Tourist Attractions & Monuments Switzerland

Located less than 20 minutes from the towns of Biel, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Neuchâtel and next to the Tavannes valley and the Franches-Montagnes, the Chasseral Regional Park is a magnificent place between mountains and valleys, plains and lakes. Here, the Chasseral massif sees several cultures converge at its summit: French and German-speaking, artisanal and industrial, rural and urban, land and lake... Created in 2001, the Chasseral Regional Park aims to improve the reception of the public and to maintain and enhance the natural heritage of the region.

Founded in 1990 in the former Biel City Hospital, the Centre d'art Pasquart programs innovative temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and film screenings around this theme. The museum boasts a collection of over 1,800 works by 130 artists, including Clare Goodwin, Rachel Lumsden and Susan Morris. The museum's spacious layout makes it easy to move around the works. Guided tours are regularly organized in French. Bilingual workshops for children aged 5 to 11. Attentive welcome.

In front of the head office of the famous biennoise watchmaking company, this museum invites you behind the scenes and the history of this logo with the presentation of numerous objects, documents and evidence.

In this village, Max Bösch, known as the "father of storks", founded a stork park after the last war to ensure the survival of this bird in Switzerland. The fact is that on many of the village's rooftops, whole families of storks nest and welcome visitors. Currently, about 20 nests are occupied and about 200 storks live here. The black stork, an endangered species, is a regular visitor. The storks are more numerous in summer.

Built at the end of the 17th century, Schloss Waldegg, which actually looks more like a manor house than a castle, has a baroque interior and garden. It is now a museum, illustrating the life of its owners in the 18th century. It is also a meeting place for the different languages of the Confederation. The building has a lot of allure and the visit is the pretext for a nice little stroll. A great family outing.

The Stiftung Jesuitenkirche Solothurn, the beautiful Jesuit church in Solothurn, is one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Switzerland. Built in the 17th century between 1680 and 1689, according to the plans of the Jesuit Heinrich Mayer, it is distinguished by the limestone statue of the Virgin Mary on the main façade, as well as by its organ, built a century later, at the end of the 18th century. The church regularly hosts outstanding organ concerts.

The Rothorn is a historical attraction! This little red locomotive has been taking tourists to the summit of the Rothorn since 1892. On board the steam train, you can discover the region from Lake Brienz to the summit at an altitude of over 2300 metres. The view from the top is breathtaking. Accessible from June to October by train, this panoramic site is a must-see. On clear days, you can see more than 100 peaks of the Rothorn. Good to know: the ride on the steam train is free on your birthday.

Burgdorf Castle was built by the Zähringen family in the ^12th century. It is one of Switzerland's oldest fortresses, and is extremely well preserved. Restored several times, this imposing building now houses a museum with several collections relating to the art and history of the region, as well as a youth hostel and restaurant. Spend the night here and experience the life of a castle!

The glacier waters from the Wetterhorn massif have created a particularly wild landscape in these gorges. The adventure between waterfalls, caves, rocks and the untamed energy of the water is unforgettable. The Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge can only be climbed (up to 115 m) and takes about 45 minutes. The descent is then made through the forest. On arrival, have a snack in the Café Schluchthüttli.

Along almost 1,400 m of trails, you can admire these gorges formed by the Aare glacier in soil that was weakened during the Ice Age. A natural wonder! The steep walls plunge to depths of up to 200 m, and in places are only a metre apart. The trail along these rock faces is a real highlight. These sumptuous gorges are the perfect opportunity to embark on an adventure, alone or with the family, to discover geology - a natural spectacle not to be missed under any circumstances.

In 1891, after a duel with Professor Moriarty(The Last Problem), Conan Doyle decided to kill his famous hero by throwing him into the Reichenbach Falls. As the world's most famous detective is not so easily discarded, Sir Arthur was forced to resurrect him for other adventures, but this episode was well worth a museum. Built on the site of a former English church, it houses a reconstruction of the famous drawing room at 221b Baker Street, with hundreds of authentic exhibits to delight fans.

The village of Saanen was once larger than Gstaad. Saanen is enchanted by the beauty of its architecture and nature as far as the eye can see. In terms of heritage, take a look at the beautiful Baroque-style house built in 1757: the Salt House. Salt was sold here until the late 1950s. The ceilings have been worked with a special plane to create the typical "cat's claw" effect. The Tourist Office team will be happy to guide you during your stay.

The team at the office will be delighted to welcome you and suggest a wide range of activities in the Simmental. The region is green with pastures and hilly landscapes. Cows are the queens of the meadows, and their meat is known to be one of the best in Switzerland. Sporting activities abound, and the region is renowned for its rock-climbing. The best part is enjoying alpine festivals and farm lunches.

Even when the tourist office is closed, the information room remains open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., where you can find lots of useful information. What's more, the tourist office offers a selection of postcards to send to your loved ones, as well as electric bike rentals for exploring the region. Be sure to stop by the Diemtigen tourist office to start your adventure in this beautiful Swiss region.

Zweisimmen, in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, is a welcoming village that serves as the gateway to the renowned Gstaad-Saanenland region. It is also the starting point for the Montreux-Oberland bernois railroad, which leads to Montreux on Lake Geneva. The village lies in a wide valley and is one of the ten villages of the Gstaad destination. In winter, winter sports enthusiasts can take advantage of the "Gstaad Mountain Rides" ski area, which offers 120 km of pistes, as well as the Sparenmoos high plateau with its 38 km of cross-country ski trails. In summer, Zweisimmen is a hiker's paradise with several theme trails and mountain bike excursions. Visitors can also enjoy the pleasures of scootering, cycling and mountain biking. Zweisimmen also offers a variety of hotels, restaurants and events throughout the year.

The Gstaad-Saanenland holiday region is characterized by its typical architecture and the chalet village of Saanen. In 1575, the village was almost completely destroyed by fire. Some of the houses, however, pre-date this reconstruction. The Trachselhaus is the most famous of the village's many wooden houses, typical of the region with their square shapes and wide, canopied roofs. Some date back to the ^16th century. An audioguide is available to take you on a tour of the village.

The first mention of Saanen's church dates back to 1228. A beautiful church that retains all its character, its most striking feature is the bell tower in the shape of a Romanesque tower (Bernese bell tower style) dating from 1444. Inside, a series of ^15th-century frescoes, painted al fresco, depict the martyrdom of the saint who gave the church its name, and on the north side of the nave, the Last Judgment. In the balustrades, you can admire the ^{mid-18th-century} organ, with its imposing Baroque-style case and lovely paintings that have remained intact despite the passage of time.

This museum covers, in four languages, everything about the Alps: its history, culture and traditions, its fauna and flora, its place in art, Alpine sports... It also offers temporary exhibitions on environmental issues and sustainable development throughout the year. The museum deals with the most famous ascents and the life of men in alpine country. Photos and commentaries are used to support the temporary exhibitions. On the site, you will find the complete program to come. A restaurant awaits you on site.

It all started with the small bird library and a natural cabinet in the main library. Thanks to patrons, the collection has grown! The most important collection in Europe, presented in a diorama, with 226 display cases. European mammals and exotic birds are displayed in their natural environment. There is also a collection of precious stones. Barry, the Great Saint Bernard who died in 1814, is a favourite with visitors.

The tourist office of this renowned ski resort is located in the main street of the village resort, to the right of the railway station. From May to October, the Gstaad Card gives free access to almost all means of transport, including mountain railways, as well as to museums and swimming pools in the region, and numerous discounts on other activities, such as the Glacier 3000 cable car and the day pass for the Montreux-Bernese Oberland Railway.

The Design Museum has moved to a second location (the first location was on Ausstellungsstrasse in the modern city) in the Toni-Areal in the trendy Zurich West district. The museum offers beautiful exhibitions on design, visual communication, media, photography and architecture. In particular, the museum's collections from its archives are of international importance: posters, graphic art, decorative arts, etc. since the beginning of industrialization. Workshops are also offered.

Opened to the public in 1952, the museum consists of three period villas (one of which was inhabited by the famous composer Richard Wagner) and its park (the Rieterpark), one of the most beautiful in the city. In 2002, a modern extension was added to the museum's traditional architecture (increasing its size by 125%): the exhibition rooms are located in a green glass pavilion called the Emerald. The museum offers a panorama of non-European art and houses treasures from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania.

The Kunsthalle (not to be confused with the Kunsthaus in Zurich) has 1,300 square metres of exhibition space where you can experience the past, present and future of contemporary art. The Kunsthalle is one of the most influential museums in the field of contemporary art and enjoys a good international reputation. Here you can discover (or rediscover) artists who are well established on the contemporary art scene, but also lesser-known, more underground talents. Exchanges, screenings and events are held throughout the year. It's a blast!

The Zurich Oberland, not far from Zurich, is an idyllic destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. This vast natural landscape stretches from the Greifen and Pfäffikon lakes to the Tössbergland, offering magnificent mountain panoramas of the Zurich Oberland and the Alps. For hikers and bikers, there are numerous hiking and biking trails, as well as 27 mountain inns for rest and refreshment. The Zurich Oberland also offers a rich cultural heritage, with castles, churches, fortresses and convents to explore. In winter, winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy 90 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, toboggan runs and snowshoe trails. In summer, hikers can explore the 1143 kilometers of hiking trails and swim in the Greifen and Pfäffikon lakes. The Zurich Oberland offers a multitude of activities to suit all tastes and seasons.

The Tourist Information Office in the main railway station has numerous maps of the city and the region. You can also buy the Zürich Card there. Reception in French. Offers high quality guided tours of the city (on foot, by bus, by Segway...). Like a Swiss Army knife, the office offers you tour options and suggestions for getting to know the secrets of the city. You will be invited to download the application with the streets and the must-see places of the city. You will be guided for visits in the area such as the Lindt Museum.

Founded in 1886 by the Commercial Corporation, a kind of chamber of commerce, this museum is dedicated to the textile tradition of the city and Eastern Switzerland. The museum manages a collection of 56,000 objects. Donations from wealthy manufacturers enable the museum to exhibit some very fine collections of lace and embroidery. The museum organizes two to three thematic exhibitions a year, complementing the permanent exhibition. It also offers an extensive program of events, educational activities and a gift store.

St. Gallen's tourist office organizes a variety of interesting guided tours to find out all about the city's anecdotes. You'll also find all the documentation you need for a pleasant stay. The friendly, qualified staff will be happy to give you suggestions and advice on excursion destinations that will make your stay in the St. Gallen region a unique and unforgettable vacation experience.

It has been restored with obvious good will, but renovation, old imitation, really smells too new.

Founded in 1921 with the collections of the Historical Society of the Canton of St. Gallen, it is the most important museum of the history of civilization in Eastern Switzerland. It consists of a History Museum and an Ethnological Museum. The former houses documents relating to the history of the town and the canton, as well as refurbished period rooms (notably the Prince-Abbot's Room). The second houses the collection brought back from all over by the city's merchants.

This art museum was built in 1877, at the end of the classicist period, to house a collection of art objects assembled by the Art Society founded in 1827. It mainly brings together works from the 19th and 20th centuries. The paintings of the Munich Academy, which had a strong influence on Swiss painters, are widely exhibited. Through successive additions to the collection, the museum has been enriched with works from the German and French schools, and later with works inspired by Alpine life.

The Abbey of St. Gallen is very large and still has the same dimensions as when it was founded. On the left, you will notice a door with a coat of arms; it marks the boundary between the buildings belonging to the state (towards you) and those belonging to the church (beyond the door). As you leave the library to the left, you will see the cell of Gallus, who arrived in St. Gallen with relics of two saints, Didier and Maurice, who are today the city's patrons.

The Fronwagplatzin Schaffhausen is a must-see. The former market square is very large and houses the Herrenstube, the house of the Schaffhausen noblemen's society, which was rebuilt in the late Baroque style in the 18th century. At No. 3, you will find a beautiful Baroque portal. There is also the Fronwagturm from the same period with its astronomical clock, as well as two colourful fountains, one of which is the Mohrenbrunnen from the 16th century. All around, numerous shops welcome tourists.

Frauenfeld, capital of the Swiss canton of Thurgau, is a charming town in the heart of the countryside. Its castle, built in the 13th century, overlooks the river Murg, a tributary of the Thur, which gave its name to the canton. Despite this, he was able to capture some panoramic views under a threatening sky before the rain came down. Frauenfeld's tourist office, located at Bahnhofplatz 75, is an ideal starting point for exploring the town and its surroundings.

Stein am Rhein is a charming little town in Switzerland, known for its well-preserved old town. Visitors can admire superb half-timbered houses with painted facades, for which the town was awarded the very first Wakker Prize in 1972. Not-to-be-missed sights include the Convent of St. George, one of the best-preserved late-medieval ensembles, and the Lindwurm Museum, featuring a 19th-century bourgeois interior and farm outbuildings. History buffs can also visit the Klingen castle, built in 1225, which dominates the town.

Housed in the grounds of the Abbey of Tous-les-Saints, this magnificent cloister is home to so many collections that it could be a historical museum, a religious museum, a natural history museum and a fine arts museum all in one! Founded in 1049 as a Benedictine monastery, it has now become a place of culture and learning. Throughout the year, temporary exhibitions are held alongside permanent collections on a wide range of themes. During your visit, don't miss the kitchen garden, whose reputation is well established. A must-see!

This is Switzerland's second largest cloister after Einsiedeln; It blends a th century Romanesque style with a Gothic style of the th century. On the front, a part dated 1854 and 1892 (restoration) curiously hosts the library premises. Behind, the oldest part of stone corresponds to the abbey church built in 1100; Very nice with its pure Romanesque architecture. You can walk through the garden of the Gentlemen, a framed courtyard of arcades.

The Munot is the emblem of Schaffhausen. After the reformation of 1529, the town wanted to fortify its defences and decided in 1563 to build a new artillery fortress. But beyond the strategic aspect, the Munot above all represents the power of the city. In the 19th century, the fortress lost its strategic interest and was converted into a quarry. Perched on a hill surrounded by vineyards, the imposing fortress has a circular shape. It allowed an optimal defense thanks to its ditch and its multiple openings.

Nicknamed the "House of the Knight", this building is remarkable for the paintings on its facade, created in the late ^16th century by local artist Tobias Stimmer. Built in 1492, this bourgeois house owes its name to the knight Hans von Waldkirch, who had it rebuilt a century later. The paintings, some of which are scenes from Homer's Odyssey, are considered to be the most important Renaissance-style frescoes north of the Alps. Discovered in 1935, they have been replaced and preserved in the Tous-les-Saints museum.

The tourist office offers a wide range of information on tourist and cultural attractions in Liestal and Canton Basel-Landschaft. Visitors can obtain maps of the town, local culinary specialities and information on guided tours. Hiking and cycling maps of the region are also available, as well as information on current cultural and literary events in and around Liestal.

This palace dates from 1557, hence its Italian Renaissance style. It was begun for Luzius Ritter, who was enriched by his mercenary troops, and completed by the city after his death. In 1577 it was given to the Jesuits, who built a church and school nearby. When they were banished, the government occupied the palace in 1804. In turn, it completed the complex in 1841-43 with a semicircular hall, and then with other constructions in the following decades. Today the palace is the seat of the cantonal government.

The Natural History Museum of Lucerne is a lively and interactive museum located near the river Reuss on the Kasernenplatz. The permanent exhibitions "Earth Sciences", "Biology" and "The Wonderful World of Insects" highlight the biodiversity of Central Switzerland and focus on its history and prehistory. These permanent exhibitions are on three floors and are complemented by attractive temporary exhibitions. To be discovered with the whole family.

Housed in the imposing Palace of Culture and Congress (KKL) designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, this fine arts museum occupies the top floor. It covers a pictorial period stretching from the ^16th century to the present day, with a particular focus on^19th-century Swiss landscapes, expressionism and contemporary art. Covering an area of 2,100^m2, the museum features three simultaneous exhibitions in a modern scenography with sophisticated lighting.

Discover contemporary art since 1872 at the Kunsthalle. The Kunsthalle Basel is a worldwide reference for the latest trends in contemporary art. Since its renovation by renowned architects Miller & Maranta in 2004, it has also housed the Museum of Architecture, a place dedicated to exploring the captivating themes of architecture and urbanism, offering a unique immersive experience. Enjoy a restaurant with terrace overlooking the Tinguley fountain for the full experience.

The legacy of the wealthy industrialist and collector family Sidney and Jenny Brown-Sulzer has enabled Baden to offer, in a charming white and green house, a remarkable collection of French impressionist artists, to which some 18th century works are added. In this sublime museum opened in 1990, the work of great artists (notably Renoir and Cézanne) can be admired in a pleasant setting (collection of 18th and 19th century furniture), for a visit that cannot be recommended enough.

A small journey into Swiss pictorial art since the th century, with works by Caspar Wolf, Johann Heinrich Füssli, Arnold Böcklin and th century landscape designers. The extension, built in 2003 by Herzog architects and Meuron, houses a collection representative of the history of modern art, from the early twentieth century to the abstract art of post-war art and the artistic effervescence of the 1960 s to the present.

This museum, housed in a mégalithe tower that was part of the castle (th-xii), is a walk in local history (habitat, crafts, etc.). The refinement of its interiors contrasts sharply with its exterior aspect.

Also known as the Oberes Rathuas, this is the seat of the Government of Canton Aargau.

A little outside the historic heart, on Alpine Vorstadt, it is a rather pleasant th century construction of late Gothic style.

Aarau has preserved the vestiges of its historic past, including the charming Rue de la Halde, which dates back to the late Gothic period. This little street is surely the most typical of the old town, with a very homogeneous group of houses, including the former convent of St. Ursula women (^13th century). Further on, between two houses, an austere silhouette of exposed stone: the Turm Rore, another vestige of the fortifications. Strolling along the Halde is very pleasant, as the center is pedestrianized and only accessible by bicycle or public transport.

This construction of the end of the th century is topped by a baroque steeple (th) which does not harm its elegant sobriety. Inside, we admire the modern windows, especially by Hoffmann, and a baroque allegory of justice whose original is located in the museum of the City.