Five ideas for guided tours in Switzerland

• Lucerne

  To discover the Lake Lucerne region, nothing beats a stop in the charming town of Lucerne. This city with its medieval appearance is one of the most visited in Europe. With only 80,000 inhabitants, no less than 5 million tourists come to admire this place every year. Lucerne has a multitude of treasures that are waiting to be shared. First of all, discover its magnificent covered wooden bridge of Kapellbrücke, also called “Chapel Bridge”, which crosses the river Reuss. Built in 1333 and partially destroyed in a fire in 1993, it has been restored to its original condition. All year round, you can stroll through the narrow streets of the city and its pedestrian squares, where many craftsmen have settled. In Lucerne, boredom is not an option. You can easily go for a walk by the lake or in the mountains near the Pilatus and Rigi mountains. In every season, you will have the opportunity to attend multi-cultural exhibitions or festivals. You can visit the city’s museums such as the Swiss Museum of Transport, the Museum of Arts or the Bourbaki Panorama with its giant circular mural.

• Lauterbrunnen

  The wonderful Lauterbrunnen Valley, located in the canton of Bern, is a must-see during a stay in Switzerland. This mountainous region has remained untouched, like a dream. Not far from the town of the same name, there is a prodigious nature reserve with 72 waterfalls flowing down the large cliffs. The largest of these, the Staubbach, cascades down a 300-meter high cliff. The Trümmelbachfälle is a succession of 6 underground waterfalls, the only ones accessible in the world thanks to various facilities. The Giessbach mountain stream consists of 15 successive waterfalls which flow into Lake Brienz. The whole valley is full of charming villages, perfect for a trip to the surrounding mountain pastures.

• Canton of Valais

  The Canton of Valais remains the most touristic region in Switzerland. The landscapes are absolutely splendid and remain far from the motorways. The nature is surprisingly diverse. The high glaciers are on the heels of the blue sky and the surrounding high mountains are surrounded by the most famous ski resorts in the world: Crans-Montana, Verbier or Les 4 Vallées. This canton has high altitude lakes and a vegetation that is sometimes almost Mediterranean with stretches of vineyards planted on the right bank of the Rhone valley. You will have understood that this place will allow you to give free rein to your love of wide open spaces. You will enjoy spending your vacations in its beautiful villages like Zermatt, for example, at the foot of the Matterhorn. In addition to being a vast ski area, this small village has kept its old-fashioned charm. It offers a cable car that allows you to reach the Little Matterhorn, at an altitude of 3,883 meters, and admire an impressive panorama.

• Bern

  The Swiss capital on the banks of the river Aare is not at all like a city metropolis. It is an imposing village with a well-preserved medieval look, surrounded by ramparts. The historic center was founded at the end of the 12th century. It boasts precious vestiges of its history: the clock tower (Zytglogge) and its astronomical dial, the Saint-Vincent cathedral dating from 1421 with its bell tower perched at more than 100 meters, the arcades and its shopping arcades. Bern is also very famous for its old fountains, which are still shining. There are more than a hundred of them, all beautifully sculpted and colored. Alone or with a Swiss tour guide, discover them and your itinerary will be perfect. Don’t forget the oldest of them, the “Citerne de Len” or Lenbrunnen, which can be found in the State Chancellery.

• The castle of Chillon

  Standing proudly on a rocky islet on the shores of Lake Geneva, discover the castle of Chillon. This oval-shaped fortress was built in the 11th century and became the residence of the sovereigns of Savoy in 1536. It is distinguished by 2 very different facades. To the south, we find the princely residence with its sumptuous Gothic style windows and to the north, the defensive part of the castle with machicolations, curtain walls linking the towers and openings for the archers. Inside the building you will pass through a succession of different rooms. All these rooms filled with furniture, utensils, paintings and weapons will make your journey a real trip back in time. The underground prisons are open to the public as well as the walkway tour which will allow you to enjoy exceptional views. Located in the commune of Veytaux, the citadel is easily accessible on foot from Montreux.