Historic excursions

Permanent exhibition about the novelist, with a unique collection of exhibits. An invitation to an extraordinary journey…

Experience the feeling of flying like an eagle, above one of the most beautiful region of Switzerland, with a breathtaking panorama.

The adventures of Heidi, the orphan girl, are known the world over. Not least through the eponymous film from 1952. One of the original locations is above St. Moritz and can be visited at all times.

During the summer, Madame Yvonne Jollien-Berclaz will be happy to guide you through the village of Fang and will show you the old school exhibition.

The cities, the mountains, the lakes – have you already seen all that Earth has to offer? If so, then come up to the Sattenlegi and discover the heavens above through our telescope.

What would Basel be without the Rhine? Four passenger ferries cross the river from one bank to the other, using nothing but a steel cable and the current of the water. The ferrymen’s tradition of telling yarns during the journey has continued to this day.

Perched high above Lake Constance and nestled in large parklands, this elegantly furnished castle was once the residence of the last emperor of France. In what is now the Napoleonic Museum, the original furnishings have been preserved, and the palace gardens have recently been restored.

History comes alive.

The museum includes the castles of Lenzburg, Wildegg, Hallwyl, Habsburg, the monastery of Königsfelden, the Legionnaire's Path, the Wettingen Monastery Peninsula, the Vindonissa Legionary Trail, the Vindonissa Museum, the Egliswil Collection Centre and the Aabach Industrial CulTOUR. Each of these monuments is an authentic witness to a long history.

World-renowned celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama bear witness to eastern Switzerland’s quality textile enterprises. And products range from finest Haute Couture to architecture.

The Museum zu Allerheiligen is one of Schaffhausen’s most significant places of interest. Here, archaeology, history and art as well as natural history converge under one roof. In addition to its extensive permanent exhibitions, the museum hosts between six and eight special exhibitions each year.

Fashion museum housing 5,000 pieces from the 18th century to the present, including the archives of Yverdon-born designer Robert Piguet.

The Alpine pass and the legendary Great St. Bernard Hospice symbolise the hospitality shown by the monks to travellers over the centuries. Barry, the large and good-natured St. Bernard dog, is famous for saving the lives of lost mountaineers – this four-legged hero has always been bred here.

The Diemtigtal valley is celebrated for its magnificent rural dwellings, and you can see some of the finest along the marked Diemtigtal House Trail. The details are particularly impressive: intricate carving, delicate paintings and elaborate compositions of form and colour that adorn the wooden façades underneath the massive roofs.

What is behind the ‘Bernese extra sausage’? Why did so many delegates from foreign powers flock to Baden in the 15th century?

The Roman Mosaics of Orbe consist of eight magnificent mosaic floors that decorated a Gallic-Roman estate dating back to the year 170. The mosaics give the visitor an inkling of the enormous wealth of the lord of the manor and gentleman farmer, whose villa had more than 100 rooms.

The “Pharmacy museum” contains collections of old pharmaceuticals, pharmacy furniture, laboratory utensils, ceramics, instruments, books, art- and craftwork. The museum is situated in the old house “Zum Vorderen Sessel”, where the famous humanist Erasmus and the alchemist Paracelsus once dwelled. Well worth a visit not only for specialists but also for interested laymen.

The villa of the Hermitage Foundation solely houses changing art exhibitions. What is permanent is the magnificent view of Lake Geneva and Notre-Dame Cathedral, a view that inspired the leading landscape painter Camille Corot.

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

The "Ponte dei Salti" stone bridge soars over the turquoise Verzasca with two arches. 400 years after its completion, is draws visitors in droves on a daily basis. Some photograph the picture-perfect subject from all sides, others use the bridge as a springboard for diving into the refreshing water.

Generally, museums are in big cities, or at least in highly visited villages, but hardly are they ever on a 2,100-meter-high mountain pass.

Springs, city stream, fountains, bathhouses and the Limmat – in Baden, water is the pulse of the city. This tour offers exciting insights into the close, millennia-old relationship between Baden and "its" water.

Rougemont is an unspoilt traditional village in the valley of the Pays d’Enhaut, whose gentle landscape is home to an exceptional variety of local fl ora and fauna.

The king of hoteliers – and hotelier to kings. Follow in the footsteps of his career.

This walk provides the perfect opportunity to learn about aristocratic life in Vissoie and Annivers.

The region around Nendaz has managed to preserve its traditional heritage while also offering guests all modern holiday facilities. The area is full of fascinating reminders of a rich past.

Over 100 years ago, the border village of Gondo employed up to 500 workers in the gold mines. On a guided tour, visitors gather useful information on the history of gold and become fascinated by the yellow precious metal.

There are many reasons to visit Avegno: the picturesque stone houses, the romantic location right on the Maggia, the chestnut trees. But Avegno is more than a typical Ticino village: anyone who follows the signposted village walk also explores a piece of Swiss farming history.

Leuk Castle, located in the municipality of Leuk in Valais, is a historical landmark dating back to the 12th century. Surrounded by picturesque vineyards and mountains, it combines medieval architecture with modern use as a cultural center for exhibitions and events.

The Muggio Valley was once very nearly abandoned, but precisely because the locals place importance on their past, it now lives on into the future as an open-air museum.

The free Walsers settled in the Calfeisen Valley as early as the 14th Century. The church of St. Martin was first mentioned in the annals of 1432.

Guided tour through the poet's village with real washerwomen (Wöschwiiber) from 1767. Discover the village's past and present through many funny and interesting stories.