Towers to visit Switzerland

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.

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.

Criticized in its early days, it has become the emblem of Montreux. Given the lack of space between the mountains and the lake, Montreux couldn't really hope to expand. In the 1960s, when the town was back in the public eye, the question of new urban development arose. Economic and tourism obligations took precedence, and the tower was built. The top floor once housed a magnificent restaurant, but its six managers all went bankrupt. It was recently bought by a Russian millionaire.

Built in 1340, this former watchtower, 21 m high, is the last vestige of the ramparts that once surrounded the city. Its dimensions, 21 m high and 8 in diameter, made it one of the most spectacular elements of the town. The thickness of its walls reaches 1.75 m. The tower was classified as a historical monument in 1900 and restored in 1903. Just below, the rue de l'Ale, actually rue de la Halle but transformed by popular speech into rue de l'Aile and then l'Ale, leads to La Pinte Besson, the oldest bistro in Lausanne.

The Lausanne skyscraper was the subject of much controversy at the time of its construction and was designed by the architect Alphonse Laverrière in 1932, one year after the Empire State Building. The property developer was in New York and also wanted a large-scale building for Lausanne. Built straddling the Place Bel Air and the Flon "hole", this impressive tower rises to 54 m from the Place Bel Air and 68 m from the Rue de Genève. It houses the Salle Métropole, a listed building.

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.

The elevator takes you to the top of the tower, which serves as a relay station for Swiss television and telephone communications between Zurich, Lausanne and Sion. Perched at an altitude of 1,100 m, you can enjoy a 360-degree view, from the Jura to the Alps. From the Vevey-Mont-Pèlerin funicular station, it's a 1-hour walk. For the return journey, you can walk back down through the forest, past Chalet-Volet and Mont de Chardonne. Then finish the walk through the vineyards, pushing on to Vevey. Allow around 3 hours for the walk.

The Tour de Gourze is the remains of a medieval watchtower located on Mont de Gourze. Cubic in shape, it stands some 9 m high and overlooks the Lake Geneva basin. It offers an exceptional panorama of the Alps. Its origins have never been clearly determined: Queen Berthe is said to have built it in the ^9th century to protect Lavaux from Saracen invasions; the action of the bishops of Lausanne in the ^11th century has also been mentioned. At its foot is a café-restaurant serving Vaudois cheese specialities and panoramic views.

The Tour Réfous is a historic site in Porrentruy. Perched on the Fahy hill since the 13th century, the castle offers a breathtaking view of the old town. Formerly the residence of the Princes-Bishops of Basel, its architecture dates from the Middle Ages to the late 18th century. Today, it is the seat of justice for the Republic and Canton of Jura, making it a symbol of power. The castle complex comprises a number of buildings, including the Tour Réfous, a 13th-century round tower reminiscent of Savoyard circular keeps. There are also the Residence and the Chancellery, with their magnificent late-Renaissance portals. The buildings have been restored several times and now house the Cantonal Court and part of the district administration. A visit to the castle offers an insight into the history of the region, as well as works of art including portraits of bishops and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.