Experiences: Nature

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.

The Beckenried–Klewenalp cable car takes you comfortably to 1,600 metres above Lake Lucerne. A wide range of possibilities await you on Klewenalp – from varied hiking trails to excursion destinations such as Stockhütte or Niederbauen.

This wine trail with a total of 27 panels winds its way through the vineyards. The trail takes just under an hour and begins at Cressier Castle NE.

One of the most fun and varied flow trails is located on the Marbachegg, where the Emmental and the Entlebuch meet. In addition, a breathtaking view of the imposing Schrattenfluh, the striking Hohgant and the Bernese Alps awaits you.

Deep in the enchanted forest of Ernen in Valais, someone has stolen Brüna the squirrel’s supply of winter nuts. Between gnarled spruce trees and moss-covered boulders, the squirrel’s story leads us through the adventure playground and inspires us with the pine cone run, swinging tree, suspension bridge, ravine trails and barbecue areas.

Visitors can observe 19 native and formerly native animals like deer, bear, lynx, wolf, wildcat, marmot, elk, wild boar, and the Przewalski horse on 80 hectares.

You can experience nature up close with Wild und Wald. Guided tours take you through the wildlife of the Solothurn Jura.

The Bolle di Magadino, one of nine water meadow landscapes considered by the Swiss Academy for Natural Science to be of international importance, includes the delta of the Ticino and Verzasca Rivers at the Langensee (lake).

The fairy grotto near Saint-Maurice takes you 500 meters deep into the mountain. At the end of the illuminated galleries, an underground lake with a 50-meter-high waterfall awaits you. A journey into a mystical underworld in Valais.

Over 100 different flowers..

Between the emerald green river, Rustici and the Ponte dei Salti lies one of the most pristine valleys in Ticino. You will discover picturesque stone villages, wonderful bathing spots and traditions that shape the charm of the Verzasca Valley.

Golfing at the oldest golf club in Switzerland - Home of Swiss Golf since 1893!

As visitors enter the Valais, they are greeted by impressive mountain cliffs and a waterfall that is, unfortunately, smaller than it used to be.

The Baldegg water tower is both a water reservoir and an observation tower. A spiral staircase with 181 steps leads up to the viewing platform which offers a 360-degree panoramic view across the Mittelland region to the Black Forest and from Mt. Säntis to the Jungfrau in the Bernese Oberland.

The gentle lapping of the waves, the first warming rays of the sun and the sound of the birds’ dawn chorus: canoeing is the ideal way to discover the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve on Lake Neuchâtel during the summer months.

Discover fossils and witness the mighty force of alpine folding from up close!

The Rigi is the most visited mountain of Swiss people. With breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views, the Rigi offers a first-class mountain experience whatever the season. The cogwheel train from Goldau and Vitznau, as well as the cable car from Weggis, enable a variety of round trips, which can also be combined with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne.

Descend 359 steps into the Viamala Gorge in Graubünden. Below you stand in front of 300-meter-high rock faces, rock cirques formed by the water and the roaring Hinterrhein. Historic bridges and paths tell of the time of the muleteers.

Seven springs feed the Simme, a 55km-long river in the Bernese Oberland that flows into Lake Thun at Wimmis. The waterfalls that cascade over rocks several metres high are also well worth a visit.

Plättli Zoo is one of the few remaining private zoos in Switzerland that has been able to survive without public funding, possibly because of the charming atmosphere in the zoo and the large variety of animal species.

Accessible to all types of hiker, this easy route takes you from the village of Saillon to the Farinet footbridge over the Salentze gorges.

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.

The Stockhorn is the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. Its striking rock head can already be seen from the Aare valley. The cable car takes you up in two sections, over the Hinterstockensee directly to the mountain station at 2190 meters.

On a sunny high plateau (at 1,480 meters above sea level) one finds Birkendorf Bürchen. During an easy two-hour hike from Bürchen to Zeneggen, discover the squirrel trail and the didactic forest trail, where you can learn many important and interesting things about these two topics.

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.

Drive over one of the most historic Valais Alpine passes: On the Grosser St. Bernhard, you will visit the almost 1000-year-old hospice, meet St. Bernard dogs and hike through the alpine landscape on the border with Italy.

Thrills and spills from up high for young and old alike: in addition to the fixed-rope park, 25 ziplines – spanning a total length of 1,210 metres – guarantee variety, exhilaration and fun. Fly above the ground and become a master climber along five different routes.

Experience amazing sensations while learning about local indigenous animals on the Volg Naturena Five-Senses Trails. In German-speaking Switzerland, there are five adventure trails (Fricktal, Seebachtal, Werdenberg, Zugerland, and Seeland), each with eight stations.

This 13 km-long nature trail is sure to be an amazing experience for nature lovers of all ages – an ideal way to become acquainted with the wonders of nature.

The leisure park and sports facility is located in a scenic spot at the foot of Mt. Rigi, overlooking Lake Lucerne.

The Monte Brè funicular takes you from Lugano to an altitude of 933 meters. From the summit you can see Lake Lugano, the Valais and Bernese Alps and the Monte Rosa massif. The railway has been running since 1908.

In the Valais town of Leukerbad, follow a steel footbridge through the wild Dala Gorge and draw warm thermal water directly from the spring with a rope pull. A suspension bridge leads you to the 35-meter-high waterfall.

The name is already promising: “Pichoux” means 1,000 springs.

The Berne classic: the view from the Guggishörnli (1283 metres) stretches over the forests and hills of the Schwarzenburg region. From Guggisberg village, visitors can ascend the observation tower, with its spectacular staircase, in 30 minutes.