park, surrounded by the Appenzell hills. An idyllic setting for a stay in Switzerland.