Experiences: Nature

Harvesting cherries, apples, pears and damsons requires enormous manual effort and a lot of time. You can officially help local growers in the Aargau Jura to pick these delicious fruits.

Parc de Mon Repos, a true haven of peace and relaxation in the heart of the city of Lausanne, is an ideal place to play, go on walks, meditate, and simply watch the world go by. The country house built in the centre of the park in the 18th century was regularly visited by Voltaire, who also staged several theatrical performances here.

Located in the heart of the city, opposite the Museo d'Arte, Lido Riva Caccia features a floating wooden deck that rocks gently to and fro like a boat.

The Échappée Jurassienne long-distance hiking trail is a relaxing hike that lets you sample local products along the way.

The Alpbach Gorge in the Haslital Valley is one of nature’s jewels and a great experience for seasoned and sure-footed mountain climbers.

The Weatherman Hiking Trail in the Muotathal Valley shows at 14 stations how, based on the signs of nature, weather rules are made to predict sun, wind, and rain.

Visitors here can look forward to a romantic landscape, the enchanting Hallwyl moated castle with its impressive exhibition and the Lake Hallwil navigation company, more than 100 years old, which entertains its guests aboard five motor launches.

Twenty markers (made of larch tree wood), small slate roofs and stations with sensory equipment have been installed on existing hiking trails.

Visit the Trümmelbach Falls, the largest underground waterfalls in Europe in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Feel the power of the glacier water of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau up close.

Nature and adventure go hand-in-hand, especially in a treetop ropes course. Perched high above the forest floor, you'll defy the laws of gravity, using grit and teambuilding skills to make your way through each test of courage and agility.

The Allalinhorn above Saas-Fee is what gave the area its name. With the right equipment and in the company of a mountain guide, the four-thousand-metre peak is a relatively easy climb for a sporty mountaineer.

The Rose Garden is a mecca for flower lovers and a great place to unwind. It features a restaurant in a prime location and a wonderful view of Bern.

In the Canton of Graubünden, flat moors cover about 3,000 hectares of land. And in these flat moorlands around 10% of Graubünden's flora and fauna can be found. Therefore, these must be protected to the largest extent possible.

The “pyramid-shaped mountain” is full of fossilised fish and marine reptiles – a treasure trove 240 million years old. What was once a sea basin later gave way to Monte San Giorgio, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The modernised Fossil Museum in Meride exhibits a selection of fossilised animals and plants.

An alpine course, located at an altitude of 1600 m in the heart of the Vaud Alps, the 18-hole par 69 Villars Golf Course is open from May to November. It is accessible by car or by train, and enjoys a grandiose panorama. Each hole is unique and offers a magnificent view of the Alps. Experienced players and beginners alike can enjoy playing their favourite sport in an idyllic and unspoilt environment.

Its summit offers up magnificent views and those inclined to scratch about on it will be left with the impression that marine fauna and other large animals once lived here.

The adventure trail in the Giant Forest near Elm stimulates one’s motor skills, senses and awareness of nature. Heaps of fun awaits at Martin’s Hole.

The moorland experience in the Stoos region is the ideal outing for more fun that you ever imagined − and a chance to learn "more about moors".

Four treasure hunt trails around Nendaz make family hikes an exciting adventure. This way of hiking is great fun for children as well.

At the very heart of Switzerland, a world record-holding technical innovation awaits: the steepest funicular railway in the world leads from Schwyz up to the car-free mountain village of Stoos. The journey there is an experience in itself, with passengers being taken up to a natural paradise 1,300 metres up.

The ancient trade of prospecting for minerals is explained by experienced guides.

Grown-ups and children alike love the XXL 18-hole golf-course on the ostrich farm in Mörschwil. Amid the sheep and the ostriches, the idea is to use the oval-ended irons to putt the balls through various obstacles. Whoever manages it in the fewest attempts is named the winner!

The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen is the most famous nature destination in Switzerland. Huge masses of water plunge down the rocks. You can experience the spectacle from Laufen Castle, from viewing platforms or on a boat trip.

Live an exciting experience in the world of birds of prey, take a close look at the flight of eagles, hawks, owls and vultures in an environment that respects their natural habitat. As the birds circle overhead in the arena, the falconer tells the history of this ancient art.

There is a popular hiking trail along the Jura mountain route from Passwang – the summit and viewpoint are 1,204 metres above sea level. Take this hiking route from Laufen, where Ricola has its head office.

The Blenio Valley in Upper Ticino is a typical Ticino mountain valley. Densely forested mountain slopes rise majestically above the sunny valley floors far below.

The Jurassic Mountains can be explored on two wheels, at times leisurely, at other times fast.

The new Kneipp complex Griesbach in Schaffhausen is open and free for the public. The signposts are self-explanatory.

The Kitzelpfad (tickle path) offers a thrill of a special kind at the mountain station of the Brunni chair lift. The barefoot path around the idyllic Härzli lake, situated at 1860 meters above sea level, is unique in these mountains.