If you think of Switzerland as just a hilly country, that’s where you’re wrong. Switzerland undoubtedly has the most beautiful mountains and also the home for many ancient and unique history-rich places. Apart from being the best destination for snow activities, it also protects many memorials and monuments as a pride. Here’s a list of 10 landmark monuments in Switzerland that you cannot miss out on.
10 best landmark monuments in Switzerland
● Chillon castle
● Zytylogge
● The Lion monument Lucerne
● Castle of Chenaux
● Geneva Museum of Art and History
● Reformation Wall
● Charlie Chaplin Statue
● Pyramides d’Euseigne
● Augusta Raurica
● Freddie Mercury statue
The next time you plan your Switzerland tour package, make sure to visit as many monuments as possible. Now let’s virtually take a look at the monuments.
1. Chillon Castle, Geneva
Chillon Castle is an island castle that is located on beautiful Lake Geneva. This is an ancient castle built by the French in the medieval periods. For the purpose of tourism and entertainment, this castle is open for tourists to visit. It has many rooms out of which only 50 are open for the visitors. During its period, the castle was well maintained and used for war storage purposes. It has secret vaults and rooms in underground. But now, it is being used for conducting some cultural events or staging events.
How do I get there?
You can take a CGN boat from Geneva to the Chillon castle which takes about 40 minutes.
Entry - You can visit the Chillon Castle for free if you have a Swiss Travel Pass
Best time to visit - Any time of the year
2. Zytglogge, Bern
Zytglogge is nothing but an astronomical clock tower situated in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland. again this is an ancient clock tower built in medieval time by the natives. The specialty of this tower is when it strikes once in an hour, large people stand in front of the clock tower to witness a special kind of performance that takes place at this tower. It has 130 steps and if you are strong enough to climb up those rocky ancient steps, be prepared to experience the history. You are officially inside the UNESCO world heritage site now. Large beams of white stone act as support where numerous astronomical clocks can be found on the walls.
How do I get there? - Assemble at the Bern old town once you have the tickets
Entry fee-
Adults- CHF 20 (INR 1631)
Kids - CHF 10 (INR 815)
Duration - 60 minutes
Best time to visit - All days (2.15 pm onwards)
3. The Lion Monument, Lucerne
The Lion Monument in Lucerne is considered to be one of the most painful monuments in Switzerland. The lion monument represents a dying lion that is carved out of stone. This monument was built and still preserved in order to pay respect to the soldiers from central Switzerland who died in the French wars during the French revolution, fighting for their King Louis XVI. Mark Twain describes beautifully the Lion of Lucerne. This special monument was completed in the year 1821 and is still strong just like a lion.
How do I get there? - travel from anywhere to Lucerne Middletown
Entry fee - Completely free
Timings - Open on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) 12 AM to11.59 PM
4. Castle of Chenaux
The municipality of Estavayer-le-Lac, Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland holds the pride of having one of the ancient castles. It is one of the main attractions of heritage sites in the Swiss. Again this castle was also built in the medieval period by Prince Pierre d’Estavayer in the year 1284! Yes, it still stands strong, crossing centuries of history.
How do I get there? - you can go on a small walk to the castle
Entry fee - NA
5. Geneva Museum of Art and History
Just like any other country in the world, Switzerland has its own rich heritage. Not to forget that most of the greatest artists in the world are from Europe. On the ground floor, there are the Egyptian pharaohs, Sphinx, and other historic excavations. In a big room, you can find swords, weapons, handguns, and armors used by many kings during the European wars. You can also find beautifully painted art on the first floor by famous artisans.
Entry fee - Admission free (exceptions CHF 5)
Opened on - Tuesday - Sunday (10 AM to 6 PM)
Amenities - Kids play area, restaurant, wheelchair for the elderly, and stroller for kids.
6. Reformation Wall
The Reformation wall in Geneva is an international monument of reformation that represents many Protestants across Europe. It was built in 1909. The main attraction is the protestants’ sculpture in the center on the wall. They are William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox. It was built by John Calvin to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Calvins.
How do I get there? - you can find the wall at the University of Geneva
Entry fee - It’s Free!
7. Charlie Chaplin statue
The greatest mime actor, comedian of all time, Charlie Chaplin’s statue in Vevey is one of the underrated monuments in Switzerland. This statue was built after he died in 1988 in remembrance of him living in Switzerland for almost 20 years in the city of Vevey. You can also take a look at the house where Chaplin lived and his used things. Of Course, tourists are not allowed inside his house but you can always get amazed by the legend himself.
Entry fee - Absolutely free
8. Pyramides d’Euseigne
The village of Euseigne is famous for its pyramid-shaped chimney rocks formed naturally by prolonged sedimentation of calcium, rainfall, lava, and dust. It is a small village surrounded by the Alps. The rocks may look scary, but they are strong and sturdy by age and they are not much of a danger.
Entry fee - Absolutely free
9. Augusta Raurica
Augusta Raurica is an ancient archaeological site by the Romans and also an open-air stadium situated on the banks of the stunning Rhine river in Switzerland.
In the 2nd century AD, this was used as an important trading center and it had many facilities like temples, public forums, public baths, and Roman theatres. After the death of Julius Caesar, this monument was found to be exploited by several other emperors and soldiers in Europe.
How do I get there? - on-road or by a boat in the Rhine river
Entry fee - Free
10. Freddie Mercury Statue
Freddie Mercury was a British pop singer who visited Switzerland for the Montreaux Jazz festival in the year 1978 and also recorded an album called “Jazz” with the Queen. Awestruck by the beauty of Montreaux, he decided to settle down in the same city. This statue is placed in memory of the legendary singer.
Entry fee -Free
Duration - Any time of the year
11. Spiez Castle
A unique architectural blend of Baroque and traditional Swiss styling, Spiez Castle is a definite must-visit while touring Switzerland. The castle stands amidst picturesque Swiss valleys and holds historical significance for housing numerous noble Swiss families across the centuries. Furnished with period décor inside a perfectly preserved structure, you will find Spiez Castle worth the visit.
Getting to Spiez Castle: You can catch a train ride to the castle, which roughly takes 29-minutes from the city of Bern. If you are not on a tight budget, taking a taxi to the castle is also a possibility.
Entry: Entry to the castle grounds is free but visiting the castle museum costs up to $11 USD.
Best time to visit: The castle is open year round, but the best time to visit is between May and October.
All these monuments have their own stories to tell. And they can’t wait for you to visit them at the earliest. This list of 10 best landmark monuments are some of the must-visit places that should be in your Switzerland honeymon package.
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