Grand Tour Photo Spots

Feel like an emperor as you survey the highly agreeable vista. More exactly: like Napoleon III. Established in medieval times, Arenenberg estate was in the hands of the Bonaparte family between 1817 and 1906. The great and the good of the time would come to the imperial court to pay their respects and take in the views of Lake Constance. The household here was organised along the lines of Parisian life, with salons, dinners, theatre and strolls through the gentle Thurgau countryside.

Emmental is the home of the famous cheese of the same name. The region is characterised by countless hills and valleys, and timber and milk are its most important raw materials. Can you hear the cowbells? Enjoy the view over the unique hilly landscape of the Emmental, stretching across to the famous trio of the Bernese Oberland – the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. More than 1,100 kilometres of hiking trails and numerous cycle routes make the region a paradise for those seeking an active holiday.

The Combe d’Enfer is one of the steepest vineyards in the world, with a 200m height differential. Its grapevines are grown in the terraces, with each level supported by a dry-stone wall. Grape harvests are done on foot, since the site can only be accessed via a footpath. The Combe d’Enfer (meaning “Valley of Hell”) takes its name from its amphitheatre shape and the intense heat there. It’s the hottest vineyard in the region.

The abbey of Saint Meinrad in Einsiedeln has attracted pilgrims for over 1,000 years. It was rebuilt over the centuries and, today, the 18th century baroque-style monastery forms the impressive centre of Einsiedeln. Besides the ‘Chapel of Mercy’ with its famous ‘Black Madonna’, the complex includes a high school, winery and stables for horse breeding. Attracted by the beautiful scenery and a variety of concerts, many nature and culture lovers enjoy visiting Einsiedeln.

As high as it gets: with its 2,429 m a.s.l. (7,969 ft), Furka Pass connects the cantons of Uri and Valais, making it the highest alpine pass on the ‘Grand Tour of Switzerland’. The European watershed between the Mediterranean and North Sea also runs along here. In summer, a ride in the lovingly restored cars of the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway or a walk to the famous Rhone glacier make for a special visit. As the name implies, the river Rhone – also known as ‘Rotten’ in Wallis – originates from here.

The Lindt Home of Chocolate is a unique visitor attraction on the site of the historic Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate factory. Chocolate, an important cultural asset for Switzerland, has been produced here since 1899 and can be experienced up close at the Lindt Home of Chocolate. The building itself is also a source of fascination, with its spectacular architecture. It was designed by the famous Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein.

Being in the Saanen region, with its five beautiful side valleys, is as being in paradise – probably also due to the legend of the Hand of God. It is said that when He was resting here during the creation, He formed the Saanen region with the imprint of His hand – the region’s hand-like shape can be seen quite well from here. Altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 m (3,300–9,800 ft) make for heavenly views. Along with the backdrop of mountains, forests and lakes, this region strengthens your well-being and provides positive energy!

Rapperswil-Jona is called ‘Town of Roses on Lake Zurich’ for a reason. More than 20,000 plants can be found blooming in four rose gardens as well as in public spaces. The picturesque old town with its medieval castle, as well as the marvellous lake promenade, lend the town an almost southern flair. Several historic buildings, numerous festivals and cultural events as well as the Knies Kinderzoo of the National Circus Knie shape the city’s atmosphere at Lake Zurich.

In the distance you can see the Rütli meadow, the historic place where the forming of Switzerland is said to have occurred in 1291. With its 2,928 m (9,606 ft), the pyramidal peak of Urirotstock can be made out even farther in the back. The village of Seelisberg lies on a sunny terrace at 850 m.a.s.l. (2.788 ft), beneath the two mountains Niederbauen and Oberbauen. Lake Lucerne, in German literally ‘Four Forested Settlements Lake’, got its name because it is embedded in the four forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden, and Lucerne.

San Michele Park and its typical southern vegetation offer a breathtaking view of the city of Lugano. Its paths lead through typical southern vegetation such as wisteria, oleander, oak, elm, hornbeam, ash and laurel trees. From here, you can see Lake Lugano with its little harbours, the lido and the long lake promenade in their entirety. Monte San Salvatore also appears before you in all its splendour. In the distance, the Alps stand out in a variety of shapes and colours that are especially impressive at sunset. Experience the unique outdoor offerings of the Lugano region. Hikes, cycling tours, leisurely walks along themed hiking trails and even exciting MTB trails. The Lugano region – a region with a green heart.

Wyher Moated Castle is one of the finest historic buildings in the canton of Lucerne, with its earliest record dating back to 1304. For more than 350 years, its history was dominated by two families: the Feers of Lucerne and the Pfyffers of Altishofen. Later, the castle complex fell into disrepair, with a fire in 1963 marking a real low point. A foundation was set up to restore the castle with financial support from a group of benefactors. Today, the castle hosts numerous events and is a dream wedding venue.

The Mendrisiotto and southern Lake Lugano region are dotted with highlights. Take, for example, the narrow lanes in the heart of Bissone, home to numerous artists and Francesco Borromini (1599–1667), the “starchitect” of the Renaissance period. The green “pyramid” on the other side of the lake is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site: fossils of fish and species of reptiles have been found on Monte San Giorgio, testifying to life on Earth more than 200 million years ago.

With its picture-perfect location in the middle of a vineyard, the photo spot of Lavaux is a beautiful stop on the Grand Tour of Switzerland, a vast network of roads connecting around 40 iconic places throughout the country. A veritable invitation to travel and a fun way to capture where you stopped, complete with incredible views of Switzerland’s beautiful landscapes. Share the joy!

The chapel of Maria zum Schnee, built in 1697, stands in a very prominent location on a rocky mountain ridge and is the key landmark of Bettmeralp, visible from afar, at about 1,950m above sea level in the Aletsch area.

Europe's highest open-air cog railway has been transporting visitors from Zermatt to the summit of Gornergrat at 3,089 metres above sea level since 1898. Every second of the 9,339 metre, 33 minute-long trip is an incomparable delight. 29 peaks over four-thousand metres – from the Matterhorn to the Monte Rosa massif with the highest mountain in Switzerland (the Dufourspitze at 4,634 metres above sea level) – all lined up in a row. The viewing platform is open all year-round and offers the best view of the Matterhorn. It is also included in the ticket price.

Thun – the charming city on the Aare. The venerable 12th century castle of Thun, the Obere Hauptgasse with its elevated pavements and the picturesque old town are the ideal place to immerse yourself in the past. Mühleplatz and Aarequai are perfect spots for enjoying the Thun Riviera. Restaurants, bars and cafes invite you to linger over tasty food and drink. As the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, Thun is the ideal starting point for excursions in the region.

Opened in 1959, Swissminiatur is the largest open-air miniature museum in Switzerland. It is located in Melide on the shores of Lake Lugano. There are more than 100 models of the most famous buildings, monuments and means of transport in Switzerland, all at the unusual scale of 1:25. Traditional methods and innovative processes come together to create genuine miniature masterpieces. Admire precision craftsmanship, faithful to the original and executed with loving care.

Ötikon harbour, one of the most impressive and oldest settlements on Lake Zurich, was founded back when people and goods mainly travelled by water. From 1636 to 1868, the granary opposite Gasthof Sonne undertook cargo handling. To the east, the gun club closed off the harbour, offering target practice on the lake shore. The bustling tempo prompted a number of inns to open. The Sonne, Rössli and Löwen all enjoyed a golden age from 1636 thanks to the market. The stone landing stage opened in 1867.

Between the Simmen and Kander valleys, Niesen rises like a pyramid, providing visitors with a view of Spiez Bay, probably the most beautiful in Europe. In addition to being home to the world’s longest staircase (11,674 steps), a funicular covering 1,943 metres (6,375 ft) altitude difference leads to Niesen Kulm, including its mountain lodge, which was founded in 1856. From here it is only a short walk to the 2,362-metre-high summit platform (7,750 ft) with an impressive 360° panorama view, covering the Bernese Alps from lakes Thun and Brienz to the Jura.

150 metres wide, thundering 23 metres down into the depths before your eyes is Europe’s largest waterfall, a spectacular example of the power of nature. Experience the roaring spectacle of nature at first hand from the ‘Känzeli’ platform. The rock in the middle of the river can be reached by boat and a short ascent on foot. Laufen Castle, enthroned above the water for more than a thousand years, ranks amongst Canton Zurich’s cultural heritage sites. The foaming waters of the Rhine Falls are mesmerising at any time of day, including the evenings when they are illuminated.

The Rorschach Bathhouse was built between 1923 and 1924 based on the plans of architect Karl Köppli and remained an important meeting place for the local population even a hundred years later. The wooden structure stood on pillars in the lake and could only be reached by a bridge from the shore. Unfortunately, the Rorschach Bathhouse was completely destroyed by a fire on December 23, 2024. The city of Rorschach intends to rebuild the historic building as soon as possible. The Grand Tour of Switzerland photo frame remains in place as a tribute to the bathhouse.

Immerse yourself in the small town of Aarburg, whose historic backdrop unveils over 900 years of history, and enjoy a picturesque walk up to the reformed church with its enchanting viewpoint by following a stone staircase. A pleasant walk around the imposing fortress and through the town center guides you back to the Aare and its fascinating spectacle, the Aarewaage, a natural water formation unique in Switzerland, where the currents embrace in perfect harmony, allowing time to stand still and inviting you into a serene moment of reflection and tranquility.

Resurgence where the Orbe rises out of the mountain into its stony, very green riverbed. You can see the resurgence and the entrance to the riverbed, as well as a wild, natural environment. The discovery of the Vallorbe caves took place via this resurgence. Indeed, it was through this "entrance" that the first explorations of the cave were made. Thanks to their courage and the few diving techniques available at the time, speleologists discovered the immensity of the Vallorbe caves. It was in 1893 that the first explorer began to travel upstream, but it was not until 1961 that the caves were discovered. This is the only known natural entrance to the caves.

St. Moritz ranks amongst the world’s top holiday destinations. Steeped in tradition, it is the birthplace of winter tourism in the Alps (1864) and the venue of two Winter Olympic Games. St. Moritz came to prominence through its hot springs, which have been known for 3,000 years and have long helped establish the village as a summer spa. World-class leisure, culture, shopping, events, hospitality and gastronomy: the name St. Moritz promises – and delivers – much.

Finds of spearheads show that the Flüela Pass (2,383 m.a.s.l. | 7,818 ft) connecting the Landwasser and Lower Engadine valleys was already crossed during the Bronze Age. For a long time, the Walser people used the route to take their products to the surrounding valleys – from Vinschgau to Tyrol. The mountain pass road, which opened in 1867 and also featured a hospice, is now a starting point for ski mountaineers in winter as well as for summer rides with the historic stagecoach, racing bikes or motorcycles.

Exactly 47 hairpin bends lead to the Grosser Mythen, here also referred to as ‘Matterhorn of Central Switzerland’. Every year, around 30,000 hikers enjoy the breathtaking panorama at 1,898 m.a.s.l. (6,227 ft). The view into the valley shows ‘Old Schwyz’, the cradle of the Swiss Confederacy, with Lake Lucerne in the south as well as lakes Lauerz and Zug with Rigi and Rossberg to the west. It comes at no surprise that the Schwyz landmark has been immortalised as a mural in the National Council Chamber of the Federal Palace.

Around 1200, Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen gave the order to build Castle Burgdorf as a residential castle. The Counts of Kyburg inherited it after his death in 1218. In 1384, the Canton of Bern bought the Burgdorf estate and the castle became the seat of the Bernese governor (Schultheiss). It served as a court, prison and the governor's office until 2012. The castle counts as one of the oldest preserved Romanesque secular buildings in Switzerland and today houses a museum, a youth hostel and a restaurant.

Kaspar Stockalper (1609–1691), merchant, banker, large-scale entrepreneur, military official and politician, built Stockalper Palace in Brig in the years 1651 to 1671. The impressive castle with its three gilded onion domes was the largest private building constructed in the 17th century in Switzerland and reflects the immensity of Stockalper’s wealth. Today, his fortune would be worth far more than half a billion Swiss Franks. It is to no surprise that Stockalper was called ‘The King of Simplon’.

La Pierreuse Nature Reserve in the Vaudois Alps is the ideal place for mountain walks. On the right bank of the Sarine, south of Château-d’Oex the nature reserve is arranged around the Gummfluh. This characteristic pre-alp landscape covering an area of 34 km2 includes valleys overlooked by limestone rock faces.

The picturesque Morges region stretches along vineyards between Lake Geneva and the Jura forests. During the 17th century, Morges, with its unique guard houses known as ‘guérites’, was the most important commercial port on Lake Geneva. The castle, with its striking towers, houses five museums and, on a clear day, the glistening, snow-capped peaks of the breathtaking Mont Blanc massif can be seen. From April to October, a plethora of flowers in the most beautiful colours adorns the city.

At 4049 metres, Piz Bernina is the only four-thousand-metre peak in the Eastern Alps and thus the highest mountain in the canton of Graubünden and the municipality of Samedan. The first ascent of the peak was made on 13 September 1850 by Johann Wilhelm Coaz with his two companions Jon and Lorenz Ragt Tscharner.

Ascona is a little gem rich in history, art and culture. The traditional coloured houses by the lake, formerly home to fishermen, give the village a Mediterranean feel. Thanks to its mild climate and 2,300 hours of sun each year, Ascona is the perfect place to relax outdoors, enjoy the lake breeze, sample some delicious ice cream or attend a concert at JazzAscona. The picturesque lakeside promenade offers a magnificent view of the Brissago Islands and surrounding mountains, which can be explored via the 1,400km network of hiking trails.

A major Christian site, the Abbey was founded in 515 in honour of the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and his companions in the Theban Legion. Its present-day Basilica dates back to the 15th century and contains elements dating from between the 11th and 20th centuries. A visit to the basilica, the treasury and its precious collection of gold and silverware, the archaeological excavations, the catacombs and the cloister retraces more than 1,500 years of uninterrupted monastic life.

Bavegna - welcome to the Val Surses holiday region. With its two tourist centres Savognin and Bivio, our valley lies in the heart of Graubünden, surrounded by Switzerland's largest nature park, Parc Ela. Val Surses is home to 11 villages that joined together in 2016 to form the municipality of Surses. Wide landscapes, crystal-clear mountain lakes, a wide range of sports and cultural activities and the Romansh language characterise our valley. Val Surses - so close to another world.

In Goms, villages are picturesque, churches baroque, and its wooden houses and barns burned to a very dark brown by the sun – as can be seen when looking at the magnificent barn, which was built in 1617. The old farm building is a historical representative of traditional Valais architecture. A typical feature of Valais barns are the stilts with the round stone slabs that form a cavity between the base and the actual silo, making it impossible for mice and vermin to enter.

With its picturesque streets surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking views of Lake Bienne and St. Peter’s Island, Erlach (Cerlier in French) is one of the prettiest little towns in the Three Lakes Region. The townscape is dominated by the towering silhouette of the 11th-century castle, one of the oldest in the Canton of Bern, along with the town hall, local school, and church. Erlach is the perfect base for a day trip to the nature reserve on St. Peter’s Island, source of inspiration and creativity for such luminaries as Rousseau and Goethe in times past.