Parks, Gardens and Squares

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 Villa Boveri, built 1895 - 1897, was the Baden residence of the family of Walter Boveri, co-founder of Brown Boveri & Cie. Both house and park are a veritable treasure and are under monument protection.

With its magical view of Mont-Blanc across the lake, Perle du Lac Park is the ideal place for relaxing moments spent by the lakeside. It’s no wonder that the wife of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf called this place the “pearl of the lake”.

The Ermitage in Arlesheim can look back on a colourful history spanning more than 200 years. It is the largest landscaped English garden in Switzerland. Ponds, caves, winding paths and idyllic nature enchant walkers and transport them to a mystical world full of secrets.

High-altitude flowers from the Pyrenees, New Zealand, China, Nepal or Tibet also grow in Switzerland. In the botanical garden Alpinum Schatzalp, 3500 plant species and flower varieties from the world's high mountain regions bloom from June to September.

Switzerland’s capital, Bern, is the stuff of dreams for cycling enthusiasts. Whether riding an e-bike or a conventional bicycle, this is the place for all cyclists.

Seit 1931 beherbergt die Sukkulenten-Sammlung in Zürich eine der weltweit grössten und bedeutendsten Spezialsammlungen sukkulenter Pflanzen.

Den Namen «Rosenstadt» verdient sich Rapperswil aufgrund der über 20'000 Rosen, welche von Mai bis Oktober in den Rosengärten beim Kapuzinerkloster und auf der «Schanz» blühen.

The production of Absinthe – also called “Green Fairy” was prohibited for over 90 years. Since 2005 the mythical liquor, which is based on the distillation of various plants and herbs, can again be legally consumed.

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.

Der Alpengarten Flore-Alpe im Champex-Lac im Unterwallis ist ein zauberhafter Ort in einer wunderschönen alpinen Umgebung.

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.

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.

The Jura "Chemins du Bio" are circular walks from farm to farm, including meals and sometimes accommodation with farming families: memorable encounters with local people in their working and living environment.

The 70,000 m2 Rieterpark is Zurich's largest and most impressive landscaped garden and is set in the district of Zurich Enge near Lake Zurich.

Ittingen Charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery with more than 850 years of history, is one of the most important cultural sites in the region.

The hiking routes around the resort of Zermatt – site of Switzerland’s most famous mountain, the Matterhorn – offer you breathtaking panoramic vistas, lush flowering meadows and fragrant larch forests.

In the centre of Biel, the watchmaking capital of Switzerland, the newly redesigned Schüssinsel Park (Île de la Suze) offers a perfect place to relax. Over 600 trees and various water landscapes create a green oasis.

In this green oasis in the centre of Fribourg, the Jean Tinguely fountain is particularly striking. It was created by the contemporary Fribourg artist in memory of his friend and racing driver Jo Siffert.

Villa Negroni is one of Ticino’s most important villas. One of the reasons is the valuable expansive garden surrounding the villa. There is a clear division into two contrasting elements: an Italian flower garden and an English-style park.

Morcote was once opon a time the largest harbor at Lake Lugano and an important reloading point for goods for the Milanese dukes during the Middle Ages. Today the charming Ticinese village with the richly decorated facades and the Scherrer Park is a popular destination for excursions.

The stately trees and broad promenade are picture perfect at any time of the year. All three of the parks in Rheinfelden are popular spots for snapping photos as they are located directly on the Rhine and offer a wonderful view of the old town.

Mitten in der Stadt Bern befindet sich der Botanische Garten der Universität Bern. 5500 Pflanzenarten laden auf eine botanische Reise rund um den Globus ein: von den heissen Tropen, den zentralasiatischen Steppen über das würzig duftende Mittelmeergebiet oder die schattigen Wälder Ostasiens bis in die kühle Alpenluft.

The Strandboden area is located right by Lake Biel. Here is where locals take time out from their busy lives to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and splendid views.

With its views of Lake Geneva, Parc des Eaux-Vives is probably one of the most beautiful and oldest parks in the city of Geneva. Nature lovers will appreciate the many hundred-year-old trees and the expansive lawned areas. Plage des Eaux-Vives (Eaux-Vives Beach) is also just a stone’s throw away.

The Kandertal valley is set in the unique mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland. You will find some of Switzerland’s most impressive hiking routes here, around the Oeschinen and Blausee lakes, the Gemmi and the Blüemlisalp.

Herb gardens at the Panorama Trail on the southern flank of the Lötschberg speak to all of one's senses. In three carefully planned gardens as well as in the Bach Flower Garden between Ausserberg and Mund a veritable nature-apothecary delights the eye and dispenses its aromas.

The newly created garden with its own grape vines and a fragrant rose garden invites you to dream. These areas with various plants lend the castle a pleasant feeling of spaciousness.

The Piazza Grande, with the typical arcades, is one of the biggest and most famous squares in Switzerland.

Dreilindenpark – colloquially also known as “Konsipark” – is not only the largest public park in the city of Lucerne, offering breathtaking views, but also a place of culture. Originally the home of the Lucerne School of Music, this is where works of fine art are to be put on display in the future.

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for a short while and enjoy a picnic in the museum garden of the Oskar Reinhart “Am Römerholz” collection. Stately chestnut trees and outdoor sculptures are scattered throughout the verdant park, making it the perfect spot to slow down and recharge.

Bonstetten Park serves throughout the year as a valuable public recreational area right on the lakeside: BBQ sites, open grassy areas and a playground make the park a popular destination for families as well.

The people of Brig are proud of the Stockalper Palace, which was built in the 17th century by Kaspar Stockalper. Visiting the cellars, arcades and halls of the palace, then dreaming in the palace garden under rose bushes, enjoying the view of the monastery, the Jesuit church and Brig's Old Town with their towers - simply delightful!. In the palace halls are wallpaper and silk-paintings designed in Paris in the 18th century.

Tassino Park, a glorious haven of peace, is graced with lush vegetation thanks to its sun-drenched position. If you like roses and English-style gardens then this is the place for you. What is now Tassino Park was at one time the hunting lodge of the wealthy Enderlin family, who in the 19th century were the owners of a beautiful villa on the hill of Tassino.