This post, from August 2017, features: Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Lucerne, Zug, Zürich, Basel, Sargans and Neuchâtel
Heathrow:
Flight LX355 to Geneva and my first flight on a Bombardier CS100 – the newest jet on the market. The first commercial flight with Swiss was July 2016…Place de la ConcordeThe White Cliffs of (near) Dover…Paris from 31,000 feet…
Geneva
The United Nations building with 193 flagsMuseum of the Red Crescent and the Red CrossCathedral of St PeterView from St Peter’s CathedralLake Geneva
Lausanne
Rolex – founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf – he moved the company to Geneva in 1919…LausanneI thought the post office in Geneva was grand but this one in Lausanne isn’t too shabby, either…The local bank – well, this is Switzerland St Francois, Lausanne – unremarkable on the outsideThe Cathedral of Notre Dame – 224 steps to the top of the tower…224 steps later – fine views over Lausanne and Lake Geneva 224 steps later – fine views over Lausanne and Lake Geneva 224 steps later – fine views over Lausanne and Lake Geneva 224 steps later – fine views over Lausanne and Lake Geneva I’m staying at Hotel des Voyageurs in the heart of LausanneThe view of Notre Dame Cathedral from my room…
Bern
BernBernBern
A City of Statues:
Lucerne (Luzern)
A city of panoramic views…
Lucerne (Luzern)As you leave the station you have this wonderful view over Lake Lucerne – I’m not sure that there’s a railway station with a better view…
Around the Lake and the Reuss:
Lake LucerneView of the Reuss from the balcony in my hotel room
From the City Walls:
View of Lucerne from the city wallsAnother view of Lucerne from the city wallsLo! the heavens opened – fortunately my hotel is just a few raindrops away…
Statues:
I’m not sure that nailing shoplifters to the wall is the right thing to do…
The City:
Zug
Zug wasn’t on my itinerary but, as I had some time to spare before getting to Zurich, I decided to stop off on the way. I’m glad I did as it is a pretty town and, I later discovered, it has a claim to fame. Zug is home to Delilahs, founded by Muriel Rhyner and Isabella Eder. Give “Flesh & Blood”, “Nothing Ever Changes” and “Queen” a listen – they’re terrific…
Zug – stopped here to kill some time on the journey to Zurich – glad I did as the altstadt is gloriousZug is also where Swiss band The Delilahs hail from (check out their album “Past True Lust”)…ZugZug
Streets of flags:
The Night Watch:
Zürich
These are spectacularly dull photos that reveal very little about the city…
First Things First:
Shepherd Neame has been brewing Hurlimann in the UK since 1968. When I first encountered it in the UK, in the early 80s, it wasn’t very good. Things have improved since then and the Swiss original is nice, still brewed in Zürich but now owned by Carlsberg…
Zürichsee and the Limmat:
ZürichseeZürichsee
The City:
Fraumünster Church:
Founded in 853, this church and convent was inhabited by the female members of the aristocracy of Europe. The convent enjoyed the patronage of kings and the abbess the right to mint coins in Zurich until well into the 13th century. Ownership of the church and convent passed to the city of Zurich after the Reformation.It has some fine stained glass windows: those in the north transept are by Augusto Giacometti and the five-part cycle in the chancel and rosette in the southern transept are by Marc Chagall
Basel
Basel is Switzerland’s 3rd largest city
Panoramas:
Basel is famous for its medieval old townThe RhineNice view of the street but not such a great shot of the colourful Rathaus, which was built between 1504-14
Churches:
The Elisabethenkirche was built between 1857 and 1865 – the first Protestant church to be built in Basel since the Reformation…The Elisabethen-Brunnen (fountain)Basler Münster (Cathedral) was begun in 1019 and evolved until around 1500. The red sandstone gives it a distinctive appearance and is a mix of Romantic and Gothic styles…
The Rhine:
The Rhine flows through BaselThe Rhine flows through Basel
Cobbled Streets:
Basel RathausBasel
Sargans
Sargans – the station for Liechtenstein and from where you get the bus to Vaduz…Looking at the mist and clouds in the hills around Sargans station while waiting for the train to Neuchâtel…
