Switzerland & Austria Travel Articles
Swiss Cities and Towns (F-O)

Geneva

Geneva Airport
French Switzerland's largest airport is only six minutes from downtown Geneva, with direct railway connections to Lausanne, the Rhône Valley, and Italy.

Geneva's Escalade
Watch a 17th Century parade, smash chocolate soup pots, and give coins to costumed children during Geneva's annual celebration of a failed military invasion in early December.

International Christmas Tree Festival, Geneva
See 25 Christmas trees from celebrity artists, including a giant tree on the site of the Jet d'eau fountain.

Jet d'eau
With a height of 130m (425 feet), this is still Europe's tallest fountain after 107 years.

Geneva and Zürich Restaurant Trams
In Switzerland, streetcars aren't just for transportation--you can also enjoy a meal with beer or wine while touring by public transit.

La Chaux-de-Fonds

La Chaux-de-Fonds
The home town of Le Corbusier was built by watchmakers, and it's a treasure trove of modern and Art Nouveau architecture. (Also see our related articles on the Tour Espacité, La Maison Blanche, La Villa Turque, and the Théâtre de l'Heure bleu.)

Lausanne

Lausanne
Canton Vaud's capital has a picturesque old town, a lively waterfront, and a wealth of museums and culture.

Olympic Museum Lausanne
You've seen the medals and torches on TV, and now you can see them in person--along with sporting equipment, costumes, 3D movies, on-demand video clips, and other items at the International Olympic Committee's modern museum.

Lucerne

Bridges of Lucerne
This lakeside city is famous for its medieval Kapellbrücke and Spreuerbrücke, one of which was rebuilt after a 1993 fire.

Lake Lucerne by Steamer
Cruise 3-1/2 hours to Fluelen, or combine shorter segments with train transportation as you explore Switzerland's most popular lake.

Lion Monument
Before Louis XVI lost his head, 726 Swiss Guards lost their lives on his acount.

Pilatus Kulm
Take a vintage steamboat to Alpnachstad, then ride the world's steepest cogwheel railroad to the top of Mt. Pilatus. On the way down by cablecar, you can sample an aerial rope course and Switzerland's longest summer toboggan run before returning to Lucerne.

Swiss Transportation Museum
This lakefront museum complex has it all: trains, planes, automobiles, boats, a planetarium, a 360° panoramic movie tour of Switzerland, and an IMAX theater.

Montreux

Montreux
This sunny resort on Lac Léman has classic resort hotels, a lakefront promenade, a casino, and other attractions that have drawn royals and celebrity-watchers since the days of the Tsars.

Castle of Chillon
Lord Byron made this château famous with his poem, The Prisoner of Chillon, and its dungeons have been chilling the hearts of tourists ever since.

Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel
The capital of Canton Neuchâtel is also the gateway to "Watch Valley." Its medieval old town overlooks the biggest lake within Switzerland's borders. (Also see our article on the Hôtel Palafitte, the only European luxury hotel built over water.)

Home

Copyright © 1996-2008 Cheryl and Durant Imboden and their licensors.
All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy