Castles & palaces

Sargans Castle, which also houses the Sarganserland Museum, is certainly well worth a visit. There’s plenty to discover about the culture and history of the Sarganserland in the 900-year-old tower of the castle.

With its rust-red exterior, Palazzo Castelmur is one of the landmarks of the Bergell. The exhibition there follows the life of the emigrants from Bergell, who made careers as confectioners all over Europe.

Château de Villa in Sierre, an old patrician residence dating back to the 17th century, houses a wine shop and a speciality restaurant. Not just a range of rustic local dishes, but also over 650 wines from the various Valais vines are waiting to be discovered.

This medieval castle (11th to 14th century) occupying a commanding position over Lake Neuchâtel is home to an extraordinary collection of weapons and armour, as well as models of the castle and of the celebrated Battle of Grandson (1476), in which Swiss soldiers defeated the army of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

In the heart of the small medieval town of Estavayer-le-Lac stands the Château de Chenaux, overlooking Lake Neuchâtel and the reed beds of the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve.

The castle at the foot of the Calanda is the highlight of Haldenstein. When the roses flower in the spring, the castle garden is a visual and olfactory feast.

One of the three remaining towers on the city walls serves as the Old Town’s southwest entrance and exit. In bygone days, it was on the Ochsenplatz, located just behind the Obertor, that goods were exchanged for the last time before they were taken across the Alps.

Schloss Valangin is a medieval castle that has succeeded in maintaining its character as defensive fortress over the years. And its interior naturally reminds one of times long gone by.

Aarau has long been a hidden gem for those in the know when it comes to culture: in addition to its picturesque old town, Aarau impresses with notable historic buildings and surprises with exciting combinations of old and modern architecture.

The mediaeval castle has had an eventful history. First badly damaged by an earthquake, it only became really well known after the Saffron War. In 1798, the angry rural population set the castle on fire, after which the ruins were left to their fate and to crumble away.

The Fort de Chillon in Veytaux is considered a newcomer among Switzerland’s museums. What used to be a réduit of the Swiss Armed Forces is now an interactive museum with impressive scenography. The world of experience that this has created provides exciting insights into the world of the military.

For many centuries this feudal building was home to the noble Heidegg family - whereas today it houses the history and culture center of the Seetal valley. A living museum in which you learn stories and customs of aristocratic families, with the spirit of the past further rekindled with a stroll in the large park with its beautiful rose garden.

Today, the castle reflects the change from a medieval castle to a patrician residence.

Leuca fortis – das starke Leuk! Bis ins 19. Jahrhundert war Leuk eines der kirchlichen und kulturellen Zentren des Wallis. Trutzige Türme, Schlösser und imposante Patrizierhäuser zeugen noch heute von der einstigen Macht, dem Selbstbewusstsein und der Widerstandskraft der Leuker.

The secrets of time are revealed in a magical place: the 18th-century Château des Monts. An extensive collection covers 500 years of watchmaking history. Unique and surprising exhibits such as automata, mechanical songbirds and pendulum clocks will enchant all visitors.

There are so many legends and historical tales associated with this building, its inhabitants, and its destruction in 1499. The castle was the ancestral home of the barons of Vaz.

A little over 300 years old, Sins Castle in Paspels is located in the middle of orchards just below Altsins Castle and has its own baroque gardens.

The medieval castle above the town of Thun is a striking focal point at the entrance to the Bernese Oberland region. This almost completely preserved symbol of power contains the Knights' Hall, one of the few surviving halls of its type from the Middle Ages.

Oberhofen Castle with its medieval keep and lake tower is located on the shore of Lake Thun. The castle, which dates back to the early 13th century, houses a living museum. The large castle park is supposed to be one of the most magnificent in the region of the Alps.

Reichenau Castle boasts a spectacular setting on the confluence of the Upper and Lower Rhine. The historic building is now being used by the Tscharner family as a winery.

The exhibit of the Thurgau History Museum in Frauenfeld Castle describes the eventful 15th century when the borders of today’s Canton Thurgau were formed. An insightful multimedia walk transports you into the fascinating world of knights, monasteries and provincial governors.

The name of this fortress is based on its geographical location: the Castello is located on a rock as dark as the feathers of a raven (from dialect “corbatt”).

Hohenklingen Castle has been towering above the charming town of Stein am Rhein since the year 1200. The renovated castle attracts visitors interested in history as well as connoisseurs.

Schaffhausen is a town that has much to offer. Its mediaeval facades, 171 majestic oriel windows, winding alleyways, street cafes and restaurants combine with enchanting shops to give it a special appeal. This year there is a new way to experience Schaffhausen's old town.

Schaffhausen is one of the best-preserved mediaeval towns and is perfect for a guided tour.

Summer in the city? Absolutely. In the vibrant city of Thun, water is never more than a stone’s throw away. Take a dip in the refreshing water at the time-honoured Schwäbis river pool, watch the Aare surfers for that Hawaii feeling and enjoy the fresh air on the deck of the Blümlisalp to get the full Thun experience.

Hagenwil Castle is one of the best preserved moated castles in Switzerland and was first mentioned in the 13th century. For over 200 years, it has been owned by the Angehrn family, who run a restaurant in the castle and produce their own wine.

Learn more about Solothurn's walls and their gates and towers.

The present name of this highest tower with the strongest walls was taken from the Capuchin monastery that was built in the vicinity in 1595.

The locals still think of the ruins as their own Stein Castle. Standing majestically over Baden, it offers a magnificent view of the Old Town.

Schadau Castle was built between 1846 and 1854 for the Neuchâtel banker Denis Alfred de Rougemont. The location of the castle, on the southern banks of Lake Thun where the River Aare flows out of the lake, and with its views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is almost as attractive as the architecture itself.

A visit to the vine and wine museum in the imposing Château de Boudry is a must for all wine enthusiasts. This region has been home to vineyards and winegrowers for over two thousand years. Of the six million litres of wine produced in the Neuchâtel vineyards in the 17th and 18th centuries, around four million were consumed in the region itself.

The ruined castle of Steinsberg with the remains of the St Lucius chapel is a well-known landmark in Ardez. The ruin occupies a dominant position on a rocky outcrop on the edge of the village and offers an ideal vantage point. The model village in the Lower Engadin is under European protection as an historical monument.

Vullierens Castle, together with its magnificent gardens and sculpture park, constitutes one of Switzerland’s most remarkable heritage sites with a superb 180° view of the Alps, Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva.