Cozyly located in the very center of Europe, Switzerland can offer tourists a variety of leisure activities, from fast descent in the ski resort of Zermatt to a quiet contemplation of nature among alpine meadows. Beautiful natural places, as well as historical sights of Switzerland, are known all over the world, and in a short review we will present what to see in this amazing and diverse country.
1
Chillon castle
On the east coast of Lake Geneva, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, Chillon Castle, which is considered one of the most important and recognizable historical monuments of Switzerland, is comfortably located.
It was founded in 1160, for a long time it was a prison, and also acted as an important strategic outpost during the Medieval Wars. The fortress halls and the arsenal preserved the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, and unique paintings were preserved in the chapel of St. George.
Now the castle houses a museum that tells visitors the history of the fortress and Switzerland as a whole.
2
Place neuve
We presented the sights of Geneva in a separate article, so here we confine ourselves to the description of the cultural center of the Swiss city - Place Neuve, which translates as “New Square”.
In the heart of a beautiful and large square stands a statue of General Dufour, and around the building are the Conservatory, the Art Museum, the Bolshoi Theater.
The square in Geneva is adjacent to the city park, in which a monument is erected in honor of the Reformation.
3
Swiss National Park
In the picturesque valley of the Engadine, in the east of Switzerland, in 1914 the National Park was formed, today it is the only one in the country.
Its area is 172.4 km ², and the elevation ranges from 1,400 to 3,174 m. This feature of the landscape determined the unique flora and fauna of the reserve. The ecology is clean, since there are no large industries and large cities nearby.
There are hiking trails throughout the area, and you can stay for the night in only two places - at the Il Fuorn Hotel and the Chamann Kluozza hut, built in the traditional style of a Swiss chalet.
4
Lausanne Cathedral
One of the most elegant Gothic buildings in Switzerland, like a crown, rises above Lausanne, and for a long time was the spiritual center of the French-speaking population of the country.
The cathedral erected in the XIII century is famous for its murals, as well as architectural bas-reliefs on the facade. Its main relic is considered an ancient organ, consisting of 7 thousand pipes.
The architecture miraculously combines elements of northeastern and Anglo-Norman architectural elements, which makes it one of the most magnificent monuments in Europe.
5
Leman Lake
In Switzerland, this is an extraordinary miracle of nature due to the fact that it is located near Geneva, also called Lake Geneva.
Its total area is 582 square meters. km., and its mirror is spread among the mountain peaks at an altitude of 372 m above sea level.
Steamboats launched on the lake at the beginning of the last century go around the lake, and they belong to the Swiss shipping company. This mode of transport is especially popular among tourists and guests of Geneva.
And about other no less beautiful lakes in the world read on our site most-beauty.ru.
6
Kapelbrücke Bridge
In the city of Lucerne over the majestic waters of the Royce River, a bridge spanned, the name of which in German means “Chapel Bridge”.
This is the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe, which has become the main attraction of the city and a kind of symbol of the country. It was built as part of the city fortifications, and connected the old and new parts of Zurich.
The bridge began to function in 1365, and 65 years before it, an octagonal water tower was erected, which in different years was both a dungeon and a torture chamber.
On our site you can also find an article about the most beautiful bridges in the world.
7
Resort Zermatt
This ski resort is known to any ski enthusiast, but Zermatt is also listed as one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages.
Beautiful cozy houses filled the mountain valley, and nearby the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps - peak Dufour and Mount Matterhorn.
It is on the northern slope of Dufour Peak, at an altitude of 1,608 m above sea level, that a beautiful village stretches.
8
Rhetian Railway
Moving by rail from St. Moritz to Davos and further to the Italian border can be a fascinating journey with a lot of impressions.
The Retician road, passing by glaciers, through amazing mountain gorges and through unique viaducts, has attracted thousands of tourists for many years, and is protected by UNESCO as one of the engineering wonders of the world.
A comfortable excursion “Bernina Express” walks along the road, but information on the beauties and features of an unusual route is also broadcast on regular trains.
9
Rhine Falls
The Rhine is the largest river in Switzerland, and the Rhine waterfall in the canton of Schaffhausen is the largest flat waterfall in Europe.
Water falls from a height of 23 m, creating peculiar clouds from the spray. This miracle of nature was formed, like the surrounding landscape millions of years ago, when the Rhine several times changed the direction of its course.
The waterfall is a popular tourist attraction, around which there are networks of viewing platforms, and you can approach the waterfall itself by a pleasure boat.
On Most-beauty.ru there are still photos of the most beautiful waterfalls. Follow the link!
10
Bern old town
Medieval Bern managed to preserve the architectural monuments, and walking through the narrow streets and squares of the historical center, tourists are immersed in the atmosphere of antiquity and architectural splendor.
Tourists love to stroll the cobbled streets of the city, among beautiful buildings and amazing fountains. The clock tower with moving figures is striking in its monumentality. At one time it was a famous Swiss prison.
Nearby is the house in which Albert Einstein lived, as well as the Bear Pit - a city park with a symbol of the city - bears.
11
Resort Grindelwald
Looking at the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, one cannot ignore the small Grindelwald, lost among the mountain peaks of the Bernese Oberland.
Visitors in small hotels are greeted by staff in Swiss national costumes. What is Switzerland famous for? Of course cheese, which will be offered to taste in restaurants and cafes.
Grindelwald is also a famous Swiss resort, where in winter you can go skiing and snowboarding, and in summer you can go on amazing hiking trails.
12
Library of the Monastery of St. Gall
The city of St. Gallen is famous for its numerous museums and architectural monuments of various historical eras. But there is a unique library in its line, leading its history from the VIII century.
Its repositories contain unique ancient chronicles, including the famous manuscript "Song of the Nibelungs", as well as many other works of the Middle Ages.
The main reading room of the library is made in the amazing Rococo style, and readers can only read books published before 1900 in a specialized room.
13
Terraced vineyards Lavo
Winter Switzerland impresses tourists with ski resorts, and in summer it is best to go to the amazing valley of terraced vineyards stretching along the shores of Lake Geneva.
The whole territory is surrounded by stone walls, and today it is the most famous wine-growing region of Switzerland. They began to cultivate grapes here even in the era of Roman rule, and in the beginning of autumn the whole valley is painted in golden color, and young wine is served to the table.
Here you can taste quality wines, which are served with traditional cheeses and excellently prepared by local chefs, lasagna.
14
Damn bridge
The mountain landscapes of Switzerland are full of amazing places, which undoubtedly include the bridge system, called the Devil's Bridge.
The locals began to build the first stone bridge back in 1595, and since the waters of the Reis constantly demolished the building, it was nicknamed “Devil”. Bridges are also famous for the fact that during the passage through the Alps, soldiers and officers of the army of Alexander Suvorov passed through them.
Today it is three stone bridges over the River Reis, one of the unique sights of the Swiss Alps, and the last of the bridges was built in 1955.
15
Giger Museum
In the small cozy town of Gruyeres in July 1998, an unusual museum of the artist was opened, which came up with “Alien” and created the entire design for the film of the same name.
The entrance to the Hans Rudi Giger Museum is guarded by evil gargoyles, and its rooms are quiet and dark. Mysterious symbols are laid out on the floors, and monsters emerged from the otherworldly and fantastic world near the walls and ceiling.
The museum itself occupies three floors, and in its halls, besides the scenery of the Alien, there are biorobots that fascinate installations and images of fantastic creatures.
Finally
Our presentation came to an end with a photo and a description of the most beautiful places in this amazing country. It is difficult to list all the beautiful places in Switzerland and describe all the sights, but we tried to choose the most interesting, and most importantly imagine what to see in Switzerland during a short visit to its cities and resorts.
Article author: Valery Skiba