Tourist Attractions & Monuments Switzerland

Arbon, a small town steeped in history on the southern shores of Lake Constance in Switzerland, offers visitors a wide range of activities. Its medieval castle, located in the heart of the old town, as well as its green spaces and three-kilometer lakefront path, are perfect for walking, cycling or rollerblading. Arbon is also an ideal starting point for exploring the Lake Constance cycle route, which links the three main inland lakes of Central Europe. History buffs can visit the Arbon Castle History Museum, which exhibits important archaeological finds, and the Saurer Museum, which displays restored vehicles from the famous Arbon manufacturer. The old town's fish market square regularly hosts markets, concerts and festivals. In summer, visitors can enjoy the long lake promenade, parks and swimming beach. In winter, Arbon is an ideal starting point for the skiing areas of Appenzell and Toggenburg.

The museum is worth a visit just for the beauty of its setting. Located in the heart of the Parc de la Perle, it is housed in the superb Villa Bartholoni, built in 1830. In very bright rooms with a superb view of the lake, a wide range of scientific objects dating from the 17th to the ^19th century are presented. You will be able to observe astronomical glasses and objects from other disciplines such as physics, electricity or meteorology.

A tourist tour is offered by the city of Lutry, you can obtain a leaflet in this info point, on the edge of the lake (at the location of the bar).

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.

Berne Cathedral towers 100 metres above the city. With its bell tower, the tallest in Switzerland, it is the country's most important Gothic building. Admire the portal with its depiction of the Last Judgement, as well as its ^18th-century organ, partly rebuilt in 1999. A fantastic panorama awaits you from the bell tower, which houses Switzerland's most imposing bell ensemble. The large drone, cast in 1611, alone weighs 9,940 kg!

This 13th century building, which has been altered several times and was once a bishop's residence, now houses a rich museum. Valais painters are very well represented here with, in particular, the works of Raphaël Ritz and Raphy Dallèves, bequeathed by their authors. Contemporary paintings by the Valaisan Edouard Vallet. See also the print cabinet. This museum takes you on a journey of discovery through fifty thousand years of the evolution of migratory cultures.

This zoological park presents dozens of animals from the region: mammals of some twenty different species and hundreds of birds are represented. The park is further enriched by the presence of the Vivarium de la Chaux-de-Fonds, which presents vertebrates and invertebrates of numerous species. You'll discover both naturalized and live animals - a unique concept in Europe, hence the name "Muzoo", a fusion of museum and zoo.

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.

The building dates from before the 9th century. It is the oldest parish church and the only baroque church in Zurich. It is difficult to miss its clock, whose dial is the largest in Europe. It measures 8.70 m in diameter. Until 1911, the bell tower was used as a fire lookout tower. It houses five bells, the largest of which weighs more than 6 tons. Inside, the choir dates back to the 13th century and most of the furniture and decoration to the 18th century. Rudolf Brun (1290-1360), who was the first mayor of the town, is buried here.

The largest miniature park in Switzerland, this amusement park is set in a vast park where the most picturesque sites in Switzerland are recreated: its towns, its monuments (castles and cathedrals taking the lion's share) and its means of communication. All this, of course, on a scale 25 times smaller than normal. The effect is truly surprising and highly successful. The reconstructed Swiss railroad network alone stretches 3,650 m in length. A must-see for kids! On-site restaurant.

Keytours has more than one trick up its sleeve to offer you a tour that meets your expectations. For the fun part, go on board a small train and receive live commentary on one of the 3 themed tours: "the old town", "the parks and residences", or "international Geneva". A range of daily excursions goes to the neighboring towns and mountains: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (package including the Aiguille du Midi or the Mer de glace), Gruyères (Cheese and Chocolate factory), Lausanne-Montreux-Chillon (includes the cruise to the Chateau).

On the road to Besançon, about 15 km away, the Réclère caves are remarkable for their stalagmites and stalactites. Nearby is the Préhisto-Parc, which presents some reproductions of prehistoric animals. You can walk through the park to meet 45 life-size dinosaurs and go back in time from amphibian fish to our human species. There are stables, a restaurant, a hotel, bungalows, a campsite and even yurts.

It took 17,500^m3 of sand to reconstitute a beach here... and it was well worth it! The 25 m wide strip of sand attracts crowds as soon as the sun comes out. With an ice cream in hand, sunbathing on a towel, it's almost like being at the seaside! What's more, next to the beach you'll find surf shops where you can hire nautical equipment (more stand-up paddle than surf here, mind you), and refreshment stands where you can enjoy a snack or a drink. A great place to have a good time.

The chocolate museum of the Alprose chocolate company, whose origins date back to 1957, presents the wonderful world of chocolate from its origins to the present day. You're immersed in the heart of chocolate! In addition to its valuable didactic role, the museum helps to affirm the tradition of Swiss chocolate. At the very heart of the Alprose factory, from the top of a footbridge, you can observe the different phases of chocolate production: from the liquefaction of cocoa to the packaging of the finished product.

Flamboyant Gothic font, Baroque chair. An exceptional acoustics that motivates high level concerts in July-August.

It was in Vevey that Henri Nestlé perfected the recipe that has made the group so successful and mothers so happy to feed their children: powdered milk. Nestlé's reputation soon soared and contributed to the town's development. In 1950, the company decided to build its administrative headquarters here and commissioned Swiss architect Jean Tschumi to draw up the plans. Influenced by Le Corbusier, its overall Y shape, first floor on stilts and glass façade make it a fine example of the international style in Switzerland.

The Altes Zeughaus, or former arsenal, is one of the most impressive buildings in Solothurn, and that's saying something! The museum has remained true to its military vocation, housing a collection of weapons and uniforms, from halberds to automatic pistols. Inside the building, you can admire numerous firearms, as well as nearly 400 suits of armour from the 15th to the 17th century. The exhibitions are fun and suitable for the whole family.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Solothurn is housed in a beautiful neoclassical building and has existed since 1902. An exceptional setting for a remarkable institution: indeed, it has many works dating from the Middle Ages, Swiss masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, French painters (from Degas to Léger), primitive art and graphic cabinet, and above all a good knowledge of Swiss and foreign art: Cézanne, Matisse, Van Gogh, Klimt. To be discovered!

It is a park, a museum and an oasis of calm all in one. Here we learn that large glacial potholes prove that 20,000 years ago, during the last ice age, Lucerne was covered by glaciers. Fossils of shells and palm leaves show that 20 million years ago the Lucerne region was a beach with a subtropical climate. The Glacier Garden also has the oldest Alpine relief by F. L. Pfyffer von Wyher and a mirror labyrinth in the style of the Alhambra in Granada.

It was the center of power five hundred and fifty years ago, and remains so today. The tower was the seat of Geneva's communal power in the Middle Ages, and nowadays it houses the Council of State. When you pass the porch, don't miss the visit of the Baudet Tower, built in 1455. Originally, its function was military, as evidenced by the cannons outside. Indeed, Geneva was under a double threat: the House of Savoy was threatening and saw the city as the "key to Switzerland". In domestic politics, the episcopal see which controlled temporal power was partly in the hands of this same house of Savoy. Republican aspirations or episcopal aristocracy? Geneva was torn between these social struggles. Climb to the top of the tower by the ramp; it was designed to allow two horsemen to climb abreast without stepping on the ground, or citizens subject to gout disease to reach the top floor without getting off their sedan chair. In 1762, the works of Rousseau, Emile and The Social Contract, were burned there. These works were accused of "destroying religion and governments". The burning caused the author to renounce his citizenship of Geneva. Sitting on the bench at the entrance, the judges pronounced their sentences. The Alabama Room was the site of the first diplomatic and arbitration decisions: the resolution of a dispute between the United States and England in 1872. On August 22, 1864, the Geneva Convention was signed, the first step towards the Red Cross

For all football fans! With over 3,000^m2 of exhibition space, the Fédération Internationale de Football Museum traces the great moments in the history of football and pays tribute to a sport whose popularity around the globe is unrivalled. In addition to the original FIFA World Cup trophy, the museum exhibits over 1,000 objects, 4,000 books and archive documents, and 1,400 photographs depicting the world's footballing heritage.

A royal building? Classified as a historical monument by the State Council of the City of Geneva in 2001, the Maison Royale is undoubtedly the most impressive building in the harbor, but has never housed a crowned head! Built between 1907 and 1909 by the architects Henri Garcin and Charles Bizot, it aroused the ire of the people of Geneva who named it "the jewel with a macaque taste" during the 1909 facade competition. It was said that the building "embodied, down to its slightest moulding, an architecture capable of impressing the bourgeois and frightening the Genevois".

The present building was erected on the remains of a 4th century Palaeochristian funerary church and the foundations of a 10th century Romanesque church. In Gothic style, the church of Saint-Gervais, of the same name as the district surrounding it, was erected in the middle of the 15th century in what was then a town in the medieval old town on the right bank. Several restorations brought back to light frescoes and paintings that can be admired today, as well as the magnificent carved wooden stalls in flamboyant gothic style and beautiful stained glass windows.

Immerse yourself in the world of comics, caricatures and cartoons, unique in Switzerland. The Cartoonmuseum Basel offers 3,400 original works of art on three floors of a modern building. This collection is the fruit of a passion and commitment to narrative drawing. With over 10,000 works, the museum celebrates the legacy of this art form. Thematic exhibitions, inspiring workshops, guided tours (in French) and artist talks enrich each exhibition.

Gilles Wannaz, from the biodynamic estate of the same name, is a winemaker and oenologist, a poet and culinary director, as well as a creator of products made from the vines. A man of the soil and the land, he invites you to share an extraordinary moment. Here, there's a country and its history to discover, to drink and to eat (depending on the package chosen), much more than a simple visit to the cellar. As a new feature, the domaine's team now invites gourmets to share their table every Monday evening and Friday lunchtime.

Built in two stages (the plan has changed in the meantime!), between 1777 and 1826, this church in the Sardinian city was at the centre of the religious struggles between Catholics and radicals. It was in 1921 that the Roman Catholics recovered it. Musical treasures to discover: the church's carillon is one of the most important in Switzerland, in terms of number of bells and the historical organ dating from 1832 and rebuilt in 2010. Be discreet during the services. The Feast of the Holy Cross is on September 14.

The Tibet Museum is located a few meters from the castle. It was created in 2009 by the Alain Bordier Foundation. More than 400 works and various objects (sculptures, paintings, ritual objects...) from Tibet and neighbouring regions are presented in the former Saint-Joseph chapel (19th century). The works on display come from the art collector's personal collection and have been assembled over the course of thirty years. A mobile application is available.

Learn about Eastern Swiss traditions through the secrets of making the world-famous Appenzeller cheese. The demonstration cheese dairy will introduce you to traditional Appenzeller cheese-making skills and traditions. During the tour, you'll be able to taste and make your own appenzeller, and have the chance to compose your own herb blend. Listen to the sound of typical bells, admire the imposing cheese cellar housing over 15,500 wheels of cheese and the gigantic cheese cauldron.

Discover the Swiss Architecture Museum (S AM), nestled a stone's throw from the Tinguely fountain. It showcases the city's contemporary architecture, bridging the gap between those in the know and those eager to discover. Basel shines on the European scene with works inherited from modernism and recent creations. The S AM offers three major exhibitions a year, revealing the "History and Present of Switzerland". Debates, guided tours and enriching publications.

Caution: you are entering the temple of chocolate! The Lindt House is the size of four soccer stadiums and takes you on an interactive journey to the origins of chocolate. You'll discover how cocoa conquered Europe, and learn how Swiss pioneers revolutionized the world of chocolate in the ^19th century with their inventions. Did you know, for example, that cocoa beans were once used as currency? At the end of the tour, you'll be able to taste as much white, dark and milk chocolate as you like. Exciting and addictive!

In the Rue du Collège, numbers 8 to 14 form a prettyU-shaped group of charming little buildings, with doors painted red, green and blue, and garden tables and chairs. The local residents have formed an association to defend La Valsainte, and since 1990 have been staging shows and cultural events in the courtyard. No. 4 is a former prison, of which the tower remains, leaning against the ancient ramparts (which you'll have to imagine). It was the house of the chapter of Lausanne Cathedral.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a splendid Roman villa stood on the Prieuré hill. Thanks to the work of archaeologists, this palace has now been reconstructed at the heart of Pully's Roman Villa Museum. You can admire its living room and superb wall paintings. These remains are home to the ArchéoLab, an archaeology discovery area with excellent ideas for tours and workshops for children, enabling them to discover archaeology and go back in time from a specific angle, such as a particular theme in Roman times. Great stuff!

Adjoining La Muette, C. F. Ramuz's family home, the museum is located in the heart of the village. This late ^18th-century bourgeois building, surrounded by a garden of rare trees, was bequeathed to the town in 1941 by the Luhrs-Patterson family, who expressed the wish that it become a public space. Collections relating to the region alternate with those devoted to contemporary art, as well as exhibitions highlighting a given artist or theme, intended for the general public. A permanent theme room is dedicated to Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz.

Why not step back in time at the archaeological site of Lousonna, near the lake, where you can experience - almost - the daily life of a citizen in Antiquity, as you discover the remains of the basilica, the political center, or the temple, thanks to a new signposted trail. You can see the foundations of the houses of the Roman village, dating back to 15 BC. In the ^4th century, its inhabitants left the site for the better-protected Cité hill.

Who thought they'd find an air of Thailand? A Siamese pavilion in this park? In 1818, the owner, banker William Haldimand, turned his estate into a "landscape park". He couldn't resist indulging in the fashion of the day: building the Haldimand Tower, a neo-Gothic edifice dating from 1830. Today, the site retains the signature of an illustrious host. From 1933 to 1951, the Siamese sovereign Bhumibol stayed and studied in Lausanne. To commemorate his stay, he made a gift of a Thai pavilion. A call to the open sea!

Close to Lake Geneva, set in a delightful garden with southern charm, this museum houses the remains of an opulent ancient residence. The permanent exhibition features archaeological finds from the nearby Lousonna site. In addition, the various temporary exhibitions and outreach activities focus on themes linked to antiquity and the concerns of society at the time. Throughout the year, children are invited to take part in bread-making, cooking and building workshops.

We've almost forgotten about them, such is the speed of progress, when these days we can type Chinese characters or almost any language in the world on our smartphones. Typewriters set the pace for all correspondence and the press throughout the last century. An original museum idea, the story of a family passion, presenting a rich collection of antique machines to typewriters equipped with Japanese kanji.

This unusual museum traces five thousand years of shoe history. Gentle Craft has been researching since 1993, and the current collection includes faithful reproductions of shoes from ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and pre-industrial times, sourced from archaeological digs or historical collections. Each piece is an exact replica to scale of the original. Particularly interesting for children, as you can look with your hands!

One of Vevey's legendary gourmet addresses, this inn was where Jean-Jacques Rousseau stayed in 1730. A plaque quotes a highly poetic passage from Confessions: "I went to Vevey," he says, "to stay at La Clef. I took for this city a love that followed me in all my travels." Rousseau first came to Lausanne at the age of 18 to prepare for a music competition. Having finally opted for writing, he wrote Julie ou la Nouvelle Héloïse in Switzerland, using Clarens as the setting. It is said that he could see Mme de Warens' house from his window.

The art centre Circuit is an artistic institution created and managed by artists through the eponymous association.

This contemporary art gallery was founded in 1998 by former students of the Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) with the aim of bringing together young Swiss and foreign artists. Circuit has since become a kind of independent art and publishing mini-centre dedicated to contemporary art, with a space for meeting and dialogue open to various artistic practices (painting, sculpture, music, performance, cinema).

The Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL), an advanced art and design school specializing in training in visual arts, film, photography, graphic and industrial design, is equipped with the Espace lausannois d'art contemporain, a gallery showcasing the contemporary art creations of professors and guests. Students' work can be seen in editions, photographs, typography, paintings, interactive installations, films and design objects.

The lithographic printer Raynald Métraux set up his workshop in 1991 in a former factory in Le Flon. Since then, he has received numerous distinctions as a "craftsman of art". In addition to this, he has also turned it into a gallery where he presents temporary exhibitions, mainly of works on paper, and where one can permanently discover prints, portfolios and edited artists' books. Raynald Métraux also offers various workshops.

Housed in a building with cylindrical architecture, we turn around a large pylon to discover experiments staged by the team of scientists and graphic designers. Aimed at young and old alike, the Espace des Inventions is a place for learning about science and technology, discovery and experimentation. Around a chosen scientific theme, a set of games and experiments to be manipulated is proposed to the curious hands, critical eyes and agile brains of visitors. Ideal for little budding sunflower teachers!

Surprising to suggest a visit to a cemetery, but the architect Alphonse Laverrière designed it as a public park. The park is particularly well maintained, with hedges trimmed to the centimetre... Ponds, flowerbeds, beehives - a carefully considered plant decor. A brochure in the reception area lists the personalities buried here, including Pierre de Coubertin, the renovator of the Olympic Games, and Coco Chanel.

This cantonal museum, housed in the Palais de Rumine, comprises three departments: zoology, geology and botany. Aimed more at children, the Zoology Museum features 2,500 animals from the region's fauna and, to a lesser extent, from around the world, as well as an exceptional comparative anatomy section. If you can't see it diving, the museum also boasts the world's largest taxidermized white shark: 5.89 m! Numerous temporary exhibitions.

Located in the Palais de Rumine, the Geology Museum offers a permanent exhibition on three themes: fossils, crystals and the Alps. Two virtual exhibitions, on the origins of the world and Lausanne in the time of palm trees, are also on display. The mammoth on display is still very young: only 16,000 years old. However, it has undergone a two-year rejuvenation treatment to strengthen its bones, as the organic matter inside is still evolving!

Excellent! Within Plateforme 10, the MUDAC (Musée cantonal de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains), with its remarkable architecture, is dedicated to design in French-speaking Switzerland. On display are works in contemporary glassmaking, graphic arts, jewelry, ceramics, etc. The program consists of monographic exhibitions featuring young artists and established designers. In a didactic way, we display some very interesting works by the latter, brimming with creativity. A must-see!