Scenic Switzerland - Lugano, Interlaken, Gruyeres

Lugano is a town in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy, dubbed by tourists as the "Monte Carlo of Switzerland". It occupies the balmy, lake-laced southern foothills of the Alps. In autumn of 2003, I made a brief visit here to see St. Mary of the Angels Church (Santa Maria degli Angeli), a 16th century church famous for the frescoes done by Bernardino Luini, a North Italian painter from Leonardo da Vinci's circle. In 1529 Luini completed one of his masterworks, the grand Passion and Crucifixion fresco, paired by other works in the same church.

In the heart of the Swiss alps, situated between the Lakes of Thun and Brienz and at the foot of the famous trio of peaks, the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, is Interlaken, a municipality in the canton of Bern. It is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and remains one of the most popular. Its main attraction is probably the magnificent Jungfrau mountain (4158m). Decisive in the development of the Interlaken area was the Augustine Monastery which was founded at the beginning of the 12th century, and was first mentioned by name "inter lacus" in 1133. The Interlaken Monastery was finally abolished in 1528. The former monastery then became the castle and the seat of government.

The walls and turrets of Gruyères's fairytale castle, 50km northeast of Lausanne, bristle atop a single crag rising above the gorgeous rolling lowlands of Canton Fribourg. The whole region -- of which the medieval town of Gruyères is the best-known attraction -- is known as LA GRUYÈRE. This perfectly preserved old castle-village, isolated on its crag but within easy reach of Lake Geneva, is one of Switzerland's most photogenic sights and attracts hordes of daytrippers throughout the summer season to stroll on the village's only street and explore the impressive château. The château was formerly the regional seat of power, occupied from 1080 to 1554, by the nineteen counts of Gruyères. To approach it, one must walk the length of Gruyères's dipping, picturesque main street with its central fountain and quaint old houses on either side bedecked with hanging signs.

Highlights of the chateau include Flemish tapestries decorating the count's bedchamber, French artist Corot's room with landscapes painted by him, and other rooms throughout the castle with grand fireplaces, heraldic stained glass, and booty from the Battle of Murten where Louis II, Count of Gruyère, fought on the Swiss side. The wood-panelled Knights' Hall is impressive, as is the small formal garden at the very back, on the tip of the hill. Beside the castle, Gruyères's church is in an exceptionally beautiful location, backed by valley vistas.

La Gruyère district is also home to the world famous Le Gruyère cheese, the finest and best-known type of Swiss cheese. It has been made since the 12th Century, when cheese was used as currency in Switzerland.

Our hotel, Hotel Hirschen, is located at Seehof in Fluelen, a municipality in the canton of Uri, the farthest point of the lake from Luzern, a picturesque little place with the train station right beside the landing stage.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Lugano
• Interlaken
• Gruyeres
• Switzerland
• Seehof
• Fluelen
• Santa
• Maria
• degli
• Angeli

[ThePoltergueist]

Zermatt; youtube.com/watch?v=KIzNcguR_6­o 

[musicroman]

Big success for your video because it's very very good

[hushhush1210]

nice''very nice''i been there''hope to go back again''friendly ppl

[zefferin]

thats funny, a lot of people say that about lugano, that its dull and the people are rude. I think lugano is tight and so is the rest of switzerland

[filtonkingswood]

Lugano! Yes! Fantastic place and the people so alive.... sadly the rest of Switzerland is very, very dull and the people even more so.

[ticinesotto]

che bella Lugano!!

[zhinch]

too bad i got a SIG 552 with 50 rounds at home...

[Moonna3]

Such a lovely place!!I hope that one day I am going to be there..:)

[Moonna3]

I hope that one day I will visit this such a lovely place:)

[fehawia]

wow ..!!

niiiiiice .. I love Switzerland