The Switzerland Traveler

Jazz Ascona is one of the major jazz festivals in Europe.

Maybe a little more jazzy than the more famous Montreux festival, but great all the same. It runs from Thursday 25 June until Sunday 5 July.

Ten days of great music with a variety of international artists.  There will be over 200 musicians, playing more than 400 hours of concerts.

Genres covered: Swing, Blues, Gospel and Mainstream Jazz.

Be there, or be square, Daddy-O.  I can’t believe I just wrote that.

There’s still plenty of time to find accomodation in Ascona or nearby Locarno, so why not fit in a trip to Ticino?

Info:

Photos: Flickr - Francesco di Bellinzona

It’s a bit late to make a special trip if you’re not already in Switzerland, but Art Basel is on at the moment. Starting today, Wednesday 10th June.

At the Messe Hall in Basel (naturally!) it’s (and I think you’ve guessed) one of the major art displays in the country, and probably in the world.

Focussing mainly, if not exclusively, on contemporary works (late 20th, early 21st Century) there are about 300 exhibitors offering works from the sublime to the ridiculous.

It’s like vistiting a MOMA and being able to buy the original of something you like, rather than a poster. Of course, some of the works are a bit pricey, but you can always think of it as an investment.

Art Basel is easy to reach by tram - Messeplatz tram stop. It’s open 11am-7pm until Sunday 14th June.

Or put it in your calendar for next year.

Photo: Flickr Chiaki0808

As one of the most popular topics on the Switzerland traveler is photos of Chateau Chillon, I thought I’d show you what it’s looking like at the moment, with a few recent pictures.

First of all, the picture postcard. It really does look like this.

This is the way to arrive!

The paddle steamers in Switzerland are about 100 years old, and are beautiful machines. Superbly cared for, with gleaming engines that are great to watch in action.

Well, it looks like the great English poet was here and had a rather impressive way of leaving graffiti!

And this is what you can see from down below on a clear day.

Photos: Flickr -anaadi+ enbodenummer wildhullaballoo alvore

Can you see the fairy in this picture?

No, neither can I. But apparently there’s a bloke called Cyril who might be able to help your children find them.

He’s a mountain Guide and has maps with clues that help you find your way around. Who knows what you’ll see?

Certainly you’ll see beautiful countryside and breathe clear mountain air. You might even see some herbs used in local cooking. I grow mine in pots on the window sill, but natural has to be better!

So if you fancy a treasure hunt en plein air, in the company of a trained mountain guide so you don’t get lost (or miss out on fairies) why not nip down to Leysin?

Just off the A9 at the Aigle turn off, or use the wonderful SBB journey planning site to work out the best route to get there: www.sbb.ch

Leysin Tourisme
Place Large
1854 Leysin
Tel. +41 (0)24 493 33 00
Fax +41 (0)24 493 33 01
info@leysin.ch
www.leysin.ch

On June 12 - 14, the largest regatta in Europe, at least on a lake, takes place in Geneva.

It’s the sort of event that you can watch from afar, or get in close and look at the boats.

The race has a tradition of 70 years of racing. In the early days, the race took nearly 24 hours to complete, nowadays it’s less than 9 hours.  It’s not just racing cars that have got faster!

Info www.boldor.ch

Photo: Flickr - loops

Up near the zoo, is a lovely hotel with a great terrace and restarant.

It’s the sort of place you might choose to go to for a special occasion, which translates to “it’s not cheap”. And bearing in mind how people usually seem to feel about prices in Switzerland, that means this is the sort of place you’re not going to find on www.europestring.com

But it is lovely, and a drink on the terrace is well worthwhile if you’ve been to the zoo.

It’s the sort of place that makes you realize how lucky you are, and what wonderful scenery Switzerland has to offer.

Go all the way to the end of the #6 tram line (Zoo) and then wander up the hill to the brick building.

Photo: Author

Things don’t change much in Switzerland.

Or at least, sometimes they don’t change quickly.

Take a look at these two photos, taken nearly 80 years apart. Admittedly, they were taken at the top of the Gotthard (or San Gottardo if you prefer the Italian) Pass. Which is not the easiest place to get to, especially in winter.

About the only difference is the lack of snow, and that’s probably not due to global warming as I saw some photos of workers clearing the pass last month (sadly I don’t have the rights to re-publish them) and there was plenty of snow then.

Photos: Flickr - pizzodisevo keepthebyte

If all the lakes and mountains get a bit much for you and you feel like something a bit more exotic, why not try the Masaola enclosure at Zurich zoo?

It focusses on the plight of the Madagascar rainforest, higlights the worrying rate at which the rainforest is disappearing - tens of thousands of square metres every hour.

There are shedloads of different types of flora, beautiful birds, scary insects, and even the occasional monkey or lemur.

The beauty of the place is that you actually have to look for things, rather than having animals stuck in front of you as with most exhibits.

And as nature tends to provide fairlz effective camouflage you may have to look quite closely to see all the interesting animals, reptiles and insects.

The zoo is located at the end of the number six tram line. It is open daily until 18:00 in summer, 17:00 in winter.

Entry is CHF 22 for adults, less for concessions.

Photos: Author.

www.zoo.ch

Madonna del Sasso, a lovely church located high above Locarno, is something I’ve covered before.

But on finding this old postcard, I felt I had to post it.

Obviously, churches don’t change much, not even in 70 years, but I thought it was worth showing.

Photo: Flickr - pizzodisevo

There’s a region of Switzerland that doesn’t get much coverage in the travel press.

And that’s a shame really, as the Jura has some delightful countryside to offer.

Franches Montagnes nestles between France and the Canton of Bern, with around 20 small villages and municipalities. It is famous for its horses, and as such offers excellent riding if you’re that way inclined.

If you have any grasp of French, you’ll have twigged that the area is likely to be situated higher than the surroundings (Montagnes is French for Mountains). But it is also relatively flat, at least in comparison with the Alps. Think undulations rather than cliffs. 

There’s a nature reserve near the “capital” Saignelégier (te population is only around 2000 people so don’t put shopping on the activity list) and the area also has a fen-like area. Bog might not be too strong a word, so if in doubt don’t wander too far from the beaten track.

In winter, snow-shoeing or cross country skiing are popular. In summer, bikes and horses are de rigeur.

An area for an active family holiday perhaps?

Info: www.juratourisme.ch

Photo: Flickr - obscurateur