Here you’ll find everything from avant-garde theatre and medieval castles to seductive shopping, idyllic lakefronts and sensational cuisine – plus it’s all wonderfully easy to reach, whether you’re exploring by car or train.
Here you find detailed information on the route: PDF Culture route
Hereafter, we present 10 suggestions for excursions along the tour.
Tipp 1: Schiffbau
The Schiffbau was originally a ship factory; today it serves as a venue for theatre, jazz and innovative cuisine. The former industrial building is a protected monument; artfully modernised, it now houses three different theatre stages, the jazz club Moods, the fashionable LaSalle Restaurant and the NietturmBar – a stylish bar with floor-to-ceiling windows offering superb views of super-cool Zürich-West.
Tipp 2: Cabaret Voltaire
100 years ago, in bourgeois, conservative Zurich of all places, a group of young iconoclasts formed the Dada art movement. Hugo Ball, Emmy Hennings, Tristan Tzara and others performed their sound poetry and simultaneous poetry in Cabaret Voltaire at Spiegelgasse 1 – just round the corner from where Lenin lived. Cabaret Voltaire is still open to the public, as a museum, theatre, shop and bar in one.
Tipp 3: Sechseläutenplatz
It’s hard to believe that this fine square in front of the opera house, right in the city centre, was recently a little-used patch of ground where the Knie circus pitched its tent once a year. Today, paved with elegant quartzite and featuring a bistro and playful fountains, the new city piazza has become a popular rendezvous with locals and visitors alike, a delightful spot to relax amidst the city bustle.
Tipp 4: Bruno Weber Sculpture park
Step foot in Bruno Weber Park and you feel you have entered a fantasy world. Created by the eponymous artist on a hillside overlooking the Limmat valley, the leafy park combines exotic architecture with colourful concrete sculptures of giant imaginary creatures, and enchants visitors of all ages. The park is located in Spreitenbach near Zurich, and is easy to reach by car, bus or suburban train.
Tipp 5: River Limmat art trail
The Kulturweg Limmat (“Limmat Culture Trail”) links the pretty footpaths that run along both banks of the River Limmat below Wettingen Abbey, forming a scenic loop between the wooden bridges of Baden and Wettingen-Neuenhof. Along the way, walkers can admire 26 works by renowned Swiss artists. The route is clearly signposted and accessible year-round; there are information panels at the main access points.
Tipp 6: Castle of Laufen at the Rhine Falls
The medieval castle of Laufen stands on a dramatic rocky outcrop high above the thundering Rhine Falls. The observation platform offers a thrilling close-up experience of Europe’s mightiest waterfall, while a glass panoramic lift promises a breathtaking view from on high. Inside the majestic castle, the Historama exhibition tells the intertwining story of the 1,000-year-old fortress and its waterfall.
Tipp 7: Museum of fine arts Winterthur
The museum of fine arts in Winterthur, second-largest city of the Zurich Region, is one of the most important in Switzerland. Founded more than 100 years ago, the museum features a stylish extension by the architects Gigon and Guyer, added in 1995. The superb collection of international art from the 19th century through the classical modern period to the present day is a must for all art enthusiasts.
Tipp 8: Enea Tree Museum
Enzo Enea is a celebrity among landscape designers. He has created gardens and parks for princes, sheikhs and pop stars all over the world. The public, too, can appreciate his art in Rapperswil-Jona, where Enea presents individual trees with his typical unfussy, almost Japanese elegance, as if in a museum. The overall effect is of a complete work of art that combines nature and culture with eloquent style.
Tipp 9: Ufenau monastery island
The island of Ufenau, near the towns of Freienbach and Pfäffikon on Lake Zurich, radiates a blissfully peaceful aura. This sacred spot has belonged to Einsiedeln monastery since AD 965, and is now a nature conservation area. Swimming and skimpy clothing are not allowed, but respectful visitors are welcome to explore the two idyllic churches – and are promised a warm reception at the island’s restaurant.
Tipp 10: Old Town of Zug
It would be hard to find a more idyllic location: Zug’s picturesque Old Town, with its cobbled streets and beautifully renovated medieval houses, stands right on the shore of Lake Zug. Already from afar, you recognise emblematic buildings such as the historic clock tower, town hall and church of St. Michael. The “Guggi” viewpoint offers a glorious vista taking in the Old Town, castle and defensive towers.
Information
Careful planning is a prerequisite for an enjoyable tour. Please inform about the weather and road conditions beforehand at the local information point. According to the season and the weather conditions, the route might be closed or interrupted.
