Villages that evolved naturally, car-free ski resorts, Alpine peaks and powder runs. In Switzerland skiing is more than a sport – it’s a lifestyle. Core ingredient of a typically Swiss ski experience is to spend some time in a real mountain hut. Here are our top 10 tips:
No country builds more bunkers than Switzerland.
Switzerland has Europe’s longest glacier. No one travels further by train, recycles more glass or eats more chocolate than the Swiss. The Swiss hold many records - some disputed and not all of them something to boast about.
Halloween is just around the corner and begs the question: Trick or treat?!
No scary moments, treats only: Get pampered at the brand-new lodge hotel ³Cervo² in Zermatt (opening December 19), secure the pole position on the ski-slopes of Engadin St. Moritz as of November 27 and find out why your feet will feel better after a shopping spree in Zurich.
On second thought, though there might be some scary moments. The bears are back in town! In the brand-new bear-park in Berne.
The Engadin Valley, one of the most spectacular regions in the world, deserves an Emmy alone just for its beauty, last Saturday night the unthinkable happened, this stunning region won its first Emmy, even though they were up against their worst competition in the category of best entertainment programming, the Emmys themselves! This is the second time that a program in the U.S. featuring Switzerland as a travel destination receives the coveted TV Oscar! The show was produced in close cooperation with Destination Engadin/St. Moritz.
Maja Gartmann from Switzerland Tourism holding Emmy award with host and producer of NBC’s Travel Cafe show, Chuck Henry!
Esteemed TV award
The Emmy is to U.S. television what the Oscar is to the film industry. The award is presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Millions of viewers
The half-hour Travel Cafe program is produced by Chuck Henry and Kristin Arntz. Every week, Chuck Henry portrays attractions and specific features of a travel destination on television stations NBC 4 (Southern California region) and NBC 5 (Chicago). The travel show reaches six million viewers through NBC 4 and two million through NBC 5. The Engadin/St. Moritz region is not the first region in Switzerland to be introduced with Travel Cafe. In 2002 Chuck Henry took the show already to the Lake Geneva and Matterhorn region, followed in 2003 by an episode about the Italian part of Switzerland (Ticino: Switzerland’s Italian Side), 2005 by a program featuring Lucerne (Lucerne: the Essence of Switzerland) and 2007: our Emmy nominated show: Ski Switzerland. All of these programs were co-produced with Switzerland Tourism and the respective regions.
The Matterhorn Gotthard Railways are celebrating their 111th anniversary. A somewhat different “Happy Birthday” song by 366 musicians set a world record for the most alphorn players performing together.
(Keystone/Jean-Christophe Bott)
Watch movie (German only)
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz AG: a milestone along the way to becoming the leading wellbeing and medical health resort in Europe Renovation and construction programme successfully completed: an investment of 230 million Swiss francs for the repositioning as Europe’s leading wellbeing and medical health resort.
In the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, a vision has become reality thanks to far-sighted investment. The renovation and construction to make it the number one resort in Europe has been successfully completed thanks to comprehensive planning and swift implementation. A total of 230 million Swiss francs has been invested into the repositioning: for the expansion and refurbishment of the wellbeing & medical health areas, for 56 new Spa Suites and Spa Lofts, the total refurbishment of the Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz, the expansion of the restaurant facilities and for the Business and Events Center as well as the rebuilding of the public Tamina Therme. On 26/27 June, guests and local residents will celebrate the completion of this project, a milestone in entrepreneurial,
architectural and tourist terms.
Media release (media_release)
Swiss Watch-making cities added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
The two swiss cities La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The layout and building of the two cities, located in the Jura Region of Switzerland, reflect watch-makers’ need of rational organization. Planned in the early 19th century, after extensive fires, the towns owed their existence to this single industry. Their layout along an open-ended scheme of parallel strips on which residential housing and workshops are intermingled reflects the needs of the local watch-making culture that dates to the 17th century and is still alive today. The site presents outstanding examples of mono-industrial manufacturing-towns which are well preserved and still active. The urban planning of both towns has accommodated the transition from the artisanal production of a cottage industry to the more concentrated factory production of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Detailed information on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
More on La Chaux-de-Fonds & Le Locle
Are you ready for adrenalin boosting adventures? Hiking in the Alps is great but how about some ideas, which will rush your adrenalin a 100% (or maybe 99%):
Our “rare summer gems” are on line! We invite you to discover 72 “pearls” with unforgettable and extraordinary experiences in Switzerland. Each region offers unique suggestions for young and old, for tall and small. Let us surprise you with our hidden treasures.
Check out the new 72 “Swiss Pearls”
For the second time after last year’s premiere, the Valaisan Media Award is given to journalists to show recognition for their best and most exceptional articles or features that were published about the Valais Region in German, French, English and Italian. The prize of 5,000 Swiss Francs will be awarded to the winner of each language category.
The award is open to journalists from all over the world.
Closing date for entries : November 10, 2009.
Cliquez ici pour la version francaise