Sports and leisure activities Switzerland

Meiringen is a town in the Swiss Alps, offering a wide range of outdoor activities. Visitors can take the cable car to the Klein Matterhorn, at an altitude of 3,883 meters, from where they can climb Pollux or Castor, two peaks over 4,000 meters high. After a busy day, visitors can refresh themselves in the village.

For skiers, it's a free rider's paradise, but it's also the only glacier ski area in the Vaud Alps, open from October to May, and one of the few with a well-equipped snowpark from October onwards. In the event of late snow or early spring, and despite the disasters of global warming, the Glacier is a safe bet with its eternal snows and often excellent powder... It is part of the Les Diablerets - Villars ski area (125 km of runs). Two impressive 15-minute cable cars take you up to the magnificent peaks of Glacier 3000. Be sure to check out the gullied slopes below the lifts, as chamois often live here.
The offer is very complementary to that of Les Diablerets, as the glacier, with 25 km of gentle blue runs and a very long black run down a 7 km combe, is unmissable for the fantastic views it offers, the experience of the peaks for gentle gliding up with crossbows, and excellent snow quality in all seasons! The famous "Peak Walk by Tissot" suspension bridge is the only bridge in the world to link two summits, the lower summit (View Point) to the main summit of Le Scex Rouge. The suspension bridge offers breathtaking views of the Alps: the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It is free of charge and open all year round, weather permitting.

Built in the ^14th century, these bisses (irrigation canals) were designed to irrigate the dry meadows of the Valais between Goms and Martigny. At the turn of the century, 207 of them remained, representing a total network of 1,750 km. Today, most of them have been abandoned, but you can still walk along the paths that run alongside them, crossing fields, forests and plains... A walk not to be missed!The bisses are fragile. Please respect them by not throwing anything or obstructing the passage of water.

The Diablerets Express gondola, with a capacity of 10 seats, takes you to the Meilleret ski area with its link to the Villars and Gryon areas and offers a wide range of skiing possibilities, from beginners to advanced skiers. Twenty-five installations and more than 100 km of runs. To reach the Glacier 3000 domain, you have to drive to the Pillon pass (10 minutes) or take the shuttle bus that links the village to the Pillon pass.

A small walk about 45 minutes on board the Aquarel, a quiet and quiet electro-solar boat to navigate close to the banks, see the Lavaux between lake and mountains and discover the panorama of Lausanne.

Are you looking for a sporty way to discover and have fun? The golf course in the centre of Freiburg offers you the opportunity to enjoy 8.7 km of golf! It takes about 3 to 5 hours to complete the 18-hole course. This is a good idea when you want to vary your discovery by adding some originality. You will go through the historical center and you can cumulate with other visits like a museum. It is of course very pleasant in summer because you cross lawns, squares and their fountains while having fun.

The Domaine as you will discover it today is the witness of a curious history. At one time, this area was very marshy and therefore unusable. When the railway was built in 1860, the water had to be channelled through a system of locks. The burghers of Sion were given a lot on condition that they maintain it. Since then, it has become a holiday resort in the middle of nature, an oasis of peace and quiet that is very popular for swimming in the summer: restaurant, campsite, climbing wall, a sports centre.

In summer, in the middle of the city, if you pass over one of the bridges over the Rhine, you will certainly see swimmers drifting slowly in the direction of the current, a small, colourful and floating bag hanging on their arms. The little bag is called Wickelfisch and every self-respecting Basel resident has at least one. You can store your clothes in a dry place and it also serves as a float. At lunchtime or after work, we usually throw ourselves into the Rhine to refresh ourselves, chat quietly with colleagues or friends, letting ourselves be carried away by the waves. Every year, on the ^2nd Tuesday in August (in case of bad weather, the ^3rd), the not-to-be-missed Rheinschwimmen takes place, the big gathering for a collective bath in the Rhine, the whole of Basel throws itself into the water! The start is from the Jardin de la Solitude, near the Tinguely Museum, and you can swim to the Kaserne, at the other end of the city. Thousands of people find their way there. On leaving, everyone receives as a gift their diploma of the year, a drink and a bratwurst (sausage) offered by Migros!

An exceptional hike to do if you are a good walker. Do you like mid-mountain hikes? Near Geneva, the AGAS association takes care of everything and promises you a nice reward at the top of your hike! The view from the Salève (a French mountain at the gates of the city) is breathtaking: the whole of the Geneva harbor, the Jet d'eau, the Jura mountains. A reward that can be savored in any weather. Meeting point every Sunday at 10 am at the terminus of the bus 8 in Veyrier-Douane. Beware, this hike is for sporty people who have some training. Count on five to eight hours of walking according to the chosen circuit (three of which at a steady pace) for this 800 m hike, and bring your passport, good equipment, good walking shoes, hat, walking sticks, crampons if you are in winter, a picnic, water, sun cream, windbreaker and all the equipment necessary for a big hike. Make sure you are in good physical condition: the landscape is sumptuous from the summit, but even the descent is very physical and you should not be subject to vertigo. The association also proposes hikes around Geneva and in Savoie, check its website.

For the less athletic, a new cable car should be in service from May 2023. At the top, a climbing wall, a panoramic restaurant, a botanical garden and a museographic space will be built.

The pool is a beautiful lakeside facility with an Olympic-size pool, a large pool for non-swimmers and a paddling pool for children. Around the pool, ping-pong tables and beach volleyball courts keep sports enthusiasts busy. Otherwise, you can relax on the deckchairs facing the Mémise rocks or on the large expanses of grass. A refreshment bar with panoramic terrace awaits you. The town of Pully also has a second indoor heated swimming pool for winter use.

It is difficult to describe the Vélosophe, the name already called, it is a workshop where we sell and repair bikes but with philosophy and kindness even for the old "Biclous" at the end of the journey which finds a new youth here. This "garden hut", dixit the owner, offers a very professional service and repairs for all brands without distinction. Vélosophe is also the specialist in fixed gear cycling ("fixie").

A sandy beach on the edge of the Alps! The Lido beach is located on Lake Lucerne, with a breathtaking Alpine panorama. Lucerne enjoys mild weather in summer, so what better way to cool off than by taking a dip in the pristine waters of the lake? If the water's too cold, head for the heated swimming pool. You'll also find sports facilities (paddle, beach volleyball) as well as children's play equipment and a lake view restaurant serving pizzas and ice creams. All you need for a relaxing day out!

On sunny days, everyone meets at the pool to lie down on the lawn and refresh themselves in the pools. The complex includes several facilities: 50-metre swimming-pool (Olympic), non-swimming pools, 3-metre diving board and paddling pool. And for fun, you won't miss a slide down the 100-metre slide! Not forgetting an annual aquatic day, activities and courses offered to keep fit throughout the summer (aquagym, aquazumba, aquabike, etc.)

The beach reserved for the children. Ideal to enjoy the lake in all comfort. Very family atmosphere and free access to this small beach surrounded by grass and sand. Nearby, toilets, showers, refreshment stand, children's games and wheelchair access. Free beach. Following Baby plage, the Eaux Vives beach offers a superb setting for swimming, sunbathing, strolling, paddling or sailing... At the end of the beach, the restaurant and the refreshment bar De la plage (also) allow you to refresh yourself, have lunch or dinner.

The Lavaux-Panoramic Association and its little Lavaux-Panoramic train take visitors on a journey through the region. Whether you fancy an immersion in the Lavaux vineyards, a wine tasting at a winemaker's or a themed tour such as a family farm visit, there's something for everyone. You'll take picturesque paths and be sure to enjoy an unusual experience. Find out more about the tours on offer on the website.

The Bastions Park is a very popular place because of its central location. One crosses it, one settles there in summer in a deckchair, and in winter one slides there! In this bucolic setting, it has become a tradition to share an icy moment with family or friends, or just after classes at the nearby university. A friendly skating rink guarantees moments of fun, a few friendly jostles and above all the pleasure of having fun in the open air at the foot of the ramparts and under the hundred-year-old trees. To warm up, finish off with a hot chocolate!

Thanks to a partnership between the City of Vevey and the Association Vevey sur Glace, this 600 m² skating rink rises from its ashes every winter season. The City finances the infrastructure and the Association is responsible for the management and operation of the skating rink, which it animates and keeps alive. This covered skating rink installed on the lake shore replaces an old natural skating rink, to the delight of young and old alike. Skate or helmet rentals.

In the sumptuous setting of the Payerne Golf Club, the varied, tree-lined course combines relaxation, pleasure and a competitive spirit. Golfers can play the 18-hole course or practice on the driving range. Beginners can take individual lessons. Golf is a pleasant stroll spoiled by a little white ball, and you can meditate on this quote at the restaurant, which offers quality dishes adapted to the season. The uncluttered classic feel is very elegant.