Savvy Sightseer - tips and insights for seasoned travelers!
Ready to join sightseers posing before the mighty Matterhorn
Known for its punctual train systems, Switzerland seen by rail is an experience not to be missed.
The unofficial national flower of Switzerland grows high in the mountains. Popular lore holds that a man who braves the challenges to bring his woman the flower demonstrates his devote love.
Scenic Sights and Playgrounds of the Famous
Whether summer or ski season, visitors flock to towns dotted around Switzerland. Whatever piques your interest, Switzerland has it - top of the world vistas, quaint villages, classy towns, cheese, chocolate, lakes, mountains, castles, ruins, farms, and a delightful mix of the serious and the comical. For a look at Lake Lugano, Switzerland's Italian border city, click on the Italy tab, where it is included with other lakes in the region.
Zermatt, Gornergrat and the Matterhorn
Made famous in movies and the star of any mountain-themed calendar, the mighty Matterhorn towers over the little village of Zermatt in southern Switzerland. From Zermatt, where the largely pedestrian-only streets give way every afternoon to a parade of goats making their way home from mountainous pastures, Europe's highest rack railway whisks visitors up to Gornergrat station and awe-inspiring views. Click the video to the right for a 360-degree view from Gornergrat.
Billed as "traffic free," Zermatt is usually packed with people - and electric buses, taxis and goats.
Lake Geneva, Chillon Castle and Gstaad
At the southwest corner of Switzerland lies its version of the Riviera. Bordered on the other side of the lake by France, there is a decidedly French flavor in this region. From the tiny but expensive resort town of Montreux, boats ply the lake with a stop at the small rocky island home of Chillon Castle. Built in the 12th century, the castle has served as fortress, arsenal and prison - and inspiration. After visiting the castle, English poet Lord Byron was inspired to write The Prisoner of Chillon, recounting the imprisonment and torture of the renegade monk Francois Bonivard in the 16th century.
Gstaad, long the destination of the rich and famous, is a mix of boutique shops and wood chalets. Princess Diana, Prince Ranier along with entertainment royalty such as Liz Taylor, Elton John and Roger Moore, are among the many luminaries who have visited or owned residences in Gstaad. The German-influenced town is especially popular as a ski and après-ski resort region.
Click on the set of pictures below for a slideshow and more information.
Divided between France and Switzerland
A mammoth fork marks the spot for lakeside dining and a museum of all things food.
A luxurious home, a treasury and ... a dungeon!
Inspiration for Lord Byron's epic poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon."
The beautiful and expensive Promenade shopping street in Gstaad gives new meaning to "window shopping."
With his goggles on and a cushy seat on his master's motorcycle, this pooch is ready to ride!
Gstaad - a pristinely beautiful play land of the rich and famous.
Wooden-roofed chalets and the fairy tale palace hotel in Gstaad have been graced by such luminaries as Princess Diana, Liz Taylor, Michael Jackson and Elton John.
Interlaken and St. Moritz
Another renown winter resort popular with the well-to-do is Interlaken, situated as the name implies between two lakes: Brienz and Thun. For spectacular views of the Jungfrau Region as well as Interlaken and its twin lakes, taking a funicular ride to the summit of Harder Kulm is the thing to do.
The glamorous resort town of St. Moritz is yet another world-famous haunt of the upper class. Dotted around town unusual statuary attract attention. The black, larger-than-life sculptures of infants bearing both wings and horns are the work of the Russian artist group called AES+F. The Angels-Demons are apocalyptic paraders reminding people there is good and evil in everyone, and evil may look like good and vice versa.
Click on the set of pictures below for a slideshow and more information.
Overlooking Interlaken
Once a humble farming town, now a year-round resort village.
20' tall reminders that good and evil exists in all of us.
Appenzell and Gruyères
Known mostly for their cheeses, the little towns of Appenzell and Gruyères are frozen in time snapshots of a quieter, peaceful, uncomplicated lifestyle.
Appenzell's main street is an architectural splendor of tall, whimiscal buildings. The colorful buildings almost pale in comparison, though, with the blazingly beautiful and singular cemetery.
Gruyères' castle village is seemingly unaffected by the passage of time. The 13th century castle houses a museum covering 800 years of regional architecture, history and culture. Outside the cobblestoned path leads through a well-preserved town and out to pastoral views. Nearby, visitors can learn all about the cheese industry and sample some flavors.
For a typical Swiss dish using Gruyère cheese called Rösti, visit my Recipe page.
The usual images that come to mind when thinking Switzerland are nutcrackers and meticulous timepieces. They are hard to miss when visiting this region!
Click on the set of pictures below for a slideshow and more information.
Gruyères' 13th century castle and village is seemingly unaffected by the passage of time.
Continue your trip through Switzerland with a visit to the Major Cities page.
