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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Switzerland’s ten most beautiful villages you have to visit

Here's a list of the ten best Swiss villages you've never heard of, which are well worth a visit when you get the chance.

Switzerland's ten most beautiful villages you have to visit
Photo courtesy of Les plus beaux Villages de Suisse

The popular swiss contest “Das schönste Dorf der Schweiz” organised by the Ringier media group, every year crowns a ‘best village’ based on a public vote. But if the whole country knows about it then where’s the fun in that?

The Local asked the folks over at the association “Les plus beaux Villages de Suisse” (The most beautiful Villages in Switzerland) to come up with a list they consider to be the crème de la crème of Switzerland’s hidden treasures. 

Without further ado, here are their picks. How many have you been to?

Valangin (NE)

Valangin is a medieval village with just 500 inhabitants. It’s position where the road narrows between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds is a key ingredient of its rich history.

Enjoy its picturesque setting and its relaxed atmosphere surrounded by nature and dominated by its castle which houses a very interesting museum.

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Must see: A visit to the local castle, a medieval tower surrounded by ramparts

Tschlin (GR)

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Tschlin, in the lower Engadine, is a pretty village located on a sunny terrace from where the view sweeps over the Italian, Austrian and Swiss Alps.

The old town is full of Engadin-style houses, narrow streets and flower-covered squares. In summer, when it’s hot, the local inhabitants cool off in the public fountains scattered throughout the village.

Must see: The magnificent late-gothic church of St. John the Baptist

Cabbio – Muggio (TI)

In the green Muggio Valley, in Canton Ticino, there are two authentic small villages marked by a common history: Cabbio and Muggio. In the first village there are magnificent and unique public fountains.

In Muggio, on the other hand, the houses built in local stone are reminiscent of distant times and the view of the terraces opposite is evocative of faraway exotic villages. 

Must see: The Bruzella mill, still in operation, where one of the best polenta flour in Switzerland is produced.

Luthern (LU)

Not far from the chaotic Lucerne there is a quiet, little-known valley: the Luthertal. The main centre of this valley is the village of Luthern: a compact agglomeration of beautiful Lucerne houses and wooden farms scattered across the meadows.

As you walk through the streets of the village, the bellowing of the cows will keep you company and you will feel as if you are meeting Heidi at any moment.

Must see: The view of the village from the many surrounding paths. Not to be missed is the hike on the Napf.

Simplon Dorf (VS)

The Simplon Pass is one of the main passes connecting the Canton of Valais in Switzerland to Northern Italy. Few, however, are aware that a magnificent village is hidden nearby: Simplon Dorf.

This village echoes the Italian style in its architecture and its main square. This village is home to one of the oldest bakeries in Switzerland.

Must see: In the surroundings of the village are scattered ancient chapels which are worth a visit.

Eglisau (ZH)

Nestled along the Rhine River, just 20 minutes from Zurich, Eglisau is a quiet and charming village. Behind the row of magnificent houses rise several hills where vines are carefully cultivated by local families.

The wine produced here will impress even the most refined palates for its exquisiteness!

Must see: The Untergass is the main street of the village where there are the most beautiful corners of the village.

Lichtensteig (SG)


 

In the canton of St. Gallen, 600 metres above sea level, stands the semi-circle village of Lichtensteig founded around 1200 by the Counts of Toggenburg on a rock spur. In the alleyways, over a dozen shops, restaurants and cafés invite you to stroll and snoop around.

During events such as jazz days or the Christmas market, the old town does not become a backdrop, but remains a central part of the events.

Must see: The historical centre of the village with the church of St. Gallen.

Grandvillard (FR)

Grandvillard in Canton Fribourg has its origins as far back as Roman times and has preserved the traces of a strong past activity: granaries, mills, beaters, tanneries.

Just 10 minutes away from the much more famous Gruyères, this village has kept its authenticity intact. The main local product is the delicious cheese, considered by many to be one of the finest and tastiest.

Must see: At the edge of the forest, the house of Pierre de la Tinaz, cheese and banneret trader, still breathes the soul of this village.

Romainmôtier (VD)

Along the historic via Francigena, which connected Rome to Canterbury, we find one of the oldest abbeys in Switzerland that will leave you speechless.

The village is one of the hidden pearls of Canton Vaud. In addition to the magnificent abbey, it is also worth stopping to admire the other beauties such as Lieutenant Ballival’s house or the clock tower.

Must see: Of course the abbey, both outside and inside where frescoes from the 14th century are preserved.

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Triesenberg (FL)

What’s a non-swiss village doing on this list? Triesenberg is in fact located in the Principality of Liechtenstein, a small independent state but with strong connection to Switzerland, having in common not only the language but also the currency, traditions and much more.

That’s why in 2019 it joined the swiss association of most beautiful villages. Triesenberg was founded by the Walser community on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Rhine valley.

Must see: The municipality has several beautiful hamlets: Masescha with its three-storey church, Steg with an idyllic alpine lake and Malbun with its state-of-the-art skiing facilities.

All of these villages and many more feature in the Les plus beaux Villages de Suisse free app available in english for iOS and Android. 

All photos courtesy of Les plus beaux Villages de Suisse  .

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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Eight very different museums in Switzerland you need to visit

Switzerland has thousands of years of cultural history and stories to experience, told through its museums.

Eight very different museums in Switzerland you need to visit

From stuffed frogs, to the world’s biggest foosball table, via a creepy alien interior, we’ve put together a list of eight entirely unique museums across Switzerland that you should visit this year.

Hoosesagg Museum, Basel

Let’s start small—really small. The ‘Hoosesagg Museum‘ (Pants Pocket Museum) is a two-foot-by-two-foot window on Imbergässlein, a short stroll from the marketplace. 

The Vergeats, the owners of the historic home it is housed, became fed up with passersby peering in, so they began exhibiting tiny objects. Soon, others contacted the Vergeats, wanting to display their collections of shot glasses, thimbles and other minuscule treasures. 

The window first became a viral sensation before transforming into a fully-fledged museum of objects that can fit in a trouser pocket. 

Exhibits change frequently, and it’s one of the city’s most photographed locations. 

Museum HR Giger, Gruyères, Freiburg

The ‘Alien’ films have traumatised audiences for over thirty years, mostly due to the horrific biomechanical art of Swiss Artist H. R. Giger.

Giger both designed and constructed the museum dedicated to his art in the beautiful medieval city of Gruyères. Therefore, you won’t be amidst a bright, sterile environment. 

Instead, expect to feel like you’ve stepped into the lair of the ‘space jockey’ from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic – walls, doorways and furniture appearing as if they’ve been grown rather than built. 

Afterwards, calm your nerves with a drink in the museum’s bar, even if it does carry the theme over. Maybe not the location for a first date!

Frog Museum, Estavayer-le-Lac, Freiburg

Everybody needs a hobby, right? For one nineteenth-century Swiss military officer, his was catching frogs and taxidermied them, posing them in weird, beautiful dioramas that poked funny at everyday life. 

The museum in the small town of Estavayer-le-Lac, on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, acquired his collection sometime around 1927. Around 150 of the officer’s unique creations are now on display, alongside artefacts that help tell the region’s story. 

Matterhorn Museum, Zermatt, Valais

The Matterhorn occupies a unique position in the popular imagination—a towering mountain that sums up much about Switzerland. Of course, it has its own museum, located in the town of Zermatt, which lies at its base.

Particularly moving are the exhibits dedicated to the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, which claimed four of the seven climbers involved – the centrepiece being the broken climbing rope. 

Another equally poignant story is told by the remains of ‘Theo’, a sixteenth-century mercenary who perished crossing the Theodul Pass. only to be released by the glacier hundreds of years later. 

Schloss Habsburg, Habsburg, Aargau

Looking at it, you wouldn’t think this squat little castle was the seat of Europe’s greatest dynasty. Yet the clue is in the name. 

In Schloss Habsburg, close to the border with Germany, the family who would come to rule almost half the world for a thousand years first emerged. 

To learn how an unassuming family of minor nobles came to take the reigns of imperial power, a permanent exhibition in the castle serves as a fantastic, concise introduction. 

One particular highlight is the virtual reality reconstruction of the castle. Not only can you explore the interior, but you can also take flight, to take in all the details you can’t see from ground level.

Forum of Swiss History
Hofmatt, Schwyz

Switzerland’s political entity is unique in the world—twenty-six cantons with unprecedented levels of devolved power. How did it get that way? 

That’s the question that the Forum of Swiss History in Hofmatt seeks to answer. 

Over three floors of a historic building, the story of Switzerland from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries is told – a dangerous, lawless alpine realm coalescing into a powerful confederation that no other power managed to conquer.

A particular highlight of this museum is the dioramas and recreations of historical locations, such as monasteries, that can be found throughout.

FIFA Museum, Zurich

Love or loathe them as an entity, there’s no denying that FIFA’s history is the history of international football. Therefore, visiting the FIFA Museum in Zurich is essential for every fan. 

Across almost three thousand square metres, not only can you understand how the organisation has shaped football worldwide but also better understand the football countries of over 211 countries that have competed over the years—some of which no longer exist. 

If you bring the kids, you can participate in the world’s largest foosball table!

Swiss Witchcraft Museum, Gränichen, Aargau

Our last museum is again small but receives rave reviews. In Schloss Liebegg, located in the Aargau village of Gränichen, the Swiss Witchcraft Museum dedicates itself to the traditional folk beliefs of cultures worldwide. 

The museum also explains how women have been persecuted over the centuries within Switzerland itself – a particular nexus of hysteria related to witchcraft.  

This museum is an idiosyncratic labour of love and doesn’t even have consistent opening hours. It’s therefore essential to check whether it’ll be open in advance.

Can you suggest an amazing Swiss museum we should know about? Let us know in the comments! 

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