Bicycle tours by water

The River Limmat winds steadfastly westward, the monastery looks on unperturbed. The Aargau mega shopping mile is only touched at its perimeter. Always following the Limmat, you reach the spa town of Baden.

Above the terraced La Côte vineyards, below on the lake the market towns of Morges, Rolle, Nyon. Open shore becomes rarer, villas and yachts larger, soon cosmopolitan Geneva greets us with boulevards and its 140m-high water fountain «Jet d'eau».

Solid stone houses tell of harsh winters, the National Park protects unspoilt nature, the picture-book village of Guarda enchants tourists, the mineral springs in Scuol promise cyclists relief for aching muscles.

Past mighty Grandson Castle, alongside Lac de Neuchâtel’s inviting beaches and up to the wide valley basin of the Val de Ruz.

The start in the stony Alpine reduit (fortress), over the treeless pastures of the Urserental, perspiring on the climb to the 2430m Furkapass and an indescribable freewheel past the ice caves of the Rhone Glacier.

Rugged and steep up through the Schinschlucht (gorge) to Tiefencastel, later nice and easy through the Alvaneuer Albulatal, where sulphur springs promise relief. High above, red trains on the curved Landwasser viaduct.

The Bodensee: the soul of Europe. The area around the shimmering silver-green «Swabian sea» is an ancient cultural landscape. Despite its lively lakeside scene, Thurgau remains a serene slice of countryside with castles and extensive orchards.

The route follows the meandering River Glatt in the Zurich Unterland, only briefly interrupted by the noise from the airport. Urban activity gives way to the rolling countryside of the Zurich Oberland, then gently on down to Rapperswil.

On the uphill stretch to Monte Ceneri a clear view of the Piano di Magadino vegetable fields and Lago Maggiore. Vedeggio, a quiet little river in a busy valley, where the airfield and nearby Lugano call the shots.

Lac Léman, a small silver sea surrounded by snowy summits and vineyards, e.g. UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux. Along the shores: Vevey, Montreux, and the metropolis of Lausanne, «Olympia City» and nerve centre of the people of Vaud

The sparkling source of the Rhine rises in the Oberalp region close to the pass. In Val Tujetsch lies one of the richest and most fascinating sources of mineral deposits in the Alps and also the monastery village of Disentis.

From Yverdon through the Plaine de l’Orbe. Roman mosaics lie buried on the slopes, the Romanesque Abbey Church sits serenely in Romainmôtier, barely accessible the natural paradise of Marais de la Versoix, before sudden arrival in the metropolis of Genève.

Over the Lindenberg into Freiamt, sweeping alongside the train to Zug, where towering office blocks contrast with the pleasant old town, winding north with the Sihl, through the lonely Sihlwald forest, an area of wilderness at the gates of the city.

Through romantic old towns and vineyards, passing lakeside bathing beaches at the foot of the Jura. The Grandson fortress, Roman mosaics at Orbe, Romanesque monastery at Romainmôtier on the path to the cultural diversity of Genève.

In earlier days, impressive estates were built on the Pfannenstiel, today expensive villas line the shores of the Zürichsee, where protected private and public property taunt each other, until Zurich’s stylish leisure & pleasure seekers take over the scene.

From baroque Solothurn along the meandering Aare to Dreiseenland (three lakes country). Just 130 years ago, this landscape was redesigned by man: the lake level lowered and marshes drained. Seeland is now the scene of intense vegetable cultivation.

The Rhine Route follows the Alpine river from mountain source to the large Rhine port at Basel. A vastly varied trip through diverse landscapes hewn by the mighty river over the ages.

Picture-postcard beauty of the blue Lago di Lugano, for thousands a fervent holiday dream, Morcote for photos. The Mendrisiotto, the richest vineyard region of Ticino with its enogastronomic offers, is located in the most southern part of Switzerland.

Idyllic Tössegg at the bend in the Rhine, first a rural interlude then initial signs of industrialization, proud machine and locomotive builders in Winterthur and rows of lovingly converted workers’ cottages.

In Austria and Germany, the route leads over Innsbruck and Rosenheim through to Dreiflüssestadt Passau. Inn, once a significant traffic artery for salt and ore trading, connects three countries, famous cities and impressive landscapes.

The Urnerland, an incessant, nervously pulsating transit corridor, where the wild Reuss plunges down through the Schöllenenschlucht (gorge), subdued only by sheer mountain walls and the Teufels Brücke (Devil’s Bridge).

After Thun, the gateway to the Oberland, the wide Aaretal: large villages, industry, open fields and a powerful river in lush water meadows. Enter the capital city of Bern, UNESCO World Heritage with arcades teeming with shoppers.

The Aare Route follows the river from the small glacier lake on the Grimselpass until it joins the Rhine. After a racy stretch down the pass road, it passes the Aareschlucht (gorge) and deep lakes on the way to the Mittelland region.

En route in Ländle, between the Rhine plain and mountain crags, past the prince’s castle in Lichtenstein’s Vaduz. Over Eschnerberg, and via the cross-border cycle route to the medieval ambiance of Feldkirch. Back through riverside woodland to the Rhine.

It is at Lake Biel where the German and French-speaking Switzerland meet.

At Ponte Brolla the force of the River Maggia has cleft the rock, gouging out and polishing the gneiss. Life was hard in the Maggia Valley, the Ticino’s longest valley. Solace was provided by the church, as testified by edifices of religion and foreign governors.

On their tour around the lake of Geneva, cyclists will be rewarded for their efforts by the stunningly beautiful landscapes. 200 km of marked trails lead through 5 regions in 2 countries: Geneva, Pays de Gex, the cantons of Vaud and Valais, as well as the Chablais Haut-Savoyard.

In Seeland, rows of vegetables in all shades of green stand in black soil, ducks and coots bob up and down on idyllic Wohlensee and in Bern, the Zytgloggeturm’s musical mechanism chimes and people enjoy relaxing at small tables on the Bärenplatz.

«Child» of the Jura waters correction: the Nidau-Büren canal and the Häftli loop. The Witi, dry, where hares and storks gather. Nearby, the sluggish meandering Aare, in the distance, the St. Ursen tower announces the baroque town of Solothurn.

Pretty and useful, the energy-supplying Sihlsee; split by the lake dam, the Zürichsee with its villa shores; the land drainage project by unconventional engineer H.C. Eschert, the Linth plain with canal, new fields and pastureland.

A route through a unique landscape alongside the rushing waters of the Inn: impressive Engadine houses with filigree decoration, crystal-clear lakes, a varied terraced landscape, a paradise for rare birds, exclusive St. Moritz, snow-covered mountain summits.

The pleasant ride along the varied Mittelland Route is mostly on traffic-free paths, along lakes and rivers, through wide plains and peaceful valleys, towns and villages, industry and agricultural land.

From the resort of Klosters through long strung-out Prättigau, on terraces and side valleys, flanked by high mountains, such as the Silvretta and Rätikon. On to Landquart in the Rhine Valley, past the health spa of Bad Ragaz to the traffic hub of Sargans.

You can discover the source of the Rhine twice within a radius of 270 kilometres. In between you can explore two Alpine passes, deep gorges and the frontiers of three linguistic regions.

This easy tour is a good choice for families. Experience the beautiful valley and its unique lakeside landscape.

Once again Bern’s picture-postcard panorama with the old town and distant snowy summits, then the usually peaceful Emme in riverside woodland, the staid farming region of Emmental, where Gotthelf read the riot act to farmers and justice was spoken in Trachselwald Castle.