Swiss Cities

The two neighbouring watch-making towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are in the Jura close to the French border, in the canton of Neuchâtel (Neuenburg). La Chaux-de-Fonds, laid out like a chessboard — which is unusual for Switzerland — is regarded as the birthplace of watch-making worldwide and also as a major centre for the Jugendstil in Switzerland. The Jura countryside is a pleasant area for walking and cycling or cross-country skiing in winter.

The small town of Baden has Switzerland’s most mineral-rich thermal spring water. But it is also Baden’s cultural offerings and the redeveloped areas and buildings from the time of its industrial heyday which add to the appeal of this small town situated at the gateway to Zurich.

Tradition-conscious, open-minded and full of contrasts, Basel is regarded as one of Switzerland's centres for art, music and architecture. Thanks to its central location at the 'three-countries-corner' where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, the city on the elbow of the Rhine is also an important centre of fairs and congresses. The large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral are the landmarks of the city.

Bellinzona (German: Bellenz) is strategically positioned where the valley narrows at the southern entrance to the Alpine passes of St. Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lucomagno and is probably Switzerland's most Italianate town. The skyline of the capital of Ticino, comprising three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Not many cities have managed to retain their historic features quite as successfully as Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The old town of Bern has been entered in the list of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites and thanks to its 6 kilometres of arcades - the locals refer to them as 'Lauben' - boasts on of the longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe. The Zentrum Paul Klee houses the most comprehensive collection of works by the artist.

Biel - or Bienne, in French - is the only town in the whole of Switzerland where both German and French are spoken on an equal footing. For example, all the street names are given in both languages. Here you will notice the easy-going attitude that comes from the mixture of two languages.

The town of Brig with its historic old quarter and the Stockalper Palace lies in the sunny Upper Valais at the foot of the Simplon Pass. Situated at an important junction, Brig is an ideal starting point for excursions. It is close to hiking and ski regions on the Lötschberg and Simplon, and in the Aletsch. It also has its own thermal baths, making it an attractive holiday resort.

Chur looks back on 5000 years of settlement history, which also makes it Switzerland’s oldest town. The lively small bishop’s town has developed to become the cultural and economic centre of the Grisons, thanks to its excellent location on key transport routes through the Alps. 26 Grisons holiday and spa resorts can be reached in less than an hour from Chur.

The Old Town of Fribourg (German: Freiburg im Üechtland) is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Europe. It has preserved its medieval charms into modern times, with over 200 Gothic facades dating from the 15th century. There has always been a lively crossover of cultures in this bilingual town.

Embedded between nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura, the French-speaking city of Geneva lies in the bay where the Rhone leaves Lake Geneva. With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, the European seat of the UNO and headquarters of the Red Cross is known as the “capital of peace”.