Arts and Crafts, Food and Wine. A luxe twist on traditional Switzerland with Watch and Cow
With its breathtaking landscape of dramatic mountains, enchanting villages and scenic lakes, it’s little wonder that Switzerland’s rich arts and crafts heritage has thrived for centuries.
From traditional crafts rooted in ancient artisan skills to the impeccable precision for which the Swiss are renowned, this inspirational land has an enormous wealth of artistic traditions just waiting to be explored.
And, given no exploration of Switzerland would be complete without generous helpings of its spectacular food and fine wines, we were delighted when our Swiss experts, Watch and Cow , shared a particularly exceptional experience with us - a quintessential taste of traditional Switzerland, with a decidedly luxurious twist.
Join us as we discover what’s on offer with highlights of this 15-day tour that takes in the very best of Switzerland’s crafts, culture and cuisine.
Culture and charm in Zurich
Zurich is one of Switzerland’s prettiest places - which, given it’s up against some of the stiffest competition in Europe, is saying something.
Here, you’ll find prime tourist attractions like the Grossmünster church and its smaller companion, the Fraumünster, with its gorgeous 11th-century interior and stained glass - as well as the famous Bahnhofstrasse, the Swiss Wall Street, with its 200+ bank HQs and a parade of exclusive designer boutiques.
A foodie tour of the streets of the Old Town is a brilliant way to unearth delicious Zurich specialities and their culinary heritage.
Delight in the discovery of gastronomic secrets, from the “Spanisch-Brötli-Bahn” (“Spanish small buns train”) through the traditional “Tirggel” cookie to the brightest and best of Zurich’s emerging food start-ups - finding the places that knowledgeable locals are keeping to themselves!
Full and happy, a leisurely climb of the Lindenhof Hill rewards you with a well-deserved rest in this gorgeous, tree-lined park, with its panoramic views of the River Limmat, Lake Zurich and to the Niederdor.
Authentic Appenzell
On to Appenzell where, at the foot of the Alpstein mountains, you’ll find a singularly beautiful, “Heidi”-like landscape of verdant, rolling hills dotted with cows, whose milk produces the Appenzeller cheese that this stunning region is famed for.
Here, travellers can discover authentic Switzerland at its traditional best.
Appenzell is home to a wealth of rural customs, from autumn’s ceremonial cattle descent to folk music and rustic dances, and its villages and tiny towns abound with intricate, colourful chalet-style architecture and friendly cafes serving delectable delicacies.
Farm visits are a brilliant way to experience a true taste of life in the mountains.
At Alp Nasen Farm, hosts Heidi Kernbichler and Fritz Brunner take guests on a tour of their smallholding, with its goats, cows and calves.
Travellers can embark on a gentle goat trek that ambles peacefully through the hills of the Appenzell countryside, picking aromatic herbs in the lush green meadows before stopping for a rustic picnic with sausages cooked over the campfire.
Heading to the beautiful city of St Gallen, bibliophiles can rejoice in an exploration of St Gall’s Abbey Library, renowned as one of the oldest and most beautiful libraries in the world.
Believed to date back to the 8th Century, its thousands of priceless texts represent more than 12 centuries of collecting, housed since the mid-18th century in a stunningly lavish, Baroque space whose ceilings are adorned with elaborate murals and whose walls are framed by curved mouldings and intricately carved wooden balconies.
In the Palazzo Rosso, the city’s Textile Museum is a testament to the beauty and heritage of Switzerland’s craftsmanship - as well as textiles from other countries and other times.
Here, beautiful historical embroideries, ancient Egyptian textiles and exquisite laces and fabrics dating from the Middle Ages to modern times are juxtaposed with contemporary textile art, offering a complete immersion in textile craft through the ages.
The views and vines of Liechtenstein
End your time in the Zurich region with a quick border hop to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein.
Known locally as "Staedtle" or "Little Town", Vaduz’s history and heritage is fascinating, from its emblematic castle to its Stamp Museum; the culinary specialities of the Old Town to the modern, prize-winning Art Museum, home to one of Europe's oldest private collections.
And surely it would be rude not to sample some of Lichtenstein's celebrated fine wines (wink…)?
A vineyard tour of the Princely Wine Cellars takes in both the Domaine Wilfersdorf and the Domaine Vaduz, which boasts its own vinothek as well as the restaurant Torkel, with its magnificent views and modern dishes based on first-class produce and harmonious flavours.
At the Hofkellerei (Royal Winery), guests enter what is essentially the personal wine cellar of the Prince of Liechtenstein, take a stroll through the vineyards, learn about winemaking in the Rhine Valley and sample some of the estate’s celebrated Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.
Prost!
Stay
At the fabulous Hotel Storchen, whose modern, light-filled rooms offer historic views of the City, an exploration of Zurich’s beautifully preserved mediaeval streets is a wonderful way to set the tone for the next two weeks of discovery.
On to Interlaken
From here, guests move on to beautiful Interlaken. Nestled between two staggeringly stunning lakes - Brienz and Thun - and surrounded by majestic mountains on all sides, stay at the Grandhotel Giessbach , an idyllic retreat in an iconic Swiss setting.
The Giessbach really is the epitome of a picture-postcard-perfect hotel. Overlooking the pristine turquoise waters of the Brienzersee, its extensive, manicured gardens extend to a beautiful forest, with its own waterfall and funicular to the lake.
Inside, you’ll find wall-to-wall grandeur - a “house full of history”, where past and present blend to magical effect.
Next on the arts and crafts trail, take in the lovely little village of Wasen, where the Blaser Saddlery is located in a stately farmhouse that dates back to 1662.
A tour of this gorgeous building teaches you the history of this fine old craft, from time-served traditions to the newest techniques, not to mention the exquisite embroidery Swiss artisans are known for.
Glaciers, Waterfalls and Peaks
No visit to this spectacular part of the world would be complete without taking in the best of Switzerland’s awe-inspiring landscape.
The Eiger Express, a spectacular gondola ride, with breathtaking views takes you to the dizzy heights of the Jungfraujoch, the saddle that connects the Eiger and the Mönch.
Stop to admire the glacial views of the Eiger’s North Face before completing the climb to the summit, where this world of snow, ice and rocks can be viewed from the Sphinx and Plateau platforms on the Aletsch glacier.
Alternatively, travellers can choose to experience the Ice Palace, a surreal world of ice sculptures and narrow snow tunnels located 30m below Alage, Europe’s longest glacier.
A day’s hiking on mainly flat land offers clients the chance to marvel at the majestic Trümmelbach Falls, the world's only glacier waterfalls that are accessible underground by lift, galleries, tunnels, paths and platforms.
Carrying the meltwater, boulders and scree of the glaciers from the Jungfrau down to the valley (up to 20,000 litres of water per second), the flow causes the entire mountain to shudder and make a thundering noise - an experience that offers a true perspective into the sheer size and scale of this majestic Alpine setting!
Moving from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg, guests will also take in the imposing Staubbach Falls, hiking past water that gushes from vertical rock several hundred metres high and enjoying impressive views of the surrounding mountains as they stroll and enjoy.
Finish your tour with this unique experience - 'The wonders of Woodcarving'
In the heart of the little woodcarving village of Brienz, the Swiss Woodcarving Museum takes visitors on a journey through the country’s carving heritage and culture, showcasing the works and stories of some of Switzerland’s most fascinating works and inspirational artists, before offering guests the opportunity to try their hands at this ancient art under the expert tutelage of local carvers.
A perfect ending to this tour of traditional Switzerland!
For more information about this fabulous itinerary - or to dive deeper into Watch and Cow’s unique range of luxurious, themed travel experiences, contact the team today.