All cycling routes: Bicycle

The main valley in the Valais widens, sun warms the dry mountain slopes. Between Leuk and Sierre an unruly part of the Rhone, and the Pfynwald, a nature reserve on a huge mound of glacier detritus; a motorway will be built here by 2020.

From the Limmattal valley at the heart of primeval Switzerland: From the village town of Dietikon in the tranquil Reppischtal valley, along the forested slopes of the Albis chain. Past the Zugersee and Lauerzersee lakes towards the mountains, left the Rigi, right the Mythen, and on to Schwyz.

Entlebuch, biosphere reserve, mysterious forests and grassland. Fortune seekers still pan for gold in the waters of the klein Emme and Fontanne. Past Werthenstein Monastery through the Littau alluvial landscape to Luzern.

This itinerary lets cyclists discover the region’s typical sceneries: the lake, the vineyards, the countryside and the Jura foothills.

Magnificent castles at Lenzburg and Wildegg. Through the Aare Valley, land of riverside woodlands, over the Bözberg with Roman cart tracks (at Effingen), down to Frick with Europe’s oldest dinosaur. Soon reaching Stein and the Rhine.

From Bex, where salt is still mined, up to the old mountain village of Gryon and the high-altitude health resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, over the two passes, Col de la Croix and Col du Pillon. Along the Saane to jet-set resort Gstaad. Saanen is more peaceful.

Ride from the historic capital city through the Wangen Valley full of industry and commerce, then head straight for the Sense and follow the river to Laupen with its magnificent castle. Pass by fields and woodlands across the Biberen plateau towards Kerzers.

Pastureland and cultivated fields stretch over wide rolling hills, sheltered hollows hide villages and hamlets, solid stone houses proudly display Burgundian archways; the peaceful Gros-de-Vaud is the granary of western Switzerland.

As silent as the beat of an eagle’s wing, the bewitching natural world of the Engiadina Bassa, a tiny refuge for endangered species. In contrast, ornately painted houses on sunny terraces and mineral springs around Scuol-Tarasp.

From the Goldau rockfall area at Zugersee lake, under the spell of the Rigi, alongside the meandering Reuss, through historic bridge towns such as Bremgarten and Brugg. Klettgau wine villages follow the Zurzach spa, the goal is the thundering Rhine Falls.

This cross-border route takes you through the diverse Reiat, past Hemishofen and back to the Munot town, Schaffhausen. The focus of this route is one of Europe's most scenic countrysides along the Rhine.

740 km, 18,500m of up and down, 25 climbs spread over 10 stages: we present the Valais Cycling Tour. Come and discover the many sides of Valais with this new 7-14 day tour!

This loop, popular with local cyclists training for competitions, starts in Zurich and passes through the local countryside.

The route circles the Bodensee, Central Europe’s third largest lake, an area inhabited since primeval times, through three countries, now by the shore, now through orchards, sunny meadows, old town centres, nature reserves and flower islands.

Alpine marshland in rain-rich Glaubenbielen and a biosphere reserve around Schrattenfluh. No less enchanting: the hills and dales of the Emmental, classic, pre-Alpine rolling countryside.

From Weinfelden, the journey continues onward through the green Thur wetlands to Bischofszell. The small baroque town attracts visitors with its stately 18th century town houses. Onwards we journey to Hauptwil. Via Gossau, we reach our destination, the monastery town of St. Gallen.

Bielersee wine abounds on its northern shores, the Petersinsel beckons you to stop and relax, the Zihlkanal leads to Lac de Neuchâtel. After charming Neuchâtel, the scene is interlaced with vineyards, wide fields, narrow wine villages and castles.

A peaceful ride beside the small Chatzen and Büsisee lakes, on through the Furttal valley of the Limmat, the bathing spot Baden, and on to marvel at the Gothic stained glass windows in Königsfelden and yellow irises of the River Aare floodplain, followed by a leisurely ride on the Aare dam to Aarau.

The section from Beinwil to Kleinlützel reveals the «Schwarzbubenland» as one of the jewels of North-western Switzerland. Passing through hilly countryside and the Laufen valley, the bus route offers a large number of outlook points and historical attractions along the way.

Fields, forests and streams await you. There are also animals all along the way, either in the pastures or in the many farms that are still operational.

The limestone crags of the Mythen, a mountain carved thousands of times with a local Swiss Army Knife, the Ibereggpass is steep, marshy the shores of the Sihlsee, won by building a dam and drowning 60 farmsteads so that «the spark of electricity could at last glow in Thal».

This easy loop in Canton Thurgau holds a surprise in store for adventurous souls.

The North–South Route leads through the large scenic Swiss regions of the Jura, Mittelland, Central Switzerland and over the Alps to the south. It follows many historically and culturally significant traffic routes and visits many places of interest.

Magnificent and extremely varied route along the valley floor of the Hasliaare. Lake Brienz, Ballenberg and the wonderful view into the Hasli valley are constant companions along this route which is also suitable for families.

The aroma of Maggi soup has long since evaporated in Kempttal, now the motorway affects eyes and noses. Green recreational areas only hint at the urban sprawl, Zurich’s unusually village-like districts have a friendly feel.

This 43-kilometer stretch leads from Herisau to Altstätten as you get to see more and more of the attractive Appenzellerland and Alpstein scenery.

Toggenburg more forested and rugged, a land of nooks and crannies where water once provided work and death. Below the alluvial Linth plain, «Ziegerland» with mighty limestone cliffs, Glarus once a textile region of international importance.

After the urban residential and industrial districts, you follow the winding River Birs, bedded between woodland and steep cliffs, to the gates of Laufen. After the last ravine, the Delémont basin opens out before you.

The shallow, calm Klingnauer reservoir, striking synagogue in Endigen, Wehntal feeling the pull of the city, the natural idyll of the Neeracher Ried reed beds, above it all the whistling of busy aluminium «birds». Tranquility only remains on a minor scale.

The high points of this outing for well-prepared cyclists are the panoramic view at the top of the Chasseral and the back roads of the Bernese Jura.

Quiet reed meadows on the Sarnersee, the bones of St Niklaus von der Flüe in Sachseln, busy dairy farming on mountain slopes, brown farmhouses dotted over green pastureland and finally the bewitchingly wild Kernwald strewn with boulders.

This loop follows the route of the Säntis Classic, an annual challenge that attracts almost 2000 cyclists.

Steep and high, not for weak calves and faltering hearts, the Ibergeregg and Sattelegg are a treat for amateur bike racing buffs. In between, the charming Sihlsee lake is also easy on the eye for all others.

Dive into the peaceful, well-ordered world of the Appenzell region, a finely structured landscape with sunny green meadows, forests and quaint isolated farmsteads. Hearts rejoice, legs ache.