Architecture

The Münster is one of Basel's main sights. Situtated in a promiment position high above the Rhine River, the former episcopal church presides high above the region.

Museums, galleries, art publishers - the Löwenbräu Areal is a much loved venue for art enthusiasts. The changing exhibitions of contemporary art have transformed this former brewery into a landmark cultural centre.

The Abbey of St. Gall has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, and has plenty of impressive treasures just waiting to be discovered in its library, vaulted cellar and new exhibition hall.

Located in the centre of today's city of Yverdon-les-Bains, the castle has undergone many transformations over the centuries.

The Halen Estate is embedded into the landscape and fascinates due to its compact structure and modern and diverse interior.

Since September 2015, LAC (Lugano Arte e Cultura) has been an impressive platform for contemporary creativity from southern Switzerland. The building by Ticino architect Ivano Gianola offers visitors art across 2500 square metres and a modern theatre and concert hall with space for 1000 guests.

The well-preserved castle of Neuchâtel, which is over 1,000 years old and from which the city gets its name, towers above the small city of Neuchâtel. From here, you have the best view for miles.

St. Martin’s Church is the heart of the Catholic parish in Olten. This is where the community comes to worship.

Waldegg Castle is rightly considered the most beautiful country manor of the Solothurn patriciate. Here, where ambassadors and the aristocracy once went in and out, visitors can immerse in the same bygone world today - and learn of a time when Solothurn was the seat of the French ambassadors with the aid of a modern, multimedia guide.

On 18 May 1478 the people of Zug, under the direction of Hans Felder, laid the foundation stone for this late-Gothic church. The main entrance is flanked up on the left and right by the city’s patron saints, Oswald and Michael.

Life feels wonderfully carefree on the Ouchy lakefront. The vastness of the lake, the generosity of the boulevards, the soothing green of attractive parks and the majestic aura of stately buildings. And it’s no time at all until you find yourself amid such splendor - following a short descent from the station with the vertical m2 metro.

Begun in 1421, Bern's Cathedral took 150 years to complete, and was erected entirely by volunteers. The cathedral was built for the purpose of housing a bishop, but Protestantism reached Bern before its bishop did. The cathedral represents the last major work of late Gothic architecture in Europe.

You do not to need to be a believer in order to be inspired: the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most beautiful sacred buildings in Ticino.

The Zentrum Paul Klee, which opened in 2005, is dedicated to the person, life and work of Paul Klee (1879–1940). It houses the worldwide largest collection of Klee's works. Paul Klee is regarded as one of the 20th century's most important artists.

One of only two Protestant churches in Lucerne, St. Matthäus was the first, built in 1848 in a neo-Gothic style.

The Carsten Höller slide tower, charming fuel station by Jean Prouvé and more: The architectural quality of all buildings on the Vitra Campus is fascinating. And, faithful to the philosophy of this establishment, it’s not only form that matters instead content and capacity. The Vitra Design Museum is in fact one of the most important exhibition centers for industrial furniture design.

The construction of the Stadelhofen Train Station in Zurich is the work of the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Built in 1884, the late-classical station building had a concrete and steel platform roof added in the 1990’s.

A magnificent Cistercian abbey 20 minutes away from Fribourg, founded in 1137 by Guillaume de Glâne, leader of the Ecuvillens.

The Old Town of Lausanne has imposing buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, such as the famous Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The charming city on Lake Geneva has a lot to offer otherwise as well. For instance, Switzerland's first subterranean mountain train.

Route: Geneva - Lausanne - Orbe - Avenches - Solothurn - Augst

When it comes to design, Lausanne has no shortage of attractions. With a wealth of culture and architecture, it is considered a highly photogenic city. Design highlights such as the Galerie Port Franc antique shop in the Flon district, trendy cafés, the Galeries Saint-François shopping arcade and its boutiques, and the Plateforme 10 arts district are accessible to all.

With Westside star architect Daniel Libeskind created a new landmark for Bern. The leisure and shopping center combines shopping, swimming and movie theaters as one unique experience.

Due to its multicultural character, Geneva is often called the smallest metropolis. It has a lively Old Town with wine taverns, art galleries and antique dealers. The Cathedral of Saint Pierre sits on the peak of the hill on which the Old Town is located.

From the historic villages of Lavaux to the vertiginous peaks of the Rochers-de-Naye and the pristine waters of Lake Geneva, visiting Montreux Riviera is like stepping into a postcard. An immersion in the very heart of dramatic landscapes where great outdoors, panoramic views and the lifestyle are the keywords.

The architects Herzog & de Meuron are world-renowned. Their most significant edifices include the Tate Modern in London and the Olympic Stadium in Beijing.

With its charming French gardens and English park with sculptures by Richard Serra – both of which can be enjoyed on Sundays – Villa Wenkenhof is Basel’s answer to Versailles in miniature.

The Jura waters correction is a unique heritage of human creativity. The Nidau Castle Museum, opened in October 2004, aims to heighten this awareness.

Set in the heart of Lausanne, the Flon area has evolved in recent years into a modern and innovative district which pulsates both day and night.

As his first project, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, who later called himself Le Corbusier, built the Maison Blanche for his parents on the hills of his native town. This architectural masterpiece served this world-famous architect as a laboratory for his first construction techniques.

The fortifications of Bellinzona are an extraordinary example of a late-medieval defensive structure located at a key strategic point on the Alpine pass. The castles of Bellinzona are among the most marvelous examples of medieval fortified architecture in the Alps.

Chillon Castle is located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva. The water castle is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. For nearly four centuries Chillon was the residence and profitable toll station of the Counts of Savoy.

Every Saturday from the beginning of April to the end of October, there is an interesting guided walking tour of the city. It offers the chance to discover the new Lugano train station, and the recently restored cathedral and to see the city from above.