Switzerland - Elemental Quests

When you think of Switzerland, why do you only imagine long alpenhorns, yodeling, cuckoo clocks, and Ricola? This alpine confederation is a land of German, French, Italian, and Romansh speakers. It has spectacular natural scenery with 49 mountain peaks above 4,000 meters, 7,000 lakes, and green hillsides. Swiss engineering is also impressive with 1,300 tunnels and 2,400 aerial gondolas in its mountains.

Must Sees: Lucerne | Must Sees: Mount Titlis | Must Sees: Lugano | Food | My Future Plans

MUST SEES: LUCERNE

Löwendenkmal

The Lion of Lucerne honors the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending the French royal family during the Revolution. In his lair above a pond, the lion slowly perishes from the broken spear in his back.

Kapellbrücke

The Chapel Bridge is Europe’s oldest covered bridge, built in the 14^th century. As you walk along the bridge, observe the 158 triangular paintings depicting scenes from Lucerne’s history. The bridge also connects to the octagonal Water Tower, which was a prison, archive, and treasury.

Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church is a Baroque church along the edge of the Reuss River. During the Counter-Reformation, the Jesuit Order started building the church in 1666 in response to the emerging Protestantism. Later, they added the green copper onion domes in 1893.

MUST SEES: MOUNT TITLIS

Rotair

Soar to the top of Mount Titlis in a revolving cableway. High above Engelberg, horned cows, sounds of cow bells, and green slopes is a spectacular mountain playground at 10,623 feet. In addition to skiing, you can hike, mountain bike, go ziplining, or ride a snowtube at the glacier park. Enjoy the views or have a meal from the observation tower.

Glacier Cave

Walk inside the illuminated glacier cave, which looks like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Explore the cavernous network of tunnels inside the mountain itself. The icy walls have an incredible blue and purple glow.

Cliff Walk

Test your courage and admire the mountain backdrop from Europe’s highest suspension bridge.

MUST SEES: LUGANO

Lugano

In southern Switzerland near Lake Como, Lugano has a Mediterranean flair. With most of the population speaking Italian, many of the colorful buildings are of Baroque or Renaissance design. This resort town has a long shopping street running parallel with the lakeside. The double linden tree-lined promenade has beautiful gardens, sculptures, and fountains.

Lake Lugano

Mountain peaks surround Glitzy Lake Lugano. The glacial lake has the Melide causeway to the south and a waterjet at the western end of the promenade. In the summer, there are fireworks shows in the middle of the lake on certain weekends.

FOOD

Fondue

Gruyère and other cheeses melt with white wine in a traditional fondue pot called a caquelon. Once the cheese is rich and chewy, you use a special fork to dip chunks of bread and vegetables.

Raclette

Racelurs expertly scrape melted cheese from a half wheel of cheese onto a plate. It is accompanied by boiled new potatoes, pickled onions, and pickled cornichons.

Rösti

In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, they fry a flat hot cake of grated potatoes. Switzerland has unofficial cultural lines based on cuisine. The Röschtigraben separates the German and French speakers, while the Polentagraben is the boundary between Italian and German speakers.

Chocolate

In 1875, chocolatier Daniel Peter blended milk with chocolate near Lake Geneva. In 1879, Rodolphe Lindt invented the conche in Berne. The conche was a machine that produced aromatic and smooth chocolate. Switzerland has been crafting superior melt-in-your mouth chocolate ever since.

MY FUTURE PLANS

Jungfraujoch

Jungfraujoch is the highest mountain station in Europe at 11,362 feet. It sits next to the famous Eiger mountain with the largest north face in the Alps overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Visit Grindewald. Explore the Bond villain’s base atop Schilthorn. Follow the Royal Walk to the crown-shaped platform on Männlichen.

Haute Route

The Haute Route is a legendary 12-day Alpine trek from Chamonix in France to the iconic Matterhorn by Zermatt. You already know the triangular Matterhorn from Disneyland and the former packaging of Toblerone chocolate bars.

Regions