Mainly just a post for locals, although if you are planning a trip next year and are thinking of visiting friends or relatives in Winterthur, then maybe round about this time is an option.

A lot of places have annual celebrations, and the annual festival in Winterthur is allegedly the biggest.

Of course, I’m still sticking with my belief that the Badenfahrt is the best festival in the country but as it’s every 10 years, that doesn’t really help anyone. Unless you are reading this in June 2017, of course…

It’s one of those turn-up-and-have-a-look-round type of events, so no need to describe it. Expect food, drinks, music, happy people, some of whom will be dressed strangely.

I’m aiming to go along tomorrow, and maybe will post a report next week.

www.albanifest.ch/

Photo: Flickr – 404

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I know you like these ones.

On Sunday, Lichtensteig, a small town in the Toggenburg area, near Wildhaus, has a barrel organ event.

It’s for antique or home-made barrel organs, and around 20 are expected. I can’t imagine the noise if they all play at the same time.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a small antiques fair and an old fairground roundabout too, and where there’s any gathering of people, it will be accompanied by the smell of sizzling sausages

The ”Friends of vintage motor-bikes” are also planning to turn up – surely a good time guaranteed for all!

Verkehrsverein Lichtensteig,
Hauptgasse 29, 9620 Lichtensteig

www.verkehrsverein-lichtensteig.ch

Photo: Flickr MrUllmi

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Yes, it’s true. Any time of the year you can experience tropical temperatures at the end of the number 6 tram line.

Zurich Zoo prides itself on being one of the most modern in the world, seeking to reproduce natural habitats for it’s animals.

The Masaola rainforest is typical of their dedication, featuring many types of flora and fauna.

As with most zoos, the purpose is educational, and the Masaola forest is there to inform about the causes of the disappearance of forests, but also projects that help conserve forests in the real world.

The forest opens at 10:00 and is open until 18:00. (17:00 Nov-Feb)

Photos: Flickr – keepps

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Blimey, they’re still going on.

Only two weeks to Easter and the beginning of the 40 days beforehand is still being celebrated.

Mind you, seeing as you’re supposed to give up stuff in those 40 days I can’t help but admire the logic of having the party late.

Anyway, Avenches, 12km NW of Fribourg is up for a party this weekend, and as you’d expect, they’ll be holding it in the Roman Amphitheatre.

Let’s face it, when your town used to be the most important in Switzerland, in thise 4th Century days when it was known as Aventicum, you’d want to brag a bit.

It seems to be the classic mix; Guggemusik, outrageous costumes and staying up late drinking.

If you are in the area, don’t miss it.

Check www.avenches.ch for parade timings etc.

Photo myswitzerland

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

If you are planning a trip to Switzerland (and if not, why not?) then you might just like some ideas of things you could do.

How about a spot of rope climbing, or playing on suspension bridges?

Ropetech is a park where you can do all these things, safe in the knowledge that you are being supervised by Swiss people; which means not only have they been trained, but they’ have been trained properly.

The park opens for the summer on March 21 and is located near Bern.

www.ropetech.ch

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I’m happy to admit I have no idea how this works, but the people that run the lifts on the mountain at Sedrun claim to have the area’s first children’s restaurant.

Now clearly, most restaurants accept children, so this can’t be something new, and as they also say it’s family-oriented, then I’m presuming they allow adults in as well.

And anyway, if they don’t allow adults, who’s paying? Not many children I know have credit cards…

But it looks quite cool (although sadly I can’t find any hi-res pics) so maybe children will be happy to go there.

And as Disentis/Sedrun is  nice place for a family ski day/weekend/holiday, I’m sure they are on to a winner.

I look forward to finding out what it’s all about!

www.disentis-sedrun.ch

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I know I mentioned Fasnacht a couple of weeks ago, but one of the big ones starts this Thursday, and if you are in Switzerland, you might want to go along and see it.

Fasnacht is an amazing carnival, where strangely dressed people play music to blow away the winter.

This year, Fasnacht in Luzern runs from Thurs 31st Jan to Tuesday 5th Feb.

Two parades are planned, One on Thursday, one on Sunday. Both begin at 14:00 The route of the parade runs from Luzernerhof – Schweizerhofquai – Schwanenplatz – Kapellplatz –  Fritschibrunnen –  Seebrücke – Bahnhofplatz – Pilatusstrasse – Viktoriaplatz – Hirschmattstrasse – Waldstätterstrasse (although Kapellplatz – Fritschibrunnen is missed out on Sunday.

Alternatively, wander round the restaurants and bars looking for the *Dekoriert" signs, which tells you a party will be going on.

Don’t be surprised if someone asks you to buy a badge to support the carnival though, and I’d recommend you do – otherwise you are likely to find yourself covered in confetti!

Photos: somebox, Mark and Allegra

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Easter is early this year, and so, therefore, is Fasnacht.

Literally, Night of the Fast, it represents time to go mad (that’s my interpretation) before the fasting period of Lent kicks in.

That’s the theory, except of course it wouldn’t be much fun if all the parties were on the same night – like you have to have at New Year. So the pragmatic Swiss arrange to have their pre-Lent festivals at slightly staggered times.

And it’s a family occasion (thus qualifying for our b5 theme day) so everybody can dress up.

Typically there will be an Umzug, or parade, for children on the Sunday, when the little ones get to paint their faces, dress up in crazy costumes – which have to be warm, this is winter remember, and throw confetti over any adults they pass in the street.

The adults on the other hand, have two approaches to Fasnacht:

One involves being incredibly serious, often with a political context. For example this year there has been a massive outcry about racism and a certain political party, and I wouldn’t mind betting that black and white sheep (because of their advertising campaign) will feature heavily in some parades.

But the Fasnacht that I love tends to happen in the evenings through to the early (or late) morning. Again, wild costumes feature, but these are fun, incredibly detailed and intricate, and worn by people marching through the streets playing drums, pipes and brass instruments.

I would have to use the term music loosely, but Guggemusik is a genre on its own, and has to be heard to be believed. Think  loud, and slightly out of tune – I often think it’s a race to see which member of the band can finish first. After all, there are drinks in the bar at stake.

As you can see, the effort taken is immense. And as the whole of Fasnacht covers most of February, there really is time to involve the whole family.

Ask me if you need dates for a particular region.

Photos: shirasade, kelko, technicolor

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

We’ve had quite a lot of winter sports recently on TST, so here’s a traditional custom to be getting on with.

To be honest, the more I write about this country, the more I am convinced it’s a great (and diverse) place to live or visit.

Silvesterklausen takes place in Appenzell, particularly in the communes of Urnäsch, Schönengrund, Schwellbrunn, Waldstatt, Herisau, Hundwil, Stein, and Teufen.

Apparently (and I may well be wrong on this!) the idea is to distinguish between different types of Santa Claus – beautiful ones, ugly ones and the natural  or forest ones. And I thought there was only the one in the Coca-Cola sponsored suit…

The Chläuse (or Klause) are apparently based on a demonic cult that apparently merged with vegetation and fertility cults near Urnäsch, situated in the valley below Schwägalp.

It’s now become more widespread (as listed above) and Old New Year’s Eve, January 13, is the main cause for celebration. Something to do with the Julian calendar change apparently; Appenzell isn’t known for being progressive, women there have only had the vote for nearly 40 years…

If you’d like to get involved, or at least see strange men and boys dressed in costumes, pop along to one of the villages on 13 January; Urnäsch probably being the place to be.

The action starts at dawn, but there’ll be something to see all day.

See http://www.urnaesch-tourismus.ch/e/brauchtum/alter_silvester.htm for a better explanation of what it’s all about!

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

It’s the time of the year that local ski resorts are beginning to open.

Last year we didn’t really get any snow until January but this year resorts are already opening, if only partially.

Elm is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at the moment, before opening for the season in a week’s time.

Elm is a classic family skiing resort, ideal for a day out, with an added advantage in that you can also sledge there.

There is a 4km sledge run, and you don’t need your own sledge. Just turn up, pay the man, go up in the cable car and they’ll give you a sledge at the top.

Endless fun later, you simply leave it by the bottom station of the gondola.

Prices are from 7.50 for a single run to 28.00 for a day pass on a sledge, ski and snowboard passes are 44.00 per day.

Piste map and directions below:

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler