Swiss Cities

The town of Biel, the metropolis of Swiss watchmaking, lies at the eastern end of Lake Biel, at the foot of the Jura in the delightful Lake Region. The charm of bilingualism, the intact old town and its location as the gateway to the three peripheral Jura lakes (Lakes Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten) make the town an attractive starting point, but also a destination for excursions.

The two neighbouring watch-making towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are in the Jura close to the French border, in the canton of Neuchâtel (Neuenburg). La Chaux-de-Fonds, laid out like a chessboard — which is unusual for Switzerland — is regarded as the birthplace of watch-making worldwide and also as a major centre for the Jugendstil in Switzerland. The Jura countryside is a pleasant area for walking and cycling or cross-country skiing in winter.

The small town of Baden has Switzerland’s most mineral-rich thermal spring water. But it is also Baden’s cultural offerings and the redeveloped areas and buildings from the time of its industrial heyday which add to the appeal of this small town situated at the gateway to Zurich.

Tradition-conscious, open-minded and full of contrasts, Basel is regarded as one of Switzerland's centres for art, music and architecture. Thanks to its central location at the 'three-countries-corner' where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, the city on the elbow of the Rhine is also an important centre of fairs and congresses. The large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral are the landmarks of the city.

Bellinzona (German: Bellenz) is strategically positioned where the valley narrows at the southern entrance to the Alpine passes of St. Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lucomagno and is probably Switzerland's most Italianate town. The skyline of the capital of Ticino, comprising three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Not many cities have managed to retain their historic features quite as successfully as Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The old town of Bern has been entered in the list of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites and thanks to its 6 kilometres of arcades - the locals refer to them as 'Lauben' - boasts on of the longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe. The Zentrum Paul Klee houses the most comprehensive collection of works by the artist.

The town of Brig with its historic old quarter and the Stockalper Palace lies in the sunny Upper Valais at the foot of the Simplon Pass. Situated at an important junction, Brig is an ideal starting point for excursions. It is close to hiking and ski regions on the Lötschberg and Simplon, and in the Aletsch. It also has its own thermal baths, making it an attractive holiday resort.

Chur looks back on 5000 years of settlement history, which also makes it Switzerland’s oldest town. The lively small bishop’s town has developed to become the cultural and economic centre of the Grisons, thanks to its excellent location on key transport routes through the Alps. 26 Grisons holiday and spa resorts can be reached in less than an hour from Chur.

The Old Town of Fribourg (German: Freiburg im Üechtland) is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Europe. It has preserved its medieval charms into modern times, with over 200 Gothic facades dating from the 15th century. There has always been a lively crossover of cultures in this bilingual town.

Embedded between nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura, the French-speaking city of Geneva lies in the bay where the Rhone leaves Lake Geneva. With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, the European seat of the UNO and headquarters of the Red Cross is known as the “capital of peace”.

Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital.

At the northern end of Lake Maggiore in the canton of Ticino is Locarno, the city with the mildest climate in Switzerland, enjoying 2300 hours of sunshine every year. Locarno lures the visitors with its southern charm, Mediterranean climate and sub-tropical vegetation. Locarno hosts a well-known International Film Festival.

Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland.

Lugano – the largest town in the holiday region of Ticino, is not only Switzerland's third most important financial centre and a conference, banking and business centre, but also a town of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town. Thanks to its mild climate, Lugano is a popular tourist destination in the spring when the camellias are in bloom.

The small town of Martigny located on the Rhone elbow in the Lower Valais is the hub of the pass routes across the Simplon, Great St. Bernard and Forclaz. Its cultural heritage from the Celtic and Roman periods and Mediterranean flair and tasty gastronomy are its winning features.

There are 15 km of lakeside to stroll along, snow-capped mountains, a lake with steamships plying up and down, and hotels with the charm of the Belle Epoque - such is the Riviera on Lake Geneva where many international stars, such as Barbara Hendricks, live.

Built out of yellow sandstone, Neuchâtel(or Neuenburg as German speakers call it) is located on the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel and nestles against the Jura hills. The medieval centre of the town with its many cafes and restaurants, shops and numerous theatres and museums exudes French charm and is ideal for a gentle stroll

"Munot", the impressive mediaeval fortress towers over Schaffhausen Old Town. The houses in the Old Town are richly adorned with bow windows and expensively painted house-fronts. The narrow alleys invite you to stroll, shop and sit around.

Vineyards and castles are key features of Sierre and Sion. With the towers of the ruined castle of Tourbillon and fortified church of Notre Dame de Valère rising skyward, Sion is recognisable from afar. Here, in the capital of the bilingual canton of Valais the past and the future blend together seamlessly. Boasting an international airport as well as good railway and postbus connections, Sion is regarded as one of Switzerland's main hubs. The old town, castles and museums bear testimony to bygone times.

Solothurn is one of those towns where quality certainly has the edge on quantity. Its Old Town is one of the finest in Switzerland and its has a culture whose fame spreads far beyond its region. Several of its cultural highlights are spread over the whole year such as its renowned Film and Literature Days and its Classic Open-air Concerts with world-class voices.

The compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland has a charming, traffic-free old town. Colourfully-painted oriel windows are a town feature. The Abbey precinct with the cathedral and Abbey Library has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage listing. St. Gallen is world renowned for its embroideries.

The town of Thun located on the lake of the same name is the gateway to the Bernese Oberland and an ideal starting point for excursions to the nearby Alpine foothills and Alps. The impressive castle and historic old town, bathing beaches, promenades and Alps in the background provide a picturesque setting for Switzerland's tenth-biggest town.

Vaduz, affectionately nicknamed "Städtle", is the capital of the small Principality of Liechtenstein which borders on Switzerland in the west. The small town with its just over 5000 inhabitants impresses with cultural and culinary treasures. Its landmark is the medieval castle located high above the town and belonging to the royal family.

Winterthur is a treasure trove rich in art, history and nature. Switzerland's sixth-biggest city boasts art collections of world renown. Other museums and monuments, a lively old town, an active music and comedy scene, and extensive parks and public gardens give Winterthur, a town small enough to get around conveniently, the air of a big city.

The Kyburg City of Zug is characterised by its distinctive buildings from the late Gothic period in the old city, the most famous landmark of its historic centre around the Kolinplatz being the Zytturm. Cultural life in Zug is varied and abundant. It spans theatre, concerts and cabaret, to traditional events and culinary specialities such as "Zug Rötel" and "Zug Kirschtorte".

As a “metropolis of experiences” by the water, with a magnificent view of the snowcapped Alps on the horizon, Zürich Downtown Switzerland offers a unique mixture of attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, international fashion labels and Zürich designs, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland.