Saturday, October 31, 2009

Places To Visit In Switzerland

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When you travel to Switzerland, the first city you are likely to go to is Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland. The city is Switzerland’s main commercial and cultural centre and sometimes called the Cultural Capital of Switzerland.

According to several surveys from 2006 to 2009, Zürich was named the city with the best quality of life in the world as well as the wealthiest city in Europe. It is also the sixth most expensive city in the world, where a 350 ml bottle of water costs as much as US$5.

However, don’t let the high Swiss standard of living scare you, as there is plenty to see and do in Zurich. The city is situated where the river Limmat issues from the north-western end of Lake Zurich, about 30 km north of the Alps. Zürich is surrounded by lovely wooded hills.

You can stay at Leoneck Hotel as it is conveniently close (5 to 10 mins walk) to the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), Old Town attractions and the main shopping budget. The hotel is also right next to a tram stop. The hotel offers reasonable charges, at between US$ 155 and US$ 240, depending on the season, per night for a twin room. You may also want to check out the Crazy Cow Restaurant at the basement of the hotel. It serves Swiss food served in troughs and pails, and is also open to non-hotel guests

Do bring a pair of good walking shoes, even if you don’t plan to go hiking. Many parts of Switzerland is on a slope. You can do your sight-seeing near the Old Town and along the Limmat River. Not to be missed are the Fraumunster Church, with its window paintings by Chagal, and the Landesmuseum, the biggest Swiss history museum. You can take a river bus and cruise down the Limmat River, soaking in the sights of Zurich.

The main shopping belt is the Bahnhofstrasse, with famous labels, fast food and upmarket restaurants, and cafes lining the promenade. The road also connects the main train station to Lake Zurich. At Lake Zurich, you can take a cruise to other parts of the city. It can get quite chilly, so don’t forget to bring a jacket.

Nature-and-Sightseeing-in-Switzerland is one of the best holidays you can choose. Another place to visit is Lucerne, a German-speaking part of Switzerland. The Old Town of Lucerne is a concentrated patch of land and most of the tourist attractions can be easily covered within 20 minutes by foot. One of the highlights of Lucerne’s historical centre is the Lowendenkmal or Lion Monument.

This massive statue was erected to commemorate the massacre of the Swiss Guard while defending the Tuileries (France’s Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their family), who died in Paris in 1792 during the French Revolution. The weeping lion has a lance firmly implanted into his mid-section and his paw is resting upon the seal of France. This masterpiece is the work of Bertel Thorvaldsen and was completed between 1819 and 1821. From there, enjoy the view of the old iconic Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe.

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