This blog shows places that are often a side note or not found in most guide books. Let me show you my favourite spots - places that are just a bit off the beaten track in this beautiful country.
The truth about how mountains are made is unveiled in the amazing Pizol alpine region. Found in the UNESCO World Heritage Sardona Tectonic Arena, this region is full of panoramic wonders – you just need to know where to look.
The Pizol High Plateau is like a viewing platform of geological events going back millennia. You can see mountain chains once part of the African plate, the Rhine Valley, once a huge glacier, snaking off into the distance and mountain peaks, once hundreds of metres below the ocean in deep-sea trenches, now over 2,500 metres above sea level covered in snow. But the region is mostly famous for the discovery that geologists and scientists made here – how mountains are formed. The collision of plates can be seen in the clearly defined layers of rock over 300 million years old, now known as the “Glarus thrust”.
Why would anyone want to miss a show like that?
How to view mighty mountains and the Rhine Valley –Pizol’s Panorama Trail
Sign meanings: Yellow indicates Ski Tours 34 & 35 down to Gaffia middle chairlift station, Brown/red is the red ski slope to Gaffia and Green indicates the paragliding site – available in both summer and winter. Pink is for winter trail 172 – Panorama circular trail – more detail below.
Doing the Panorama Trail
Length: 3.6 km | Duration: 1 hour 10 mins | Height Difference: 30 m | Start: Either Wangs or Bad Ragaz gondola stations
Location
When travelling by car, the Pizol Region is reached via the main A3 motorway in a southeast direction from Zürich. Around 30 minutes after travelling across the southern tip of Lake Zürich the motorway runs through the Rhine Valley where dramatic views of the Alps rise up in front of you – of course, this depends on the weather. The Glarus Valley to the west, is notorious for fog but once this clears the mighty peaks are visible all around. Once travelling through tunnels and alongside Walensee (Lake Walen), the Rhine Valley widens and this is when signposts for Wangs and Bad Ragaz come into view. From here it is easy to exit the motorway and find a park at the valley stations of both gondolas.
When taking public transport the views from the train start in the valley and include the wonderful Walensee. From Wangs or Bad Ragaz buses connect the train station to the gondolas.
The Trail
The Pizol high plateau stretches out between the top chairlift stations Laufböden and the Pizolhütte, with the magnificent Panorama Höhenweg circular hiking trail meandering between these two points. The crowning glory is the summit panorama and the Grand Tour of Switzerland photo spot at the Tagweidlichopf viewpoint. The circular trail is dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona.
Highlights:
Large info panel at the panoramic viewing platform with astounding insights into the formation of the Alps.
Grand Tour of Switzerland Photo Spot.
360-degree views.
Clear views of the ridging and folding of rock strata known as the Glarus Thrust.
Well-groomed paths in a stunning winter landscape.
Friendly staff
Cosy mountain restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating.
Panorama Benches
My Experience
I was lucky enough to have an invitation from the lovely staff at Pizol Tourism and Marketing after asking for information about winter walking in the area.
I planned to explore the area with a friend. The idea was that we would get familiar with the area by taking the gondola and chair lifts to the top, have a coffee at the Pizolhütte Restaurant, do the trail, take plenty of photos and learn more about the Tectonic Arena, then finish for another drink before going down to the valley.
View from chairlift – ski trails and the Glarus mountains hidden under thick snow.
Getting to the Pizol Plateau
Great theory but unfortunately my friend couldn’t make it so I was on my own. It was not a problem except when I arrived I was surrounded by skiers, a gondola trip then 2 chair lift rides to the top. I imagined sharing a chair lift with a seasoned skier – they would gracefully alight at the top station, swishing off into the snowy distance, I, however, would be forced to run along the hard snowy floor of the station, probably slip, ending up under the chairlift with the possibility of my backpack strap hooked around some part of the lift. The staff would be forced to stop the lifts while unhooking me and pulling me to my feet. I would then limp off, spending the rest of my time on the mountain worrying about the trip down.
Attentive Staff
Of course, it didn’t happen like that. The lift staff were very attentive and made sure I was not travelling with skiers, also the exit from the lifts was very straightforward – I just took a step to the side and was on firm ground. There were also plenty of other people doing the winter walks so, most importantly, I was not alone.
So I started the Panorama trail completely relaxed, breathing in the crisp alpine air, bathed in sunlight, buzzing at the thought of walking on the well-groomed paths. It was very early in the day and the snow was pretty hard on the trail. This meant a bit of slipping and sliding to start with, which was viewed by others in the chair lift but at that point, I didn’t care. The wonderful thing about the Pizol plateau is that you feel like you are on top of the world, with views of mountains going on forever into the distance. A few slips and slides didn’t matter. I just waved at my audience and continued to slip and slide down the path.
After the initial challenge, the path softened and was easier to negotiate. I would recommend sturdy winter boots for the walk and I noticed some other hikers have poles, but these are not required.
Near the start of the trail looking towards the Tagweidlichopf viewpoint.
The Hike
The high plateau at 2222 meters, that the trail crosses, is positioned in front of the Sardona Tectonic Arena like a naturally shaped viewing platform. The views are in all directions – towards the World Heritage Glarus mountains, across the Rhine Valley and as far as Lake Constance in clear weather, then layers of Alps disappearing into the distance.
On the trail, looking towards Pizolhütte Restaurant and chairlift.
Beautiful shapes are made from shadows created by the morning sun. Lake Wangser (Wangsersee) is hidden under snow and ice.
Tagweidlichopf vantage point
The high-altitude trail is lined with information about the view, the origin of the Alps and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the highlights is the Tagweidlichopf vantage point (2275 m above sea level) with a 360-degree panoramic view and a large panoramic viewing guide explaining the geological changes and events that created the landscape.
A Grand Tour of Switzerland photo spot with a view of the Pizol summit and its glacier was installed here in July 2018. The Pizol was chosen as one of the 40 most beautiful photo spots in Switzerland.
How to get thereand a map of walking routes with lifts
A gondola and chairlift complete the journey up to the Pizol Plateau from Bad Ragaz – Laufböden (2,224 m). Another option is with a gondola and 2 chairlifts from the town of Wangs -Pizolhütte station (2,222 m). All lifts connect seamlessly. The map below displays the lifts.
Winter hiking trail – Pizol Panorama Höhenweg (high altitude walk). Can also be done in summer.
To the Valley Station at Wangs or Bad Ragaz
Public Transport
Zürich main station to Bad Ragaz train station: Taking 1 hr 16 mins (depending on connection), then the bus to Bad Ragaz Pizol Bahn (gondola) takes 13 mins. (Check the sbb.ch timetable for exact connection times).
Zürich main station to Sargans train station: Taking 1 hr 10/ 1 hr 30 mins (depending on connection), then the bus to Wangs Pizolbahn (gondola) takes 10 mins. (Check the sbb.ch timetable for exact connection times).
Car
Central Zürich – around 90 km to Wangs gondola car and 95 km to Bad Ragaz gondola car park – taking around 1 hour 40 mins/ 2 hours depending on traffic.
Lucerne – 85 km to the region.
Gondolas and chairlifts
Access to the top (Pizol Plateau)
Bad Ragaz: 8-seater Gondola Bad Ragaz-Pardiel and 4-seater chairliftto Laufböden.
Wangs: 8-seater Gondola Wangs-Furt and 4-seater chairlift Furt-Gaffia then 4-seater chairlift Gaffia-Pizolhütte.
Forget the glitzy Swiss lakeside or mountaintop resorts, the 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the real Swiss treasures. Wherever you are in Switzerland, you are bound to be close to one of these Swiss treasures thanks to the extensive Swiss public transport system, network of tunnels and the way they happen to be scattered throughout the country. Some are found near cities, or in places popular with tourists while others are much more remote and need a bit more effort to reach, however, it’s still worth adding them to your itinerary as the surrounding regions are also extraordinary.
The Irish monk Gallus laid the Abbey’s foundation stone in 612. Around 100 years later, the monastery adopted the rule of Saint Benedict and transformed it into an important centre for writing activities and book illumination. Over time, the library became one the best stocked and oldest libraries in the world – now under the care of the Abbey District, who look after the archives, the library and the cathedral.
Why a World Heritage Site?
The decision to make this Abbey complex into a UNESCO World Heritage site was down to the rich traditions and the well-preserved collections that date back to the 8th Century.
The Abbey Library
The Abbey Library at St. Gallen, photo by Switzerland Tourism
The Abbey‘s lavish Rococo library is full of treasures. Not only is it a feast for the eyes, but it also is home to around 170,000 books and some of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts in Europe – ones you may have heard about in history class for example. This collection dates back 1300 years – to when the abbey was originally founded.
In the middle of the 18th century, the abbots started a cabinet of curiosities with a collection of art, science and nature. The collection includes paintings, astronomical instruments and fossils. One example that takes pride of place is a huge terrestrial and celestial globe (1571), which is part of the ‘East India Collection’. Later additions, that stand out when you wander around the library, are the Egyptian mummies (7th century BC) which have to be seen to be believed.
Visiting the Library
The admission ticket, which is valid for three exhibitions, is recommended to be bought at the ticket office in the exhibition hall.
Getting There
The Abbey complex is made up of a Cathedral, the Abbey library and vaulted cellar, Kloster bistro, Charles‘ Gate and a government building and can be found in the lovely old town of Saint Gallen – also worth visiting for its attractive pedestrian area.
Public Transport
Zürich to St. Gallen: – 1 hr to 1 hr 13 mins, no changes.
By Car
From Zürich: – 93 km (approx. 1 hr 10 mins – 1 hr 25 mins) on the A1 motorway.
2. Benedictine Convent of St. John in Müstair
Müstair
Müstair village is tucked far away in the Val Müstair, found deep in the most eastern part of Graubünden, close to the border with Italy. In the local Romansch, the language unique to Graubünden, Müstair is equivalent to Minster in English – both correspond to the word monastery.
The Monastery Complex
The monastery complex was founded in the 8th Century and is steeped in legend and mystery. According to a well-known legend, Charlemagne was responsible for the founding of the convent. It is said that he was so grateful for his survival after walking away unharmed from a large snowstorm in the area, that he gave instructions for the monastery to be constructed. This complex has only been partially destroyed over the centuries and now has building styles and art treasures from several eras. Nuns have lived in the convent since the 12th century. Convent life, cultivation, the museum and the restoration come together, turning this site into something very special.
Convent Museum
The convent’s museum can be found in the monastery’s fortified Planta Tower (10th century). It holds over 1200 years of art and cultural history within its walls. The Benedictine nuns of Müstair also allow visitors a glimpse inside the convent to see their daily life.
Museum visit
The museum is very atmospheric, giving an authentic peek into the convents past, starting in the cloister, then going through to the vast cellar of the Planta Towerbefore continuing up three floors. A ‘convent within the convent’ is housed in the tower and has living areas, sleeping quarters and prayer areas.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A deciding factor for listing the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was down to the wonderfully preserved frescos found in the convent church which dates back to the early middle ages. These are considered to be one of the largest and best-preserved fresco cycles around today.
Found in canton Graubünden, the Rhaetian Railway brings together two historic railway lines that cross the Swiss Alps through two passes – Albula and Bernina.
AlbulaPass Line
Opened in 1904, the Albula line in the northwestern part is 67 km long and features an impressive set of structures including 42 tunnels, covered galleries and 144 viaducts and bridges.
Bernina Pass Line
The 61 km Bernina pass line winds its way through 13 tunnels and galleries and over 52 viaducts and bridges.
Achievements
The railway was built to overcome the isolation of settlements in the Central Alps early in the 20th century. Today these two lines are now a single transalpine line.
The complete Rhaetian Line shows outstanding technical, architectural, environmental and civil engineering achievements which have resulted in the railway lines staying in harmony with the natural landscapes they pass through.
This description was sourced by text from whc.unesco.org, under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0.
Bernina Express & Glacier Express Panorama Trains
Good to Know: A great opportunity to discover the World Heritage line and visit some incredible landscapes is to travel on theBernina Expresspanorama train. This service runs all year from Chur to Thusis, then along the World Heritage route, through to the Poschiavo Valley with its dramatic alpine scenery, and then on to Tirano, Italy. The Glacier Express runs from Zermatt, through the Rheinschlucht (known as the Grand Canyon of Switzerland), with various stops, then finally down through the Albula Pass – running for 10 months of the year (no service from mid-Oct to mid-Dec).
The line of the Rhaetian railway between Thusis and Tirano (Italy) – World Heritage route.
Getting There
Public Transport
To Thusis: from Chur – 30-35 mins without changes. From Zürich – approx. 2 hrs 10 mins, changing at Chur.
By Car from Chur – 26 km (approx. 22 mins on Autobahn). From Zürich – 144 km (approx. 1 hr 30 mins on Autobahn).
4. Old city of Berne
Bern’s old town status as a World Heritage site is down to its impressive town planning along with the continuous restoration and protection of the medieval structure and buildings.
Bern’s Historical Centre
The city of Bern was built in the 12th Century on a hillside surrounded by the Aare River. It was developed with a special design made up of long rows of buildings, shaped to fit into the curve of the river. 15th-century arcades and 16th-century fountains were added and, in the 18th Century, most of the medieval centre was restored but, luckily, it has retained its original character which includes the many elegant arches that can be found throughout.
Nowadays, the old town of Bern has the longest covered shopping arcade in Europe – great news for rainy days!
The Mighty Bear
You will probably discover the symbol of Bern quite quickly – the mighty bear. It’s found on the canton’s flag, the sides of buildings and in the souvenir shops, in fact, bears have been kept in Bern for hundreds of years, finally moved from the city to Bear Pits on the banks of the Aare river in 1857… This controversial home finally changed in 2009 when a large park was built for them. The much-needed new habitat is designed on several levels and includes a section of the riverbank, leafy green spaces, tunnels and caves for hibernation. You can see them from high up on the Nydegg Bridge (at the end of the old town) or close up from the park. For more information and webcams go to the park’s website here.
Zytglogge (clock tower)
Zytglogge clock tower
This iconic clock tower has been around for centuries and has had many uses, including a prison.
Every hour, on the hour, there is a display of dancing bears, a court jester and a rooster doing their thing on the outside of the clock tower – attracting crowds of tourists to this part of the old town in summer.
Clock Tower Tour
The inside isn’t open for individual visits but it’s possible to do a 1-hour tour to see the inner workings and learn about its past. Public tours don’t run daily and are limited to once a week in winter, so it pays to check out the website and book before going. Good to Know: There are 130 steps to the top but you are rewarded with a view of Bern’s old town, and the Alps (weather permitting).
Getting There
Public Transport
To Bern Main Station: From Basel – 1 hr 5 mins, express trains with no change. Zürich – 1 hr – 1 hr 35 mins, express trains with no change. Lucerne – 1 hr 6 mins – 1 hr 30 mins (dep. on service), no change.
By Car
Central Bern:Basel – 95 km (approx 1 hr 10 mins). Zürich via A1 – 125 km (approx. 1 hr 30 mins). Lucerne via A2 & A1 – 110 km (approx 1 hr 20 mins).
The medieval castles of Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro – have been listed as a Swiss UNESCO World Heritage since 2000. They are found in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, south of the Alps and are impossible to miss when passing through. Castelgrande sits on a rocky peak with fortified walls running from the castle, built to protect the ancient town and block passage through the valley. The castle of Montebello was built as part of this fortification, whereas Sasso Corbaro stands alone on another rocky high point.
A bit of history
Bellinzona occupied a strategic position between north and south which is the reason these castles were built in the first place. The Dukes of Milan went to a lot of trouble to bar the Swiss from travelling south into his territory.
Over the centuries, the castles have been reconstructed and restored many times. Evidence has been found that fortifications were built on this site in the 4th Century B.C, however, the three castles and their walls were constructed in the 14th Century.
Good to Know: There was once an Alpine Arc of medieval military architecture comprising of several castles, linked by a wall that once closed off the whole Ticino Valley for the protection of the civilian population. The Swiss Confederates must have been quite a threat for them to go to such lengths. These castles and fortifications are the only remaining visible evidence of this Arc.
Further Information
Bellinzona & Valli website for open times and booking tickets (including information on the Bellinzona Pass and Railway combi ticket – both offer price reductions)- Note: Castelgrande is the only castle open during the winter.
Locations of Bellinzona Train Station and the 3 Castles
The vineyard terraces spread out on the steep slopes above Lake Geneva were originally created during the 11th century by monks. Generations of wine growers have been taking care of them ever since. The original terraces and stone walls that stretch for over 30 km have been carefully preserved, fitting seamlessly into the steep, wide slopes that rise up from the soft blue waters of Lake Geneva.
Vineyardsand seeing the Villages
Known as the Lavaux vineyards, the UNESCO vineyard terraces are found between Lausanne and Montreux and are home to 14 unspoiled villages. Residents of this area have been working together in harmony with the landscape for hundreds of years.
The vineyards benefit from the “three suns” – the sun itself, the sun’s rays reflected by the lake and the warmth stored in the walls of the vineyards.
There are networks of walking and biking trails as well as panorama, express and local train lines that snake their way across the landscape.
Some good ways to experience the area are:
Lavaux UNESCO Vineyard Walk
St. Saphorin village in the Lavaux Region
This 10 km circular walk links the region’s villages of Chexbres, Saint-Saphorin, Rivax and Epesses and can be started from any of the villages’ train stations. For more information go to the Vaud Tourism website which offers both a detailed map and guide to the walk, or you can download the Vaud: Guide – a free app that guides you around the route. The App also offers informative tidbits along the way and doesn’t require an internet connection – GPS is used.
You can hop on/off the regional train line that runs along Lake Geneva, shortening the circuit at Saint-Saphorin, Rivaz or Epesses.
Length and recommended time
Just over 10 km. Allow for around five hours – (walking and stops).
Fitness level and accessibility
Accessible to people with average fitness – the paths are all paved and are pushchair and wheelchair friendly although there are some steep parts.
Lavaux Express
When I think of express, I think of the fast, sleek Eurocity trains that whizz through this region from Geneva to the Valais region and then onwards to Italy.
The Lavaux Express is not that kind of express, instead, it is a small, open tourist ‘train’ with wheels that makes its way around narrow roads up amongst the vines – stopping regularly. During the journey, passengers hear about the region’s history, the vineyards, the characteristics that make it ideal for viticulture, and, of course, this trip offers plenty of spectacular views.
Good to Know: They still run on rainy days by using protective sheets, but the driver can cancel if the weather becomes stormy.
Some possible Excursions
Circular trips lasting 1 hour leave several times a day.
Caveau Train, which is all about wine tasting, visits one of the local vineyards for a 45-minute wine-tasting experience. It runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, leaving early evening. The duration is 2 hours. For operating times (2021 times – May to mid-Sept) visit the Lavaux Express website (below).
Autumn market train in October for the Sunday markets in the village of Aran.
For seasonal dates,schedule and reservation (recommended)and FAQ go to the website Lavaux Express.
Regional Trains
The regional train service passes through the towns of Epesses,Rivaz, Saint-Saphorin,Vevey then Vevey to Chexbres offering a great sightseeing alternative. Visit sbb.ch for more information. This website also offers maps for each service – in the timetable page add from/to then click on the departure time. The map link is shown in the This Connection box. It‘s a great way to visualise the villages and train lines.
The blue and yellow trains that service the Vevey to Chexbres section are known as “Le Train des Vignes” – the Wine Trains. These trains link Vevey to Puidoux via Chexbres and run hourly in each direction, taking about 15 minutes.
Good to Know: Vevey, an attractive lakeside town in its own right, was once home to Charlie Chapman. There is now a museum on his former country estate called Chaplin’s World.
By Public Transport:Geneva to Lausanne – Express Trains 35-45 mins/ Region Trains 48 mins. For regional train services from Vevey to the vineyard villages see the Regional Train info above.
By Car: Geneva to Lausanne – 66 km (approx. 55 mins); Bern to Lausanne via Vevey – 100 km
7. La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning
Tucked between the hills north of Neuchâtel, the two towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle really stand out. At first glance, they look a bit too uniform and stark with their grid-like design and uniform sized houses.
However, once you get into the towns themselves, you really see the dedication and craftsmanship that has gone into the construction of the buildings. If you would prefer museums, then visit the Espace de l’Urbanisme Horloger for a brief history of the town or the International Museum of time (Musée International d’Horlogerie) – the largest timekeeping collection in the world.
What’s so special about these two towns
The towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle were reconstructed in the 19th Century solely for the watchmaking industry after both towns were badly damaged by fires. Many of the buildings have a combination of living quarters, workshops and offices.
They have been designated World Heritage sites in recognition of the watch-making industry successfully shaping and preserving the two towns to survive and thrive on only one manufacturing industry.
Some watch-making experiences found in the towns
Free multi-media exhibition about the watchmaking town planning – Espace de l’urbanisme horloger found in La Chaux-de-Fonds. According to the town’s website, this is a good place to start before touring the town.
Tourist train that travels through Le Locle from June to September, with commentary in English, French and German. (Doesn’t run in bad weather).
Musée International D’Horlogerie: The largest timekeeping collection in the world dedicated to the history of clock making with over 4,500 exhibits. Includes clocks, watches and tools from the 16th century.
Unique Open-air art in Le Locle – Exomusée
Artists from around the world have been using Le Locle’s buildings and inner-city spaces as a canvas to display their artwork for a few years. This ‘Urban Art’ project is spreading throughout the town with new pieces added each year. Some are abstract, some realistic, others offer illusions. Many of them are huge, covering the side of multi-story facades.
For more information including images, the street artists and a map with the locations go to the Exomusée website and the Le Locle tourism office in the town hall.
Getting there&Information
Public Transport
From Neuchatel: La Chaux-de-Fonds 27 mins / Le Locle 40 min; Lausanne: Intercity Train – La Chaux-de-Fonds 1 hr 12 mins/ Le Locle 1 hr 25 mins, changing at Neuchâtel; Bern: to Le Locle changing at La Chaux-de-Fonds – 1 hr 20 – 30 mins.; BetweenLa Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle: 9 mins by train.
By Car to La Chaux-de-Fonds (approx.)
From Bern: 1 hour – 68 km via Neuchâtel; Neuchâtel: 20 mins. – 20 km.
Le Locle: 12-20 mins, 9 km
Espacité Tower, La Chaux-de-Fonds; Photo by Christof Sonderegger; ┬®Tourisme neuchatelois_damier
Information Centre
La Chaux-de-Fonds – Tourism Information Centre can be found on the ground floor of the Espacité Tower – the circular tower that is often seen from arial photos of the town. Address: Espacité 1, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds. 10 minutes walk from La Chaux-du-Fonds train station.
The series of pile dwelling sites are one of the most important archaeological sources for the study of early agrarian societies in Europe between 5,000 and 500 BC. The waterlogged conditions have preserved organic matter, helping with research & study of the Neolithic and Bronze Age history of Europe.
From the neolithic age to the Bronze age (between 4,400 & 750 BC) there were many settlements on the lakeshore and in bogs in the alpine regions. The simple houses were built on the shorelines with raised floors due to the regular flooding and waterlogged ground. A large concentration of these pile dwellings has been discovered on the shorelines of Lakes Neuchâtel, Murten (Morat) and Bielersee (Bienne).
The Laténium covers various stages of human evolution, starting from when Neanderthal man walked the earth, up to the Renaissance time in the middle ages. This archaeological park uses videos, models, sounds and items found by archaeologists in the area. There are also two large exhibits on display – a re-creation of a Bronze-Age House and a Roman flat-bottomed boat.
By visiting the room dedicated to these lake dwellings, you can immerse yourself into the everyday lives of the people that lived in these bronze and neolithic age settlements.
Getting there
The Laténium is located in Hauterive, on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel (3 km from the centre of Neuchâtel).
Public Transport
Train: Neuchâtel Gare to University with the funicular (FUNI). then 8 min bus trip (101) to Hauterive.
Boat: Neuchâtel‘s harbour to Hauterive. Currently free of charge from sprint to autumn (2022) – with return trip free when showing Laténium museum ticket.
By Car
Parking at the Port of Hauterive on the northeastern shore of Lake Neuchâtel – with small charge.
Walking and Bike: Neuchâtel to St-Blaise-Lac on the S5 train (direction Bern, 1 stop), then 20 minute walk along the edge of lake Neuchâtel.
9. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier
Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris (known as Le Corbusier), architect, town planner, painter and writer, was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds on October 6, 1887.
Corbusier first trained at the town’s school of art in 1902 where he became interested in architecture. He continued to train and learn while travelling around Europe including visits to Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Turkey.
During the 1920s, he became one of the most influential architects and urban planners of his century. In 1957 he was made a citizen of honour in his hometown, La Chaux-de-Fonds. If you want to discover Le Corbusier’s work pop into the information centre in La Chaux-de-Fonds for a guide to the locations of his first architectural works. In particular, the Villa Schwob or Turkish Villa, the Villa Jeanneret-Perret or White House (villa built for his parents) and the Villa Favre-Jacot in Le Locle all show different styles and designs he picked up when travelling around Europe.
The King of the concrete highrise
His theories lay the foundation for the Bauhaus Movement which was responsible for a burst of creativity that spread to places like Antwerp, Algiers, Stuttgart and Rio de Janeiro.
This group of architects are the main players behind the growth of giant concrete office blocks and high-rise apartments that can be seen on the horizons of many cities.
Later in his career, Corbusier moved to a more sculptural type of architecture. One of his last projects was the Carpenter Center at Harvard University.
Le Corbusier’s Failing
Unfortunately, as a strong supporter of far-right politics, Le Corbusier had a darker side. This has recently been acknowledged with several books published on his life and character. Two of the more critical books are: Le Corbusier, a cold vision of the world, by Marc Perelman and Un Corbusier, by Francois Chaslin.
Some Locations of Le Corbusier’s Workin Switzerland
Maison Blanche – Le Chaux-de-Fonds, built for his parents in 1912.
Anatole Schwob House (Turkish Villa) on at Rue du Doubs 167, La-Chaux-de-Fonds (1916–1918)
Unesco World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona – This area is as impressive as the name suggests. You can witness the incredible power and monumental forces that nature is capable of. Found in the cantonal border areas of Saint Gallen, Glarus & Graubünden, the Arena extends over more than 300 square kilometres. You can either do a tour with an expert or experience this area independently – go to unesco-sardona.ch for information.
The Glarus Overthrust
The Tectonic arena was formed by older rock from 250-300 million years ago being thrust up over much younger rock (35-50 million years ago). These rock formations, called the “Glarus overthrust”, demonstrate the power and movement of plate tectonics.
Interactive map created by unesco-sardona.ch
This is a great map to get an idea of the area and where you can go to learn more and view the arena’s dramatic scenery. The
interesting sights and viewpoints
geographic operations in the region
Points of interest reached by foot
The descriptions are all in german (Blick translates as View) however, they do have links to various pages and hikes – some may also need translating.
Most of the walks with good vantage points are more challenging so it is better to consult the information centres first before attempting them.
Tschinglen Cable Car – Elm
A great way to get straight to the heart of the arena!! The Tschinglen Gondola is open from Mid May to Mid October. Here is alink to the website (in german).
The Pizol 5-Lake Hike and Panorama walk
A much loved and popular Swiss excursion is the wonderful Pizol 5-lakes hike (done and loved it), on the western side of the Arena. The trail leads through a high plateau (2222 – 2507 metres) past 5 crystal-clear mountain lakes, with views as far away as Lake Constance in the northeast. The trail is open from July – Oct, although in winter it is possible to do the shorter Panorama trail as long as the Pizol cable cars and chair lifts are running. The starting point is from the top of the Wangs/Furt Gaffia cable car and chair lift.
Getting There and Information:
The interactive map above shows that ‘getting there’ covers a huge area with many possibilities.
A great source for hiking and sightseeing can be found on the UNESCO Sardona website’s page on top walks.
Various Information Centres are available to orientate you –
Tectonic Visitors Centre Glarus (closest commute from Zürich):
Zürich – GlarusTrain: 1 hr 3 mins, no changes. Car: 1 hr 10 mins (70 km)
Tectonic Visitors Pavillon Segneshütte – Flims (closest commute from Chur):
Chur – FlimsBus: – 35 – 50 mins by bus. Car: 1 hr 10 mins (70 km) – Once in Flims, take the Foppa cable car – go to the Flims/Laax/Falera website for operation times and prices.
For the Tschinglen Cable Car (mid May – mid Oct):
Zürich – Schwanden – ElmTrain: 2 hrs (change at Ziegelbrücke and Schwanden). In Elm get off at Bus Stop “Bahnhof“. Then follow the signs for 1,2 km to the valley station of the Tschinglenbahn (cable car). Car: 1 hr 30 mins
For the Pizol 5-lakes walk:
Zürich – Wangs (valley station) by train – 1 hour 10 mins, changing at Sargans.
Wangs to Pizol Hütte (2227m), 8-seater gondola and 4-seater chair lift Wangs – Furt – Gaffia – Pizolhütte (1 hour). or 8-seater gondola and 4-seater chair lift Bad Ragaz – Pardiel – Laufböden (1 hour). Round-trip ticket for the 5-lake walk available from Pizol railway. For opening hours, and more info on the walk go to the Pizol areas officialwebsite.
The pavilion is best reached via the Naraus mountain station with a 75 minutes hike. A shuttle and the Grauberg cable car can be used instead of walking.
The wooded mountain of Monte San Giorgio beside Lake Lugano is regarded as the best fossil record of marine life from the Triassic Period (245–230 million years ago), recording life in a tropical lagoon environment with different kinds of marine life flourishing, including reptiles and fish. Because the lagoon was near land, the remains include land-based fossils of reptiles, insects and plants, resulting in an extremely rich source of fossils.
UNESCO World Heritage Description, available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Fossil Museum of Monte San Giorgio Meride, Ticino
The Museum of Fossils, found at the southern end of Monte San Giorgio, was open to the public in 2012 with modern and eye-catching displays spread over four floors. This is the best place to find fossils from the mountain and get a glimpse of what life was like a few hundred million years ago. Local architect – Mario Botta designed the museum and was also responsible for designing some astounding creations found around the world.
Made up of fossilized animals and plants from Monte San Giorgio, the exhibits include fish and reptiles from 240 million years ago – when the area was a subtropical sea basin. The careful preservation of the skeletons has made this mountain world-famous for its natural heritage.
Panorama terrace in Val Mara @FMSG
Trails around the mountain
A trail around the mountain has information panels and provides views of the rocks and excavations where fossils have been found.
Percorso Murat Pelit is a new 3.7 km trail for people with motor disabilities. Ticino-born Murat Pelit is a member of the Swiss Paralympic ski team amongst other achievements. His association, Ti-Rex Sport in conjunction with Medrisiotto Turismo, opened up a route for handbikes on Monte San Giorgio in May 2021.
The trail winds through woodland and has been tailored for use by three-wheeled mountain bikes which can be operated by hand. The circular tour departs from the Hotel Serpiano where the special bikes are also available for hire. This special trail and the bikes can be used by anyone interested in having a go.
Getting Around and Information:
By Public Transport: from Lugano – 45 minutes with 1 change; from Zürich – 1 hr 55 mins (through the Gotthard Base Tunnel).
By Car: from Lugano – 26 km, approx. 30 mins drive over Lake Lugano’s bridge at Melide; from Zürich to Lugano – 200 km
3. Swiss Alps – Jungfrau Aletsch Glacier
Aletsch Glacier, as seen from the southern edge, canton Valais
This part of the European Alps, one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the world, is home to well-known mountains such as Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Aletsch glacier is part of this landscape, taking up 824 km² of space close to the mountain’s peaks, it slowly edging its way from one side of the alps to another. According to the UNESCO World Heritage website, it is the largest glacier in Eurasia and is considered a natural wonder because of its beauty and the information it contains on the formation of mountains and glaciers. This Jungfrau-Aletsch website is great for facts and figures, information and videos.
Some of thereasons for the UNESCO classification:
The area is home to a wide range of alpine and sub-alpine habitats.
Ecosystems have evolved without significant human intervention.
Almost all of the area is under some form of legal protection.
It plays an important role in the study of climate change.
How to view the Aletsch Glacier
From the Bernese Oberland region –
Getting There and Tickets
Take the train from Interlaken Ost station to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, then the rack railway up to Kleine Scheidegg. This is where the Jungfrau train will chug around the mountain, then through the mountain to Jungfraujoch.
Good to Know: Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres.
From the southern side – Valais
The chair lifts and cable cars called – Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp can be reached from the Rhône Valley. From there they go to car-free villages and finally up to the viewing platforms, panorama walks and hiking tracks close to the glacier. See my own experience of a short hike by visiting – How to Experience the Awe-Inspiring Aletsch Glacier- My Valais Experience.
Getting to the cable cars valley stations – Mörel, Betten and Fiesch
Public Transport
Bern to Brig : 1 hour, 6 mins, on intercity trains via Thun, Spiez, the Lötschberg basis tunnel and Visp, then change for trains or buses to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch for cable car/chair lift services up to the glacier.
By Car
Sierre to Betten: 52 km: Bern to Betten, via Thun and Spiez: 125 km, includes car transportation train from Kandersteg through the Lötschberg basis tunnel.
On the trail between Moosfluh & Hohfluh viewing platforms. Photo by A.Leggett
The Great Aletsch Glacier – A UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 2001, the Aletsch Glacier & Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Aletsch Glacier is over 20km long and the largest glacier in the Alps – however, sadly, it is rapidly receeding. Pro Natura (A Swiss nature & environment organisation) reports that this impressive glacier is retreating by up to 50m in length each year as well as shrinking at the edges.
There are four viewing platforms to see the Glacier. They give brilliant views of the glacier and a 360-degree view of mountains. It is possible (depending on the platform/area) to see Aletschhorn, Matterhorn, Jungfrau, Mönch, Eiger, Dom & Weissmies mountains.
This hike takes you along a trail that mostly follows the ridgeway between Moosfluh to Riederfurka. You walk through a landscape of boulders and stones carpeted with alpine plants and moss – some very rare. After passing the Hohfluh chairlift the landscape becomes softer with trees dotted around and a few small ponds.
The whole walk is stunning, with almost constant views of the Aletsch Glacier and the massive mountains on the other side.
Gondolas from Mörel
When I did this trip I was staying in Kandersteg, in a valley south of Interlaken. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get to the Aletsch Arena gondolas considering there are huge mountains between Kandersteg and the Rhône Valley. The solution: a simple train trip through a long tunnel, a change at Brig and a 10-minute bus trip to the Mörel (Riederalpbahn) stop. I love the Swiss transport system!
The bus stop is right outside the Riederalp Mitte gondola valley station in Mörel. This gondola goes up to Riederalp Village, then the next ride – Gletscherbahn Moosfluh is within walking distance.
When reaching the top of the Moosfluh gondola (2,333 m)you are surrounded by an incredible rocky alpine landscape, and, like the icing on the cake – the view of the Aletsch Glacier and craggy mountains just stuns. For me, this was a definite WOW moment. I couldn’t figure out why everyone around me was just calmy walking around – I felt like jumping up and down and saying, ‘Are you Serious’!
The trail splits and joins up again for most of the hike. You can normally choose which path you want to take as they all end up at the same place. The yellow signposts indicate when the path leads to a different route so it is important to stop and look at the signs before continuing. Also, as I found out, there are often plenty of seasoned hikers who are happy to help point you in the right direction.
Hohfluh lookout Photo by A.Leggett
If you want to stop the hike here and use the Hohfluh chairlift, I would recommend checking out its seasonal operating times as the summer season is quite short (see the Practical Information tababove).
From the Hohfluh chairlift, the landscape becomes greener with trees dotted around, offering a bit of shade. The path then goes away from the glacier, winding slightly downhill to the Riederfurka area.
The ancient Aletsch forest is home to the oldest trees in Switzerland – according to the Pro Natura Centre Aletsch which is found at Riederfurka. There are hiking trails through the forest from various points along this route.
The Riederfurka area has facilities – restaurants and self-service options. There is also the informative Pro Natura Centre (The building that looks a bit like a castle) with information on the glacier, flora & fauna – including the ancient forest – and the nature protection area. From Riederfurka it is a downhill walk to the village of Riederalp andthe Riederallp West gondola station.
Riederalp West gondola
At the end of the walk, Riederalp village looked very inviting as somewhere to stop for a while. However, I needed to get back down and figure out where my accommodation was in Sierre.
Hiking around here is truly amazing – I would definitely recommend it but keep an eye on busy times – school holidays, weekends etc. as the Aletsch Arena is popular – as you would expect.
Map and details of my walk in the Aletsch Arena
Viewing areas – from East to West
Eggishorn is the highest viewing area in the Aletsch Arena (2,869m). It offers a 20km view of the Aletsch Glacier plus it is possible to view Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau on a clear day.
Bettmerhorn (2,647 m). Apart from the viewing platform, there is a Glacier World Bettmerhorn multimedia exhibition. Bettmerhorn viewing platform is barrier-free
Moosfluh (2,333 m) & Hohfluh are reasonably close together and there is a stunning panorama hike between the two. Moosfluh offers a higher viewpoint of the glacier when looking one way, and the squiggly hiking trails can clearly be seen when looking towards the west. This platform is about 100 metres from the cable car.
HohFluh viewing point is where you have one of the best views of the glacier’s curves and also the forest nature reserve that slopes downwards toward the glacier.
Some public transport information for travelling up to the Aletsch Glacier, fromMörel, Betten & Fiesch in the Rhône Valley
Public Transport (2021) – please check below for operating times& sbb.ch for times & stops.
Trains operate from:
Visp, end station Andermatt & Brig, end station Fiesh (via Betten)
Buses operate from:
Brig, end station Fiesch
Regular connections:
Sion and Sierre in the west and Bern, Spiez & Kandersteg in the north
Gondola & Cable car connections & operating times
Mörel to Moosfluh lookout and trails
1. Take Riederalp Mitte gondola to Riederalp. 2. Walk to Gletscherbahn Moosfluh, (a combination of gondolas & chairs in winter but only gondolas in summer).
Mörel to Hohfluh lookout and trails
1. Take the Riederalp Mitte or Riederalp West gondolas to Riederalp. 2. Walk to Hohfluh chairlift. (limited operating times, see below).
Betten to Bettmerhorn lookout and trails
1. Take the Bettmeralp cable car to Bettmeralp. 2. 15 minute walk to Bettmerhorn gondola. 3. Take the Bettmerhorn gondola.
Fiesch to Eggishorn lookout and trails
1. Take the Fiesch gondola to Fiescheralp. 2. Take the Fiescheralp gondola to Eggishorn.
The Seasonal Operating Times 2021 (for up-to-date info go to either aletscharena.ch or sbb.ch):
Summer/Autumn 2021
5. June 2021 until 24. October 2021
Riederalp (Chair Lift) – Hohfluh 3. July until 15. August 2021
Riederalp (Gondola) – Moosfluh 5. June until 24. October 2021
Bettmeralp – Bettmerhorn 5 June until 24 October 2021
Fiescheralp – Eggishorn 5 June until 24 October 2021
