Switzerland – Mittelland (Zürich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne) September 19-20, 2019
Andermatt. A NM “small town”, this more properly should be in the Switzerland – Ticino (Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona) region as it is reached most easily from there.
Paxmal, Walenstadt. This was a long, slow 9.8km climb on a steep, windy road up into the mountains high above Lake Walensee. After parking, it is still a 15-minute walk. It is based on the concept of peace for all. Built between 1924-49 by Karl Bickel, a stamp engraver, artist, and designer during his time as a recluse. It is not a place of worship but one of quiet and peace. The left wall of the monument depicts a couple and the right wall is dedicated to spiritual life. The views are amazing.
Kerenzerberg Road Tunnel. This tunnel is only on the eastbound section of Highway 3 that goes along the south shore of Lake Walensee.
Seerenbach Falls. This waterfall on the north shore of Lake Walensee can only be reached by bicycle – the last 4 km is on a road 2m wide. It falls in 3 steps: upper 50m, middle 305m, and lower 190m for a total height of 585m.
Capuchin Monastery, Rapperswil-Jona. The friary was established in 1606, consisting originally of only four patres (priests) and three brothers (friars), as a Roman Catholic counterpart to the centre of the Reformation in Zürich. The monastic buildings were built by the citizens of Rapperswil, and belong to the locality of Rapperswil, while Endingen – the site of the buildings – belongs to Einsiedeln Abbey. The friary was dedicated on 23 September 1607 by bishop Johannes V Flugi von Aspermont and is still in use. In 1662 the buildings were fortified: a small fort was built at Endingerhorn, and the monastery became part of the town walls as a fortified tower to the west of the city of Rapperswil.
The friary is renowned for its location by the lake on a rocky peninsula. It overlooks Lake Zurich. The rose gardens and the Antoniusgrotte, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, attract pilgrims. The lakeside location of its church is also popular for weddings.
In November 1992 the monastery opened its doors for guests, both men and women, to participate for at least one week with the monastic community. As of 2010, nine brothers and two nuns (Orders of Baldegg and Menzingen) are living in the monastery.
Zug (pop 30,000). This town is a tax haven and home to many expats including Boris Becker. 31,000 international companies are registered here. It is 25 minutes from Zurich and an hour from Bern and Basil.
Mall of Switzerland. This is a lovely 4-level mall with great balconies and skylights. Amazingly it was closed at 6:30.
LUCERNE
Jesuitenkirche. This Catholic church was the first large baroque church built in Switzerland north of the Alps. The Jesuit order, founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, was an active participant in the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic fight against the birth of Protestantism. Protestant reformers such as Zwingli in Zurich and Calvin in Geneva divided the predominately Catholic Switzerland. In response, the Jesuits were called into Lucerne by the city council in 1573 to establish a college.
Construction on the associated church began in 1667. By 1673 the shell of the church and the main façade were completed. The church was consecrated in 1677, though the interior was not yet really finished. The onion-topped towers were not completed until 1893. The vault was redecorated in the mid-18th century.
Chapel Bridge. This covered wooden footbridge spans the River Reuss diagonally. Named after the nearby St. Peter’s Chapel, the bridge is unique in containing a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with a larger part of the centuries-old bridge in a 1993 fire. Subsequently restored, the Kapellbrücke is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, as well as the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge. It serves as the city’s symbol and as one of Switzerland’s main tourist attractions.
Part of the bridge complex is the octagonal 34.5 m (113 ft) tall (from ground) Wasserturm which translates to “water tower,” in the sense of ‘tower standing in the water.’ The tower pre-dated the bridge by about 30 years. Over the centuries, the tower has been used as a prison, torture chamber, and later a municipal archive as well as a local treasury. Today, the tower is closed to the public, although it houses a local artillery association and a tourist gift shop.
The bridge itself was originally built c.1365 as part of Lucerne’s fortifications. It linked the old town on the right bank of the Reuss to the new town on the left bank, securing the town from attack from the south (i.e. from the lake). The bridge was initially over 270 metres (890 ft) long, although numerous shortenings over the years and river bank replenishments mean the bridge now totals only 204.7 metres (672 ft) long. It is the oldest surviving truss bridge in the world, consisting of strutted and triangulated trusses of moderate span, supported on piled trestles; as such, it is probably an evolution of the strutted bridge.
The Kapellbrücke almost burned down on 18 August 1993, destroying two-thirds of its interior paintings. Shortly thereafter, the Kapellbrücke was reconstructed and again opened to the public on 14 April 1994 for a total of 3.4 million.
Lucerne is unique in that its three wooden pedestrian bridges, the 14th-century Hofbrücke (now destroyed) and Kapellbrücke, and the 16th-century Spreuerbrücke, all featured painted interior triangular frames. None of Europe’s other wooden footbridges have this feature. The paintings, dating back to the 17th century and executed by local Catholic painter Hans Heinrich Wägmann, depict events from Lucerne’s history. Of the original 158 paintings, 147 existed before the 1993 fire. After the fire, the remains of 47 paintings were collected, but ultimately only 30 were fully restored. The wooden boards that held the paintings varied from 150 centimetres (59 in) to 181 centimetres (71 in) wide and 85 centimetres (33 in) to 95 centimetres (37 in) wide. Most of the panels were made from spruce wood boards, and only a few were made from linden wood and maple. The paintings were created during the Counter-Reformation, featuring scenes promoting the Catholic Church. The paintings were sponsored by the city’s council members, who, upon sponsoring a panel, were allowed to attribute their personal coat of arms on it. An explanation of each painting was printed below each scene. The paintings ran all along the bridge, dating from the life and death of Lucerne’s patron saint St.Leger to the legends of the city’s other patron saint St. Maurice.
This pedestrian bridge is a fantastic covered wooden bridge. I crosses the river diagonally with a bend at both ends and one in the middle. A large octagonal tower is attached to the middle. Several of the eves have ancient triangular paintings and many are charred from old fires. The entire length of both sides has begonias draping down the sides.
Spreuerbrücke (The Spreuer Bridge). The first bridge was constructed in the 13th century to connect the Mühlenplatz (Mill Place) on the right bank of the Reuss with the mills in the middle of the river. The extension of the bridge to the left bank was completed only in 1408. This was the only bridge in Lucerne where it was allowed to dump chaff (in German: Spreu, therefore the name Spreuerbrücke) and leaves into the river, as it was the bridge farthest downriver. The bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1566 and then rebuilt, together with a granary as the bridgehead, called the Herrenkeller.
The pediments of the Spreuer Bridge contain paintings in the interior triangular frames, which is a feature unique to the wooden bridges of Lucerne. In the case of the Spreuer Bridge, the paintings form a Danse Macabre, known as Totentanz in German, which was created from 1616 to 1637 under the direction of painter Kaspar Meglinger. It is the largest known example of a Totentanz cycle. Of the 67 original paintings, 45 are still in existence. Most of the paintings contain the coat of arms of the donor in the lower left corner and to the right the coat of arms of the donor’s wife. The black wooden frames bear explanations in verse and the names of the donors. The paintings also contain portraits of the donors and other exponents of Lucerne society. The painters of Lucerne knew the woodcuts by Hans Holbein the Younger but were more advanced in their painting techniques. The images and texts of the Lucerne Danse Macabre are intended to highlight that there’s no place in the city, in the country or at sea where death isn’t present.
This wooden, covered bridge pedestrian bridge is just downstream from Chapel Bridge. It also has a slight bend.
Geographical Centre of Switzerland, Sachseln
Reichenbach Falls. This waterfall has seven steps over a 250m drop of which the 110m upper falls is by far the largest one and one of the highest falls in the Alps. Itt flows into the Aare River. A funicular goes to the top. It was the location of the final physical altercation between Sherlock Holmes and Porfessor Moriarty in “The Final Problem”.
Brienz. A NM “small town” it is on the NE shore of Lake Brienzersee. Its 18th century wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village are testimonials to a woodcarving tradition. A lovely promenade follows the lake shore. At steam train runs up Brienzer Rothorn Mountain.
Interlaken (pop 5,300). A NM “small town”, this resort town sits on the flat alluvial land between Brienzersee and Thunersee Lakes. It has old timber houses and parks on either side of the Aare River. The surrounding Bernese mountains of the Swiss Alps have glaciers, great hiking and skiing trails in the dense forest and meadows.
Spiez. A NM “small town”, it is on the south shore of Lake Thunersee. The elevation change of the town is from 558m at the lake to 852m on the ridge at Hoondrichhugel.
THUN (pop 43,000)
Sitting on the west end of Lake Thun, the town is on both sides of the Aare River. The 1100 turreted castle stands on a cliff above the old town. The Panorama in lakeside Schadau Park, is a 19th-century, 360° painting of the town.
Obere Schleuse. This pedestrian bridge connects the east end of Balliz Island that sits in the middle of the Aare River to the south shore crossing the southern arm of the river. Built in 1726, it is wood-roofed and also serves as a river lock.
Untere Schleuse. This wood-roofed pedestrian bridge connects the historical centre on the north shore of the Aare River to Balliz Island about halfway along its length.
BERNE (pop 140,000, metropolitan pop 550,000, elevation 530m)
The capital of Switzerland since 1848, it is built around a crook in the Aare River. It traces its origins to the 12th century with medieval architecture preserved in the Old Town under the Zahringer ruling family. The Swiss Parliament meets in the Bundeshaus (Federal Palace). The official language is German but the most spoken is the Swiss German dialect at 82%. Italian is the 2nd most common at 3.9% and French is spoken by 3.6%. 34% of the population is foreign nationals.
The name originates from 1191 when the founder of the city, Berchtold V, Duke of Zahringen vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on a hunt, and this turned out to be a bear.
It sits on the Swiss Plateau slightly west of the center of Switzerland and 20 km north of the Bernese Alps.
OLD CITY of BERNE. It was listed as a World Heritage Site (1983) because of its compact and generally intact medieval core. After a major fire in 1405, the original wooden buildings were gradually replaced by the sandstone buildings seen today. It is built on a narrow hill surrounded on three sides by the Aare River and its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since its construction in the 12th to the 15th century.
Bern Minster. This Protestant Gothic cathedral was started in 1421 and the bell tower was completed in 1893. The bell tower is 100m high, the tallest in Switzerland. The largest bell weighing about 10 tons and 2.47m in diameter is the largest bell in Switzerland.
Above the main portal is a rare complete collection of Gothic sculpture with the Last Judgment centers 47 free-standing statues (replicas with the originals in the Bern History Museum) and 170 smaller statues, all original.
The interior is fairly empty as all the art and altars were removed in 1528 during the reformation. All the remains that is original is the stained glass (dates from 1441-50 and are considered the most valuable in Switzerland and choir stalls carved with lifelike animals and images of daily life.
The highlight for me is all the rosettes at the crossings of the rib vaults – 88 saints, public figures, and priests, all brightly painted, are over the chancel.
Zytologge (“time bell” in English). This medieval clock tower has existed since about 1218 and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Bern. Originally the gate tower of the western fortification and 16m high, 7m was added in 1270 to overlook the surrounding houses. It was once a prison used to house “priests’ whores”, women convicted of sexual relations with clerics. It was completely burned out in 1405 and not completely repaired until 1983. The clock dates to the fire and the astronomical clock to 1527. The clock has a group of mechanical figures – at 3 minutes before the hour, the show starts. The lion and bears chase each other around, the fool rings the bell, and the rooster caws.
Einsteinhaus. Albert Einstein lived n a flat on the main street of the Old Town from 1903-05. LNF 5
Fountains. There are over 100 public fountains in the city of which 11 are crowned with Renaissance allegorical statues created during the 16th century and originally built as a public water supply. All but the Zahriger Fountain are the work of the Fribourg master, Hans Gieng. Most are in the middle of the main street and are easy to see.
Altenbergsteg. This pedestrian bridge spans the east side arm of the Aare River at water level. Built in 1857, it is 57m long and a small, narrow suspension bridge with wood boards and latticework railings. It connects the Old Town with Altenberg to the north. It sits almost directly below a large road bridge.
Bern Botanical Garden. In Altenberg, this small garden sits on terraces descending down to the river. It has some nice ornamental flowers.
GOETHEANUM, Dornach. In the NM “Modern Architecture Buildings” series, this fantastic reinforced concrete structure is about 10 km south of Basil in the Jura Mountains. This is a world center for spiritually committed people. It is home to the School of Spiritual Science, the heart of the Anthroposophical Society, and holding 800 events (lectures, special subject colloquia, exhibitions, theatre, and eurythmy {the art of movement} performances and major international conferences) drawing more than 150,000 people every year. It is financed from the annual contributions of its 45,000 members around the world, private donations and funds from foundations and institutions, and income from the theatre and eurythmy performances on the Goetheanum stages, publications, and conferences.
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). He was a pioneer in spiritual science, a practical approach connecting Christian tradition with spiritual insight and clear thinking. “Live with a love for doing, and let live, understanding the intentions of others wrote 40 books and 270 volumes of 6,000 lectures giving insights into education, agriculture, medicine, sociology, natural sciences, and the humanities.
History of the building. The first building here was a wooden building with 2 cupolas and a richly carved and painted interior that was built in 1920 and destroyed in an arson fire on New Year’s Eve 1922-23. The present building, also designed by Steiner, was built between 1925-28, essentially a shell when it opened, and six additions were made until 1996-98.
Grosser Saal Main Auditorium is the heart of the building with 1000 seats and a large stage (23m wide, 20m deep, and 23m high). The sculpted concrete walls portray Earth’s evolution. 12 painted motifs on the ceiling and 9 stained glass windows show that evolution. This is only open for viewing from 1:30 to 2:30 daily.
Representative of Humanity. This 9.5m high wood sculpture on the 5th floor of the south wing shows the confrontation with two forms of evil.
Spiritual Science. Based on the understanding that the world will be the way we think it. Changing your heart and mind is the central method and goal by observing and responding in a sentient way. Meditation learned in classes and meditative mantras is central. Members of the Anthroposophical Society are from different cultural backgrounds and different religions and meet in local or special subject groups to discuss spiritual lifestyles or involve cultural initiatives.
Other buildings. There are 45 other “houses” surrounding the Goetheanum owned by the society and having specific functions. There are also at least 140 other houses built, many private homes, using sculptural organic architecture. Four circular walks have been designed to explore the unique buildings with guided tours available. The striking feature of the two-story attractive houses is their rooflines, all odd angles, and shapes. Most were built before 1960 and all were designed by architects.
BASEL
Basel sits right where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. The Rhine forms the boundary between France and Germany and except for an island that is NE Basil, the border between Germany and Switzerland.
The Munster. This 5-nave church is lovely pink sandstone with great brightly painted rosettes on all the crossed rib vaults. The façade has a large St George on a large horse yielding a great copper lance that has pierced through the mouth of the dragon coming out the back of his head.
To the side is a lovely cloister with the best tracery and window bars. There is also a room and hall of gravestones and memorials and another small cloister.
The pfalz (plaza) behind the church has great views down to the Rhine River and several large horse chestnut trees.
St. Antonius Church. This RC church is rough reinforced concrete, inside and out, producing a rather stark style. The side aisles are as tall as the central nave and the modern multi-coloured stained glass windows are also the full height bathing the church with a rainbow of light. The Ways of the Cross are unique – large concrete bas-reliefs with only heads showing. Two framed mosaics and two concrete statues of you know who finish the decoration.
Three Countries Bridge. I crossed a few hundred metres into the German town of Weil am Rhein, walked across this bridge over the Rhine River into the construction wasteland of Saint Louis, France, and returned. It has a double arch – one a tube and the other a box girder connected by thin steel rods with piers on each end. It is silver.
Roche Tower. In the NM “Modern Architecture Buildings”, this skyscraper at 178 metres, it is the tallest building in the country. When finished on 18 September 2015, Roche Tower overtook Prime Tower in Zürich as Switzerland’s tallest building, the latter having held the record for four years. Strict planning laws mean there are few skyscrapers in the country.
The building, also known as “Building 1” was financed by pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche. It cost 550 million Swiss francs to build. The entire construction ensemble, including a planned 205-metre “Building 2” research facility, is expected to cost three billion francs in total.
Stein Wooden Bridge, Bad Säckingen. Now this is a bridge – a huge covered wooden bridge over the Rhine built with enormous wood beams and girders and a wealth of bolts and metal clamps. The deck is at least 4m wide and accommodated cars as recently as 1971, but in now solely a pedestrian bridge. It sits on 6 stone piers, has two small chapels and a half timbered structure holding information panels, unfortunately only in German. It is about 20kms upstream from Basil. 
I walked over from the Swiss side, visited Germany for the second time in as many hours, and returned.
Aargau Jura Park. Located north of Aarau, between the rivers Aare and Rhine, it spans 241 square kilometres (93 sq mi) and reaches up to 350 metres (1,150 ft) above the valley floor. The northern area includes sparse pine forests, fruit orchards, rocky steppes, dry meadows and terraced vineyards, while the southern region fosters forests and wildlife.
The villages Herznach and Wölfinswil traditionally mined ore in the park and thus, left many studs. A mining tunnel was excavated and made accessible to visitors.
ZURICH
Prime Tower. In the NM “Modern Architecture Buildings” series, it is a 36-story business skyscraper, all tinted green glass.
Swissmill Tower (Kornhaus). This is the tallest operating grain elevator in the world. Standing at 118 metres (387 ft), it is the second tallest building in Zürich. It was built to replace a former grain elevator after the city voted in favor of building a larger silo. The original mill (Kornhaus) was built in 1843 on the same site.
The site required piles built to a depth of 45 metres (148 ft) in the bedrock of the Limmat Valley. The increase of its height to 118 metres (387 ft) was done by slipforming. This required as many as 60 construction workers to process concrete in three shifts around the clock. The construction took place in two stages.
The second tallest grain elevator, the Schapfen Mill Tower in Ulm, Germany, is 115 metres (377 ft) tall excluding the antenna. The tallest grain elevator ever constructed, the Henninger Turm, stood 119.5 metres (392 ft) and was demolished in 2013.
Swissmill is the largest mill in Switzerland, processing 800 tons of grain daily. This represents 30% of the Swiss national grain requirements. It supplies flour for Swiss retailers Coop, Volg, and Landis.
Critics have said the silo’s exterior and height are overly industrial. However, municipal authorities say that the silo was intentionally designed in that way. Its external appearance is intended to express its interior – an industrial plant.
Letten-Viadukt. A steel girder pedestrian bridge near Swissmill, it is elevated across a road and then has 2 piers in the river as is gently curves diagonally across the Limmat River.
Zurich Hbf. This T-shaped main train station has an older stone section and newer steel girder part with 44 gates on two levels.
Zürich Love Lock Bridge. This is a 2m wide pedestrian bridge with steel girders supported on 2 piers in the Limmat River. There are almost a million locks. I wonder how often these have played a role in saving relationships.
Rosenhofmarkt. This Saturday farmers market is in the small square Rosenhof Square lined by restaurants. It is in the pedestrianized part of the old town.
Grossmünster. This 3-nave church has some nice carved capital bible stories and very unusual modern stained glass windows. To climb the tower is LNF 5, 2 reduced
Synagoge Zürich Löwenstrasse. It is a pink/yellow building completely unadorned on the outside. It is not possible to visit this synagogue (I was told it could be entered when there are security guards outside and that would have been at 9 am on a Saturday morning (when every synagogue I have ever been to is closed as Shabbat it their Sabbath day??
Old Botanical Garden. Associated with the University of Zurich, this small garden is all trees, some grass, stone walkways, and a small garden of shrubs on the top of a hill. The small octagonal palm house had an art exhibit. All signs are in German and seem to be mostly about botanical trips to Bali and Java in the mid-1800s. Free
Enge Church. This Lutheran church is lovely. Shaped almost square with a large stained glass dome (sun in the middle). The arches, corners of the dome, and walls around the rose windows have a geometric blue/gilt decoration. It has nice wood wainscoting and a wood pulpit in the middle of the chancel. Three large rose windows are above each of the 3 balconies. The floor is a nice mosaic pattern. I was all alone here. It was very quiet and peaceful. Free
Zurich Botanical Garden. The main University of Zurich BG in SE Zurich has 3 tropical greenhouses, mostly lawns, trees, and gardens with alpine and Mediterranean plants. Free
Zurich Oerlikon Station. With a lime green transparent top façade, all the tracks and shops are underground, and the tracks open air.
Glattzentrum. This shopping mall in NE Zurich is 3-level with a very nice open concept with 3 large open areas looking down onto floors below, many restaurants, and lots of casual seating. All the usual stores.
WINTERTHUR
Hegi Castle. On the far eastern outskirts of the city, this is a large square stone keep surrounded by two and three-story half-timbered houses. It has a museum LNF7
SAINT GALLEN
Abbey of St Gall. Wow, what a church. A baroque masterpiece with all the ceilings painted with dark murals – the large dome in the crossing, the three ceilings in the chancel, the back of the apse, the ceilings of all the 6 chapels on each side, and the 3 ceilings on the nave. A grand green and gilt choir screen separates the nave from the chancel. The chancel has several marble/gilt altars framing paintings. With white walls, everything is adorned with pale green ornate stucco: the capitals, the frames of the tan bas reliefs, and around the windows and doors. The confessionals are recessed into the walls and are of ornate baroque wood and gilt, each of a different design. The ends of the pews are each carved with a different design. The windows are all clear honeycomb. World Heritage Site. Free
St. Lawrence Church. A few hundred metres from St Gall Cathedral, this is also a lovely church with 5 naves including open balconies. All the walls are painted with geometrics. The ceilings are blue with gilt stars and grey beams. Unusually the organ, made to look like 3 church towers, fills the chancel.
The high tower has a steep green steeple roof.
Botanical Garden. This is a lovely garden with a little bit of everything. Well worth the visit. Free
NOMAD MANIA Switzerland – Mittelland (Zürich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne)
World Heritage Sites
Abbey of St Gall
Old City of Berne
Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch
Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona
Tentative WHS: Forets primaires de hetres des Carpates
Sights (Temporarily Reinstated)
Einsiedeln Abbey and village
Piz Gloria
Schaffhausen Old Town and Munot Fortress
Swiss Igloo-Villages
Islands: St. Peter’s Island (Lake Bienne)
Borders
Austria-Switzerland
France-Switzerland
Germany-Switzerland
Liechtenstein-Switzerland
Switzerland (lake)
XL
Büsingen
French-speaking Berne canton
Laufenburg
Münchenwiler (Bern-Mittelland Canton exclave)
Oberegg District (exclaves of Appenzell Innerrhoden)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Glacier Express (Zermatt-St. Moritz)
Golden Pass Line
Jungfrau Railway
Pilatus Mountain Cable Car
Schynige Platte Railway
Stanserhorn Funicular
Switzerland Intercity Railway Experience
Thunersee–Beatenberg Bahn
Titlis Cable Car
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels: Canton Glarus: Kerenzerberg Road Tunnel
Museums
Aarau: Aargauer Kunsthaus
Aarau: City Museum
Altdorf: Uri Museum of Art
Baden: Museum Langmatt
Delémont: Musée jurassien d’art et d’histoire
Ennenda: Anna Göldi Museum Glarus
Frauenfeld: Historic Museum Thurgau
Herisau: Schwänberg – altes Rathaus – Museum
Hofstetten bei Brienz: Ballenberg
Liestal: Kantonsmuseum Baselland
Porrentruy: JURASSICA Museum
Stans: Nidwaldner Museum
Stansstad: Nidwaldner Museum
Stein: Appenzell Folklore Museum
Unterseen: Touristik-Museum der Jungfrau-Region
House Museums/Plantations
Küsnacht: C.G. Jung House Museum
Schwyz: Ital Reding Haus
Wildhaus: Zwinglihaus
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Habsburg: Habsburg Castle
Hagenwil bei Amriswil: Water Castle Hagenwil
Hilterfingen: Castle Hünegg
Jegenstorf: Jegenstorf Castle
Kyburg: Kyburg Castle
Lenzburg: Lenzburg Castle
Nidau: Nidau Castle
Oberhofen: Oberhofen Castle
Seengen: Hallwyl Castle
Religious Temples
Bad Zurzach: Verena Minster
Einsiedeln: Benedictine Monastery with Black Madonna
Engelberg: Engelberg Abbey
Windisch: Koningsfelden Monastery
Modern Architecture Buildings
Dornach: Goetheanum
Wohlen: Cantonal High School
World of Nature
Aargau Jura Park
Entlebuch Biosphere
Thal Nature Park
Festivals
Art Basel
Grindelwald Snow Festival
Interlaken Classic Music Festival
Küssnacht: Klausjagen
Liestal Chienbäsen & Basel Morgestraich
Lucerne: Fumetto International Comics Festival
Lucerne: Lucerne Festival
Räbechilbi Turnip Festival, Richterswil
Sechseleuten, Zurich
Street Parade, Zurich
Unspunnenfest
Zürich: Openair Literatur Festival Zürich
Zoos
Arth: Nature and Animal Park Goldau
Goldau: Nature and Animal Park Goldau
Planetariums: Schwanden ob Sigriswil: Sternwarte Sirius
Theme Parks: Interlaken: Jungfrau Park
Beaches: Lorelei Bathing islands
Waterfalls
Engstligen Falls
Reichenbach Falls
Rhine Falls
Seerenbach Falls
Staubbach Fall
Trümmelbach Falls
Caves
Hölloch
St. Beatus Cave
Ski Resorts: Gstaad
Monuments
Altdorf: William Tell Monument
Küsnacht: Forchdenkmal
Sachseln: Geographical centre of Switzerland
Walenstadt: Paxmal
Pedestrian Bridges
Bad Säckingen/Stein Wooden Bridge
Engelberg: Titlis Cliff Walk
Gadmen: Trift Bridge
Aviation Museums
Altenrhein: Museum of Flying
Dübendorf: Swiss Air Force Museum
Vehicle Museums
Muttenz: Museum Pantheon Basel
Romanshorn: Autobau Erlebniswelt
Safenwil: Emil Frey AG Classics
European Cities
OLTEN/ZOFINGEN
BASEL World Cities and Popular Towns
Airports: Basel/Mulhouse (BSL)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Basel Hbf, Basel Tram
Museums
Basel Museum of Cultures
Beyeler Foundation
Cartoon Museum
Historical Museum
Kunsthalle
Kunstmuseum Basel
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Natural History
Museum Tinguely
Pharmacy Museum of the University of Basel
Swiss Architecture Museum
Toy Worlds Museum
Religious Temples
St. Antonius Church
The Munster
Modern Architecture Buildings: Roche Tower
Entertainment/Things to do:
New Jerseyy, Basel
Zoo Basel
Zoos
Basel Zoo
Tierpark Lange Erlen
BERNE World Capital, World City and Popular Town
World Heritage Sites: Old City of Berne
Airports: Bern (BRN)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Bern Tram, Niesenbahn, Bern
Museums
Historical Museum
Kornhausforum
Kunsthalle
Museum of Communication
Museum of Fine Arts
Natural History Museum
Swiss Alpine Museum
Swiss Rifle Museum
Zentrum Paul Klee
House Museums/Plantations: Einsteinhaus
Religious Temples: Bern Minster
Malls/Department Stores: Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre
Zoos: Dählhölzli Zoo
Botanical Gardens: Bern Botanical Garden
Pedestrian Bridges: Altenbergsteg
BIEL/BIENNE
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Biel/Bienne–xxMagglingen/Macolin Funicular
Museums
New Museum
Omega Museum
LUCERNE World Cities and Popular Towns
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Luzern Station
Museums
Alpineum
Natural History Museum
Rosengart Foundation
Swiss Museum of Transport
House Museums/Plantations: Richard Wagner Museum
Religious Temples: Jesuitenkirche
Pedestrian Bridges
Chapel Bridge
Spreuerbrücke (The Spreuer Bridge)
Planetariums: Verkehrshaus Planetarium
SAINT GALLEN
Airports: St. Gallen (ACH)
Museums
Historical and Folklore Museum
Museum in the Warehouse
Natural History Museum
St. Gallen Museum of Art
Textile Museum
Religious Temples
Abbey of Saint Gall
St. Lawrence Church
Botanical Gardens: Botanical Garden
THUN
Museums
Museum of Timekeeping and Mechanical Musical Instruments
Panzer Museum
Swiss Gastronomy Museum
Thun Art Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Thun Castle
Pedestrian Bridges: Obere Schleuse and Untere Schleuse
WINTERTHUR
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Winterthur Station
Museums
Business Museum
Fotomuseum
Kunst Museum Winterthur
Swiss Science Center Technorama
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Hegi Castle
Zoos: Winterthur: Wildpark Bruderhaus
ZUG
Museums
Kunsthaus Zug
Museum fur Urgeschichte(n)
ZURICH World Cities and Popular Towns
Airports: Zurich (ZRH)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Zurich Hbf, Zurich Oerlikon Station, Zurich Tram
Museums
FIFA World Football Museum
Focus Terra
Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
Haus Konstruktiv
Haus zum Rech
Kulturama
Kunsthalle
Kunsthaus
Migros Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Design
North American Native Museum
Rietberg Museum
Swiss National Museum
House Museums/Plantations: Leninwohnung
Religious Temples
Synagoge Zürich Löwenstrasse
Enge Church
Grossmünster
Modern Architecture Buildings
Prime Tower
Swissmill Tower (Kornhaus)
Entertainment/Things to do: Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Zurich
Zoos: Zürich Zoologischer Garten
Botanical Gardens
Old Botanical Garden
Zurich Botanical Garden
Malls/Department Stores
Glattzentrum
Mall of Switzerland
Markets: Rosenhofmarkt
Pedestrian Bridges
Letten-Viadukt
Zürich Love Lock Bridge
Railway Museums: Tram Museum
Villages and Small Towns
Baden
Gimmelwald
Grindelwald
Interlaken
Iseltwald
Lauterbrunnen
Lenzburg
Murren
Porrentruy
Schwellbrunn
St-Ursanne
Wengen
Willisau
ANDERMATT
Museums: Talmuseum Ursern
APPENZELL
Museums
Kunstmuseum Appenzell
Museum Appenzell
BRIENZ
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railroad
Open-Air Museums: Brienz: Ballenberg
RAPPERSWIL
Museums:Rapperswil-Jona: Stadtmuseum Rapperswil-Jona
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Rapperswil-Jona: Rapperswil Castle
Religious Temples: Rapperswil-Jona: Capuchin Monastery
Festivals: Rapperswil-Jona: Eis-zwei-Geissebei
Open-Air Museums: Rapperswil-Jona: Enea Baummuseum
SPEIZ
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Spiez: Spiez Castle
STEIN am RHEIN
XL: Stein am Rhein municipality
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Hohenklingen Castle
SCHAFFHAUSEN
XL: Schaffhausen canton
Museums
IWC Schaffhausen Museum
Museum zu Allerheiligen
Stemmler Collection
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Munot Fortress
Botanical Gardens: Munot Rose Garden
SOLOTHURN
XL: Solothurn canton exclaves (Kleinlützel, Thierstein District and part of Dorneck District)
Museums
Das ENTER-Museum
Kunstmuseum
House Museums/Plantations: Museum Kosciuszko
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Blumenstein Castle