Stretch out that Switzerland itinerary to squeeze in a few hidden gems with this charismatic corner of the Continent home to more than just the sightseeing superstars that get all the glory.
Switzerland is home to some cultural treasures that are world famous.
Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, the annual Montreux Jazz festival, white-season pursuits in St Moritz, the vintage paddle steamers that glide across Lake Lucerne, chocolate and cheese, the Swiss National Park in the Engadine Valley, the Matterhorn, and the train journey to Jungfraujoch.
But there’s seriously more to Switzerland than the sightseeing superstars, with this peaceful country resting at the heart of Europe promising more to explore and encounter than the spots occupying the first few pages of the guidebooks.
Here’s a selection of hidden cultural gems you haven’t heard so much about.
THUN CASTLE
Thun Castle
Thun Castle was built high above Lake Thun back in the 13th century. The vintage stronghold is now open to visitors who can peruse exhibits shining a light on the region’s history right back to the Middle Ages before taking in lofty views from the tops of the four towers crowning the fortress.
ST GALLEN ABBEY
St. Gallen Abbey
History abounds in scenic St Gallen with the old town’s laneways the place to find the Abbey District that’s home to the Convent of St Gall, boasting a magnificent Baroque cathedral, and a library that not only holds 170,000 historic tomes but an Egyptian mummy that is 2700 years old.
BASEL
Tinguely Museum
This northern address is more boutique than mega metropolis with the destination celebrated as an enclave where modern urban style meets traditional living. It is a magnet for culture connoisseurs because it boasts more than 40 museums and art galleries inside the city limits.
CHATEAUX CHILLON
Lord Bryon and Victor Hugo are just two literary legends to write about this architectural treasure. Chillon Castle, which rests on the edge of Lake Geneva a stone’s throw from Montreux, was once the bastion of the area’s aristocratic clan with 25 buildings flanking three courtyards.
ZURICH
Rietberg Museum
While Switzerland’s biggest city has a picturesque Old Town – the Altstadt lines both banks of the Limmat River below the Grossmunster – it’s the stellar nightlife, super shopping and chic corners of contemporary Zurich West that draw travellers set on experiencing the best of urban style.
SCHILTHORN CABLEWAY
Those keen to take in an elevated vista of the Swiss Alps can do no better than following in James Bond’s footsteps to ride the Schilthorn Cableway to the summit of this 2970m peak and look across Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau before indulging in a meal at the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria.
LAVAUX
Lavaux Epesses, Switzerland Tourism/ Marcus Gyger
This corner of the country is one of Switzerland’s largest winegrowing regions, with vines planted across hillside terraces that have been an UNESCO site since 2007. Those visiting during the warmer months can ride the Lavaux Express tourist train to wine cellars and traditional pubs.
ZERMATT
Switzerland’s “Vacation Village”, positioned near the southern border in the shadows of the Matterhorn, is arguably the country’s outdoor capital with hiking trails winding around the green alpine pastures during the warmer months and ski slopes appearing once the white stuff falls.
To discover more hidden cultural gems in Switzerland, visit myswitzerland.com.