Travel to Switzerland

Porrentruy

Porrentruy is a municipality located in the canton of Jura, site of many important institutions like the cantonal courts, the archives of the former Episcopal See of Basel, and the Université Populaire Jurassienne. Its architectural heritage is really impressive, many buildings in gothic, baroque, and neo-classical styles, buildings of the Jesuit college, and the only remaining medieval city gate, the Porte de France, built in 1563. The church of Saint-Pierre is a gothic basilica built from 1330 to 1350, with several valuable relics and a late-gothic altar; and the Château de Porrentruy, built around 1250, are a must visit.

Delémont

Delémont is the capital city of the Canton of Jura, according to investigations, the area was already settled in the Bronze Age, and also evidence of Roman settlement. The city preserves its original medieval outline, the squares are marked by monumental fountains in Renaissance style, dating from the 16th century, 2 of the city gates date from the 18th century, and there are parts of the city wall still standing, dating from the 13th century.

Swiss musical instrument

The alphorn is a wind instrument consisting of a natural wooden horn of conical bore and a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and it is used by mountain dwellers in Switzerland. This instruments are carved from solid softwood, and since they don't have lateral openings, the harmonic series of the open pipe are natural. Rossini introduced the melody Ranz des Vaches, a traditional melody from French Switzerland, into his opera William Tell, and Brahms was inspired by an alphorn melody he heard in the Rigi area of Switzerland when composing the great melody that opens the last movement of his First Symphony.

Einsteinhaus

Einsteinhaus is a small flat in Bern that Albert Einstein rented with his wife during his years working at the Swiss patent office, now a museum. You will find numerous photos and original documents from Einstein's life, work, and speeches, and in this place Einstein's 1st child was born, as well as his general theories of relativity.

Langstrasse

Langstrasse is the red light district (and for some, a drug quarter) in Zürich. You need to be careful around this area, since it has more penal action than entire Bern, but it is also a very culturally area, unique, and is worth a visit. You will find many small shops and a strong international flavor, due to the 42% non Swiss residents.

Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse is one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues, located in Zürich. It goes for 1.4km from Zürich HB railway station to Bürkliplatz on Lake Zurich, and you will find along this avenue shops like Chanel, Armani, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dior, well, you probably get the picture of the kind of shops to be found here ;) Don't forget your checkbook!

Lake Zürich

Lake Zürich extends southeast of Zürich, formed by the river Linth, and has an area of 34 square miles with a maximum depth of 469 feet, located at 1342 feet above sea level. Its waters are very clean, and during summer time the temperature reaches 20º Celsius and beyond, making it a very popular spot for water sports, swimming and enjoying the beaches and public baths.

Swiss National Museum

The Swiss National Museum located in Zürich is part of the Musée Suisse Group and one of the most important art museums of cultural history in Europe and the world. The building dates from 1898 and was built by Gustav Gull, using the French Renaissance city chateaus style, the result is an amazing architecture with dozens of towers, impressive pars and courts, in the Old City District. The exhibitions range from prehistory to the 20th century, and its Gothic art section is really astonishing.

Fraumünster

The Fraumünster abbey in Zürich, was founded by Louis the German in 853, for his daughter Hildegard. He endowed the Benedictine convent with the lands of Zürich, Uri, and the Albis forest, also granted immunity to the convent, placing it under his direct authority. It is a magnificent example of Gothic style church, and its windows were painted by Marc Chagal.

Grossmünster

Grossmünster is an important Romanesque style church and one of the three major churches of Zürich, the present structure dates from 1100. It used to be a monastery church and founded by Charlemagne according to legend, and recent archaeological investigations confirm the presence of a Roman burial ground at the site.