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SWITZERLAND

Guide of places to travel

Bern

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Bern is the federal city and de facto capital of Switzerland. It is also the capital of the homonymous canton. According to the Mercer 2011 Quality of Living Survey, Bern is the ninth city in the world with the highest quality of life. The city held the sixth position of the cities with the best quality of life in the world in 2003 , and the ninth in 2009

How to get to Bern

Train: It is the transport that the vast majority of people who arrive in this city use from a immense station, which has a strategic location in the western part of its old town. A large number of trains arrive at this place not only from other parts of Switzerland but from different parts of the European Continent, so the station is one of the most popular in all this part of the world.

Airplane: count with one international Airport south of the city, in the municipality of Belp. Despite not having the importance of other Swiss airports works with some companies low cost I know you can reach Bern airport from Madrid , Barcelona and Palma de Majorca.

Car: is one of the worst ways to get to Bern because highways are usually toll roads, and tolls are usually quite expensive, because gasoline is more expensive in many European countries and parking in a city like Bern can become a real headache and for your pocket.

How to get around the city

Public transport: It has a network that It has five tram lines, three trolleybus lines and fourteen bus lines.

Bicycle: there is a very well organized electric bicycle rental service.

Taxis: They are a bit expensive, but very efficient and easy to get. You can take them anywhere, but the most common landmarks are Bern Central Station, the airport, and the Old Town.

I recommend the Swiss Travel System that serves to all Swiss public transport and, with the Swiss Pass or the Swiss Flexi Pass that offers cheap global transport tickets for combined trips by train, "Postauto" buses and boat.

What to see in Bern

The Federal Palace

It is located on the Bundesplatz in the historic center. At this building It is the seat of the federal government of Switzerland. It took about 8 years to build and in 1902 the central building with its turquoise copper clad domes was completed. In front of its main facade there is a simple square, the Bundesplatz, in the Behind the Federal Palace and the garden next to it, the Bundeshausterrasse, there are beautiful panoramic views.

clock tower

Although there are several clock towers, this one It has an astronomical clock that is from the 16th century. For lovers of time, this watch starts moving 4 minutes before the full hour. It's as old as the city since it is from 1191. It has had different uses, and was even used as a prison for women.

Cathedral

It is the tallest building in Switzerland (100.6 m) and It is the most important work carried out in late Gothic that began to be built in 1421 and was it was only finished in 1893 when the tower (begun 1521) was completed. Since 1983 it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Bern's Old Town.

Einstein House Museum

Albert Einstein arrived in Bern in 1902 where he began to work in the patent office. In 1903 he settled in a small apartment on the second floor from Kramgasse No. 49. Today the apartment is open to the public as a museum. It preserves the furniture of the time and documentation on Einstein's life is displayed.

Historic helmet

Their streets look like from medieval times and the conservation of the old town (the old city of Bern) is an example in Europe. Bern's Old Town has a refined appearance despite It is already nearly a thousand years old. There are several places to see in this historic center. Like walking along its promenade of up to 6 km full of arcades, shops, bars and restaurants and numerous most curious fountains with statues representing allegorical figures.

the prison tower

The Prison Tower was the second gateway to the city. It was completed the same year as the clock tower, but it was not until after the fire of 1405 that it began to be used as a prison. In 1644 the tower was rebuilt with its current appearance and it continued to house prisoners until 1897. For a time it served as the city's archive and today it is a space for political debate where some exhibitions are also held .

history Museum

This museum was conceived to show the history of Switzerland, although later the Landesmuseum in Zurich stole the position. It is located in a building reminiscent of the Swiss castles of the XV-XVI centuries. The permanent exhibition displays objects linked to the history of Bern from prehistory to the present day.

The Marzili pool

They are the public swimming pools of the city and are located in the vicinity of the Bundeshaus in the middle of an attractive landscape. The public also has around 10,000 m² of lawn.

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Bern gastronomy

Bern is full of bars and restaurants where you can eat. In the city of Bern there is a wide variety of restaurants to taste both Swiss and Mediterranean dishes. The most usual ingredients of the kitchen of Bern are chocolate, fish, beef and pork and of course the cheeses

The potato rosti: this baked potato dish was a popular breakfast among local farmers. Today this popular dish is available in virtually all restaurants that specialize in national cuisine. Rosti is also a typical side dish for meat dishes.

Benerplatte: is one of the typical dishes par excellence in this land, it is a variety of sauerkraut Alsace made of pork and beef, served in large trays, with green beans and boiled potatoes.

Berner silver: It is a dish with a variety of meats, potatoes and cabbage.

Ratsherrnntopf: is a version of the traditional dish made with leg of veal cooked with white wine, butter and sage.

Regarding the desserts is from highlight the exquisite sweets from Bern and Swiss chocolate.

The typical drink we can find from a beer to apple juice and cider, very typical in Switzerland.

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Reservá los mejores Paseos y Tours por Berna

Lucerne

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Lucerne is a Swiss city and commune, capital of the district and canton of Lucerne. Economic, cultural and social center of the Central Swiss region, seventh largest city in Switzerland. The city is the center of an agglomeration of about 200,000 people.

How to get to Lucerne

Plane: From Zurich airport and with a long-distance train from Zurich Central Station HB you can get to Lucerne in about an hour.

Car: If you are driving from Zurich, take the A4 before changing to the A14 at Zug. From Geneva, the best route is to access the A1 towards Bern, the A6 towards Thun and finally the A8 towards Lucerne. Those driving from the Italian border need only follow the A2.

How to get around the city

There are several bus lines such as as well a service of boats that cross the lake of the Four Cantons. The stops are located in the areas closest to the city. It can visit her in a single day without using any bus and doing all the journeys on foot. In order to save on transportation, the swiss travel pass

What to see in Lucerne

chapel bridge

East covered wooden bridge the oldest in Europe (1333) and the second longest in the continent. Crosses the river Reuss and connects the modern part of the city with the historical Center. Its exterior is magnificent, full of flowers and with swans swimming around it. The views of the water tower (Wasserturm) and the twin towers of the baroque Jesuit Church or of the stylized symmetrical bell towers of the Hofkirche.

Mills Bridge

Built in the early 15th century, Spreuerbrücke is he third wooden covered bridge of Lucerne, although at present only two are preserved.

A century later, it is nearly washed away by a spectacular flood. The name was given to it because it was the only footbridge from which straw and leaves could be thrown into the river.

old town hall

It is one of the main buildings in the old town, surrounded by picturesque houses decorated with frescoes.

One of the facades has overlooking the river Reuss, the other overlooks the Kornmarkt square.

One of the most striking elements is the Clock Tower, built 100 years earlier as part of the defensive system of the town.

Medieval walls and towers (Museggmauer)

climbing through the streets from the historic center you arrive to a huge stone wall. It is the Museggmauer neighborhood, delimited by its medieval wall and by the seven towers that are preserved in perfect condition. It is a very quiet area, ideal for walking and with little tourism. You can climb three of the towers, including the Clock tower, the oldest in the city and dating from 1535.

Church of St Leodegar

Located on the banks of the Reuss River, Hofkirche is the most important of the eight Catholic churches in the city, which is why it is also known as the Lucerne Cathedral. It was built in the 17th century on the ruins of an old Romanesque temple, being the only church north of the Alps built at the height of the Thirty Years' War.

lion monument

Carved from the living rock of an old quarry, the Lion of Lucerne is one of the most visited monuments in the city. Mark Twain described it as the saddest and most moving stone work in the world. was made for honor the death of 300 Swiss soldiers who defended King Louis XVI with their lives in the attack on the Tuileries Palace in Paris .

Transport Museum

The largest museum dedicated to means of transport in Europe. Located on the outskirts of the city, across the street from the lido, Lucerne's public baths, it is a real wonder for young and old. The entrance is a fantastic mosaic of geometrically arranged motorway signs that invite us to think about the attractions that we will find inside.

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Vistas-de-la-Hofkirche-y-el-puente-de-la

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Gastronomy of Lucerne

Swiss gastronomy is very varied, influences of German, French and Italian cuisine.

Between the tickets soups are typical, especially a soup with strips of crepes called Rinderkraftbrühe. There's also tomato or onion soup, very popular options during the cold winter days.

In summer it is better to opt for other types of more refreshing appetizers, as is the case with boards of sausages, meats or cheeses or the pretzel accompanied by different ingredients .

Among the main dishes the king is the meat pie, called Chügelipastete . There's also breaded schnitzels, cordon blue (beef fillet stuffed with cheese and ham) or Meat in sauce.

Nor can you miss the dishes made with Swiss cheese, such as fondue or raclette. There are restaurants specialized in these plates. Chinese fondues, Burgundy or the most traditional of cheese. Vacherin and Gruyère cheese fondue. The price is around just over 30 euros per person.

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Reservá los mejores Paseos y Tours por Lucerna

Car: is one of the worst ways to get to Bern because highways are usually toll roads, and tolls are usually quite expensive, because gasoline is more expensive in many European countries and parking in a city like Bern can become a real headache and for your pocket.

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I recommend the Swiss Travel System that serves to all Swiss public transport and, with the Swiss Pass or the Swiss Flexi Pass that offers cheap global transport tickets for combined trips by train, "Postauto" buses and boat.

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Gastronomy of Lucerne