Switzerland 2025

From Art to Nature - Breathtaking Adventures in the Heart of Switzerland

  Another year in Freiburg gave me another chance to explore many beautiful places in Switzerland in 2025. From the mystery of the fascinating art museums up to stunning landscapes with breathtaking panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and the Wine Terraces of Lavaux, every moment was a memory for the lifetime and an unforgettable adventure.

  In the beginning of April, I made it to Basel to visit the Fondation Beyeler Museum for modern and contemporary art - mostly because of the exhibition "The Key to Dreams: Surrealist Masterpieces from the Hersaint Collection". But I started with the second exhibition, which was also included and so I felt like being in the Scandinavian nature for a while. The exhibition "Northern Lights" was really impressive in my opinion and focused on landscape paintings by artists from Scandinavia and Canada, created between 1888 and 1937. The boreal forest connects them all as common source of inspiration. The seemingly vast forests, the radiant light of the endless summer days, the long winter nights and natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights have given rise to a unique form of modern Nordic painting that continues to exert a special appeal and fascination until today. The exhibition offered the opportunity to trace the development of Nordic landscape painting in modern art by artists like Hilma af Klint, Edvard Munch, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Emily Carr or Anna Boberg.

  After immersing myself in the beautiful landscapes of Scandinavia and Canada, a fascinating world of dreams and mystery awaited me in the second exhibition. The Fondation Beyeler presented Surrealist masterpieces from the Hersaint Collection, including around 50 key works by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Joan Miró or Pablo Picasso. The collection was founded by the banker Claude Hersaint, who acquired his first painting by Max Ernst at the age of 17. A lifelong passion for art developed, culminating in one of the most important collections of Surrealist arts. The paintings address central themes of Surrealism, such as dreams, the unconscious, transformation and the forest as a place of mystery. It was simply art from a different kind of world and that's why it fascinated me so much. Afterwards, I also made a little walk in the beautiful garden of the Fondation Beyeler to enjoy some sunshine.  

  In mid-July, I headed off for a weekend getaway to Lausanne, nestled in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Since I had already explored the city on a previous trip last year, I skipped the classic sightseeing this time and decided to focus more on the natural beauty surrounding Lausanne. That being said, I still got to enjoy some truly breathtaking views. One of the highlights was watching the sunset from the forecourt of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Lausanne - the sky slowly transformed into soft pastel tones as the city below lit up. Another magical spot was the fifth floor of the Hôtel Crystal, where I had a fantastic panoramic view over the old town, framed by the distant mountains on the horizon. I was lucky enough to have a room with a balcony, and on Saturday evening, I enjoyed my dinner outside, accompanied by the peaceful chime of the church bells in the background. As the skies darkened and a gentle rain began to fall, a rainbow appeared far off in the mountains - a truly poetic moment. 

  Dinner the evning before was another highlight: just a five-minute walk from the hotel, I discovered O Mylos, a small Greek street food spot. Sitting there with my Greek sandwich, I felt like I'd been transported to a charming tavern in Santorini. The flavours were rich and authentic - a little Greek island magic in the heart of Lausanne. After the dinner and catching the last golden rays from the cathedral, I stopped by a public viewing area to watch Switzerland against Spain in the Women's European Championship. It was great to soak in the atmosphere, though I only stayed for the first half time since I had an early start the next day.

   After dropping off my bag at the hotel in Lausanne, I hopped on a train and made my way to Cully, a small lakeside village just ten minutes away. From there, I set out on a 15 kilometre hike through the stunning Lavaux Vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest contiguous wine-growing region in Switzerland, spanning over 800 hectares. Even during the train ride, the terraced vineyards clinging to the slopes, caught my eye. But once I began the hike, the views became even more extraordinary. With every step, the landscape opened up into new, breathtaking panoramas - rows of vines cascading down the hillsides, framed by majestic mountains and the shimmering blue of Lake Geneva. It was one of those places where nature and culture blend in perfect harmony.

  The trail was well-marked and easy to follow. I first made my way to the picturesque village of Rivaz, and from there, climbed steeply uphill to Chexbres. The views from the charming village were some of the most impressive of the day. A path along the main road eventually led me back toward Cully, with a lovely stop in the wine-growing village of Epesses along the way. Each little village offered the chance to taste local wines, and while I was tempting, I decided to wait until the end of the hike to fully enjoy the experience. Once back in Cully, I rewarded myself with a cappuccino and a glass of Dézaley Grand Cru - a local white wine with rich character - all while soaking in the view over Lake Geneva from a peaceful café terrace. This hike was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable parts of my weekend. A perfect blend of physical activity, natural beauty, and a well-deserved glass of wine to top it all off.   

  This weekend was one unforgettable highlight after another - and the next adventure on the list was a trip to Glacier 3000. After being picked up by our guide, we set off on a scenic bus ride that wound its way up through mountain switchbacks for about an hour, eventually arriving at the base station of the first of two gondolas that would take us to the summit. The 20-minute ride up already offered breathtaking views, but nothing quite prepared me for what awaited us at the top. Our first stop was the panoramic observation platform, followed by the famous Peak Walk - a metal suspension bridge connecting two mountain peaks. Despite my fear of heights, I mustered the courage to cross it, and was rewarded with absolutely spectacular vistas of the surrounding Alps. A moment of pure exhilaration and awe. Once we had soaked up the views and taken a lot of pictures, we considered our next move. Glacier 3000 offers plenty of activities, including the Alpine Coaster, Europe's highest toboggan run, and a Glacier Walk. Unfortunately, the weather started to turn - dark clouds rolled in, and a storm forced the suspension of all outdoor activities for safety reasons.

  We found shelter in one of the cozy mountain cafés, where I treated myself to a slice of blueberyy cake and a hot Ovomaltine while hoping the storm would soon pass. Sadly, the wind and rain stuck around, so we eventually had to make our way back down the mountain without having experienced the Alpine Coaster or Glacier Walk. But even so, the panoramic views alone made the visit more than worthwile. The day wasn't over yet. After a short bus ride, we made a final stop in Montreux, Switzerland's very own Riviera. We had just enough time for a gentle stroll along the lakeside promenade, snapped some photos at the iconic Freddie Mercury Statue, and caught the lively sounds of the Montreux Jazz Festival, which was in full swing. Before heading back to Lausanne, I made a quick detour into one of the local cheese shops to stock up for a cozy dinner on the balcony - complete with Swiss cheese, Alpine air, and the distant glow of the mountains. A perfect end to a day filled with contrasts - from glacial peaks to jazz by the lake.