All posts tagged: Swiss Heritage’s “Loveliest”

Switzerland’s Loveliest Cafés and Tea Rooms, Revised, 2nd edition

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  If coffee culture and architecture are among your passions, then search out the best of both in one spot with the revised, 2nd edition of the Swiss Heritage Society booklet “Switzerland’s Loveliest Cafés and Tea Rooms”. In recent years, there’s been a revival of coffee and tea houses not only as places to enjoy a stimulating boost of caffeine but also as a rendezvous spot for culture, conversation and relaxation in a unique and often historic setting.

Swiss Heritage adds “Switzerland’s Loveliest Islands” to its collection of handy touring booklets

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Think of Switzerland and what comes to mind are mountains, pastures and lakes, but islands? Not really. Yet Swiss Heritage’s latest addition to its “Switzerland’s Loveliest” brochure collection introduces 33 islands — both big and small, natural and man-made — that dot the country’s lakes and waterways and traverse national borders.

museums swiss

Switzerland’s “Loveliest Museums” marry beauty with innovation

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I firmly believe it’s important to preserve and protect a country’s architectural heritage, which is why I’m such a fan of the Swiss Heritage Society and it’s series of portable booklets that are aimed at connecting people with “Switzerland’s Loveliest”… whether that’s coffee houses, swimming pools, B&Bs, nature trails, and now … it’s museums. A neo-Renaissance palace, an innovative municipal museum, an archeological dig and many more, Swiss Heritage’s “Loveliest Museums, Volume 1 (Knowledge and Stories) ” focuses on 50 of the country’s 1150 museums, those that best combine quality architecture with a top-notch exhibition. Knowledge and Stories This, the first volume of the Society’s “Loveliest Museums” collection, is devoted to institutions that deal with the natural and human sciences and is entitled “Knowledge and Stories”. The selection offers a balance between Swiss regions, periods and themes, showcasing the diversity of museums — those both well- and little-known — that are available to culture lovers across the country. (A second volume on Switzerland’s loveliest museums will appear later this year spotlighting museums devoted to art.) Inventiveness & commitment According to Swiss Heritage: “To remain relevant, museums must adapt to …

hiking through Swiss vineyards

Walking Switzerland’s breathtaking Lavaux terraced vineyards.

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The terraced vineyards of the Lavaux region, stretching from Lausanne to Montreux, offer breathtaking views over land and lake that can be enjoyed on foot with relative ease. First terraced by monks in the 11th century, the region received UNESCO World Heritage-site status in 2007 and doubtless is one of the country’s most beautiful to explore. Together with my friends in the Internation Women’s Club of Nyon (IWCN) I walked the very popular portion through the vineyards that stretch from St. Saphorin to Cully. The journey took approximately two-and-a-half-hours at a leisurely pace and offered only a  few steep but shortlived inclines. Meandering paths cut through charming medieval villages and took us through vineyards where day-workers picked grapes and wine was available to sample and purchase. Easy to reach by public transport The Lavaux walks are easily reached by train: we boarded in Nyon, changed trains in Lausanne and uncamped at St. Saphorin, a one-hour journey in total. We descended to lake level shortly before Cully and walked along the beach towards the village, where we headed for …

Swiss swimming pools

Fancy a cool dip? Visit one of the country’s “Loveliest Swimming Spots”

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A major heatwave is descending on Switzerland this week so there’s no better moment to take a cool dip in one of the country’s loveliest swimming pools or outdoor nature spots. If you’re looking for something special near you, a pocket-sized French-German booklet published by the Swiss Heritage Society entitled “Les plus beaux bains de la Suisse” (Switzerland’s Loveliest Swimming Pools) will help you locate your ideal dip, one offering architectural distinction and most probably situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The 51 swimming spots profiled in the 108-page, A6-sized booklet are dotted throughout the country and feature architectural styles dating from the 19th century, including sleek, streamlined Art Deco examples from the 1920s and 30s (my personal favourites) as well as heavier 1960s concrete structures. Each selection is accompanied by a brief accompanying text offering historical information about bathing culture in Switzerland since the 1800s. Plan ahead for a refreshing day away You can order the booklet in the online shop at a cost of CHF16 for non-members and CHF8 for members of Swiss Heritage. Use it to plan a family or solo excursion that could turn out to be both fun and instructive, but …

hotels in switzerland

Not your average B&Bs: Switzerland’s Loveliest Hotels at your fingertips

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Just in time for the holidays, a handy pocket guide has been published by the Swiss Heritage Society. Part of its popular series of “Switzerland’s Loveliest” booklets, the country’s most beautiful hotels are now in the spotlight. I love this collection of handy-to-carry A6-format paperbacks because they make it easy to discover off-the-beaten-track cafés, holiday homes, museums, swimming locales–and now hotels–of architectural significance, as well as parks, gardens and walking trails of outstanding beauty. The purchase of these booklets also supports the Society’s efforts to preserve the country’s important architectural landmarks. That’s something close to my heart. Unique hotels, are off-the-beaten path In actual fact, Switzerland’s Loveliest Hotels is now in its 4th edition and this latest update adds 27 new hotel discoveries and 13 B&Bs to the original list of 51 hotels featured in earlier issues. In making their selection, the Society chose hotels that take a “global cultural approach” that encompasses a distinct architectural style that reflects the region in which the establishment is found, a “convincing” management concept and a warm welcome. The layout and furnishings of the rooms are also given careful consideration. The Society isn’t looking to follow the trend for boutique and designer …