Spring 2015 - Lake boats in Switzerland

Spring/Summer season for Switzerland’s lake boats

Click on the links at the end of each paragraph to get more details.

For another site showing the boats on the Swiss lakes, see this link (in German). It also features Aegerisee and Greifensee:

http://www.schweizer-schifffahrt.ch/

Zurichsee

The summer season starts on 3 April 2015. Includes long round trips from Zurich Burkliplatz to Rapperswil, short round trips via Thalwil and Erlenbach, and Limmat river trips. A comprehensive program of special cruises and restaurant services is available year-round.

Zurichseegesellschaft

Walensee

Summer season starts on 4 April 2015. If you ever get bored with the Zurisee boats (as if), go further south to the beautiful blue Walensee. Boats leave from Weesen or Walenstadt, or you can cross from Murg to Quinten and back. Special gastronomic cruises too. You can park in Weesen and explore there too.

Walenseeschiff

Zugersee

The summer season on the lake of Zug starts on 12 April 2015. Long round trips run from Bahnhofsteg boat station to Arth, short trips go as far as Walchwil or Buonas. Brunch, lunch and evening cruises also offer restaurant service. Booking ahead is advisable.

You can also take a motor boat or pedalo from the Landesgemeindeplatz in summer.

Zugersee

Rhine river boats

Boat trips run between Kreuzlingen via Stein am Rhein to Schaffhausen. The new season starts on 3 April 2015.

urh Rhine boats

Boat trips to the Rhine Falls run from Rheinau on Sundays from May and daily from 4 July.

Rheinfalls

The Rhine Falls can also be visited on foot at any time of year. The new City Train from Schaffhausen starts in April 2015.

Rhine Falls express

Lake Constance (Bodensee)

Boat trips run from Rorschach, Konstanz, Kreuzlingen and Romanshorn.

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/lake-constance.html

Easter Brunch from Romanshorn, 5 April 2015.

http://www.sbsag.ch/themenschiffe/osterbrunch1.html

Spring season on Bodensee starts on 3 April 2015

http://www.sbsag.ch/fahrplan-preise/kursschifffahrt.html

Other services start on 1 May 2015.

http://www.bodenseeschiff.de/Angebote/Konstanz.html

Insel Mainau. The beautiful flower island can be reached by boat from Kreuzlingen and by bus (line 4) from Konstanz. The season starts on 20 March 2015.

http://www.mainau.de/anfahrt.html

http://www.bsb-online.com/insel-mainau.html

Boats on the Vierwaldstättersee – Lake Lucerne 

The spring season starts on 3 April 2015.You can take a trip to Brunnen or Flüelen, Vitznau for the Rigibahn or alight at Kehrsiten for the funicular to Bürgenstock. Or explore Tellsplatte. Or set off on the Weg der Schweiz by taking the short boat trip to Treib and the cablecar up to Seelisberg. All the towns around the lake also have great places to eat out on the terrace when it’s warm.

From 30 May onwards you can go further, and ride the Pilatusbahn from Alpnachstad. Or get off at the Verkerhshaus or Transport Museum. Or visit the Hergiswil glass factory and museum.

Lake Lucerne boats

The central lakes of Thun and Brienz in the Berner Oberland

Spring season starts on 3 April. You can embark at Interlaken West for Spiez and Thun, or from Interlaken Ost for Brienz and Giessbach. Train connections from Luzern and Meiringen. Paddle steamers run from the end of May. In summer you can do both lakes in one day.

http://www.bls.ch/d/schifffahrt/fahrplan-druckversionen.php

Drei Seen boat trips – the lakes of Biel, Neuchatel and Murten 

From 3 April 2015 onwards, you can cruise one, two or three lakes, linked by canals, depending on the season and start point – Biel, La Sauge, Murten or Sugiez-Heimathafen. Special gastronomic and dance cruises are also possible.

http://dreiseenschifffahrt.ch/?lang=de

Boats on Lake Geneva

There are several boat operators on Lac Leman. In Geneva you can take a water bus or mouette using your regular transport ticket. Pedaloes and kayaks can be hired in several towns around the lake. You can also enjoy a trip on a Belle Epoch paddle steamer.

Here’s an overview of boats on the lake of Geneva:

Lake Geneva boat transport

The CGN boat line starts its regular Spring season on 19 April 2015. Departure points include Montreux, Vevey, Lausanne, Morges, Nyon and Geneva on the Swiss side. A favourite boat trip with ZIWA members is the boat from Montreux to Chillon to see the famous Chateau de Chillon. You could also cross to the French side. There are also special Easter cruises.

cgn boats

Lago Maggiore in the Ticino

You can hire a boat at Locarno or Ascona, or visit Isola di Brissago with its botanical gardens. Or discover Madonna del Sasso.

The full season on the lake starts on 5 May.
Locarno boats

Lago Lugano in Ticino

The boat season in Lugano starts on 1 April 2015. Cruises from Lugano to Gandria, or Melide and Morcote. Be careful though, as Halbtax and GA discounts may not apply.

Lake Lugano

Julia Newton. 11 March 2015.

Autumn 2014 - What’s on in Zürich and around Switzerland

If you love food and drink and enjoy music and spectacle, then this is the season for you. From the traditional Oktoberfest beside the Limmat to the Expovina wine ships at Bürkliplatz, from the jazz concerts at Kaufleuten to the Räbeliechtli turnip lantern parades in the villages, from the Christmas lights in the Bahnhofstrasse to the roast chestnut stands and gingerbread cookies on sale, autumn in Zürich and Switzerland offers a feast for all the senses.

Enjoy autumn!

In Zürich…

Markets, fairs and outdoor events

Pumpkin Farm Jucker opens daily from 1 September. Special pumpkin exhibition - theme this year is Pumpkins Take Wing. The apple orchard and the maze are also now open. In Seegräben on the Pfäffikersee. This year a shuttle bus runs on Wednesdays from Bahnhof Aathal to Gemeindehaus Seegräben.
www.juckerfarmart.ch

Gourmesse Food Fair 10-13 October 2014
Chocolate, cheese and other delicacies at the Kongresshaus
http://www.gourmesse.ch/gourmesse/index.php

Winter timetable for boats on the Zürichsee starts 20 October 2014
Reduced schedule of round trips, cross trips, and new program of special themed boat trips. Take your guests on the cheese fondue or the fondue chinois ship, the Räbechilbischiff, the Samichlaus ship, or try the late Sunday morning ship.
www.zsg.ch

Expovina 30 October – 13 November 2014
Wine tasting on the wine ships at Bürkliplatz. A great annual event.
www.expovina.ch

St. Andrews Church Bazaar Saturday 8 November 2014, 9.00 -15.30
For English Christmas goods, cards, crackers, a great selection of second-hand books and other unwanted treasures. Refreshments and lunch available all day. Take the train or tram. At Kirchgemeinehaus Enge, Bederstrasse 25, 8002 Zürich.
St Andrew's Bazaar

The Singing Christmas Tree 20 November to 23 December 2014
At Werdmühleplatz, Zürich. School children take turns to stand on stage and sing.
Singing Christmas tree.

Christmas Markets in Zürich
At various locations from 20 November 2014
Christmas markets

Samichlaus Schwimmen in the River Limmat, Sunday 7 December 2014
http://openwaterswimming.eu/node/6506

Lichterschwimmen 18 December 2014 (check in advance)
Floating candles on the River Limmat from Stadthausquai at 18.00.
Lichterschwimmen

Silvesterlauf Zürich, 14 December 2014
Race through the old town and along the Bahnhofstrasse on traffic-free roads.
http://www.silvesterlauf.ch/

New Year's Magic with firework display, 31 December at midnight.
Don’t forget the champagne! At Bürkliplatz by the lake. Check out the train times for getting home.
www.sbb.ch

Swiss festivals and holidays

Knabenschiessen 13-15 September 2014. Monday 15 September is a half-day holiday in Zurich City. Boys’ and girls’ shooting competitions and a fair at Albisguetli.
www.feiertagskalender.ch

Zürich Oktoberfest 10 October – 8 November 2014
Zürich’s own German-style beer festival on the Bauschänzli island in the Limmat near Bürkliplatz. This year featuring a Jassen tournament on 11 and 25 Oct. Get there early and expect to queue. Open daily at 11:00 including Sundays. It’s a lot of fun but always crowded.
www.bauschaenzli.ch/de/index.html; tel. 044 212 49 19

Halloween 31 October 2014
This American festival with Celtic origins is not such a big deal here, but it’s a good marketing opportunity all the same! Have some sweet treats on hand in case you are visited by children ‘trick or treating.’ And get your pumpkins from Jucker.

Feiertag All Saints Day, 1 November 2014
The wreaths on sale in the shops and market are sold to lay on graves rather than adorn doors. Not a bank holiday in Canton Zürich.

Räbechilbi Richterswil, Saturday 8 November 2014 at 18.30
Marking the end of summer, many villages have their own turnip lantern parades, but the Richterswil parade is quite spectacular. It features over 10,000 carved turnips lit up with candles, many arranged on floats. Take the train or special boat. The lights in the village are switched off to enhance the magical effect.
About Raebelichtli
For transport see: www.sbb.ch  www.zsg.ch

Samichlaus Day 6 December 2014, a traditional celebration in Zürich and the region.
Children leave shoes for Samichlaus to fill with goodies. His assistant Schmützli keeps a book of good and bad deeds. Let’s hope they’re all good again this year.
www.myswitzerland.ch

Bank holidays and special days in Zürich
Christmas Eve, 24 December 2014
Christmas Day, 25 December 2014
Boxing Day or Stefanstag, 26 December 2014
Silvester, 31 December 2014
New Year’s Day, 1 January 2015
Feiertagskalender.ch

Galleries and museums

Exhibitions at the Kunsthaus
Splendid permanent art collection and special exhibitions - 'Hodler / Schnyder' starts 12 September 2014.
www.kunsthaus.ch

Exhibition at the Landesmuseum
‘Switzerland and the Great War’, 29 August till 26 October 2014.
Plus the permanent Collections and History of Switzerland exhibits.
http://www.nationalmuseum.ch/e/zuerich/

Exhibitions at the Rietberg Museum, Zürich Enge
‘Gastspiel’, contemporary Swiss art, till 9 November 2014.
www.rietberg.ch

Art International Zürich, 17 – 19 October 2014 at the Kongresshaus.
An opportunity to start or add to your own contemporary art collection.
Art Zurich

Music and theatre

Classical Concerts at the Tonhalle
The full autumn program is under way from 13 September 2014, under the direction of new chief conductor, Lionel Bringuier, including the popular lunch concerts.
www.tonhalle-orchester.ch

Concerts and shows at the Hallenstadion
This year includes ice skating.
www.hallenstadion.ch

Jazz Concerts at Kaufleuten, Neumünster and the Tonhalle
This year includes Marianne Faithfull and Paloma Faith.
www.allblues.ch

Zürich Jazz Festival jazznojazz 14 at Gessnerallee and ewz-Unterwerk Selnau.
29 October to 1 November 2014
www.jazznojazz.ch

Zurich Comedy Club at Theater im Seefeld
‘The Taming of the Shrew’ by William Shakespeare, 4-8, 11-15 November 2014
www.zcc.ch

Opera House Premieres Program restarts 20 September 2014
www.opernhaus.ch

Carol services in Zürich
Augustinerkirche, 18 December 2014 sung by St Andrew’s Church Choir.
See also services at St. Andrew’s English Church, Promenadengasse, December 2014 (dates to be confirmed)
www.standrewszurich.org

Christmas concert and services at St. Peter’s Church
http://www.kirchenkonzerte.ch/Kirchenkonzerte/Frame.html



and further afield (in alphabetical order of towns)…

Aarau Rueblimaert 5 November 2014
The annual carrot market on the first Wednesday of November in this nice old market town. An amazing variety of carrots!
Aarau carrot market


Bern Cheese festival Saturday 25 October 2014
www.cheese-festival.ch

Bern Onion Market or Zibelmärit 24 November 2014. Always on the fourth Monday in November. An abundance of onions, street entertainment, confetti battles and hot snacks. Expect a crowd.
Bern onion market

Küssnacht-am-Rigi
Klausjagen, 5 December 2014
Hunt for St. Nicholas through the streets; a colourful parade.
http://www.klausjagen.ch/

Luzern KKL concert hall
www.kkl-luzern.ch

Montreux Christmas Market 21 November to 24 December 2014.
Enjoy a glass of mulled wine and browse the brightly lit stands in the Grand Rue.
Montreux Christmas Market


Winterthur International Short Film Festival, 4-9 November 2014
120 short films from around the world, at various venues around the town.
http://www.kurzfilmtage.ch/

Zug
English Theatre Group of Zug: The Sound of Music, 19 to 21, 26 to 28 September 2014 at the Dorfmattsaal Rotkreuz
http://www.etgz.ch/cms/index.php

Enjoy Autumn!

Julia Newton, September 2014

Summer 2014 - Zurich's lake bathing places

Our ZIWA members particularly like these lake and open-air bathing places:

Strandbads around Zurisee

• Frauenbad Stadthausquai (Christine F.)
• Mythenquai
• Wollishofen (Christine F.)
• Seebad Enge
• Kilchberg (Julia)
• Rüschlikon (Julia)
• Thalwil Berger
• Oberrieden
• Horgen Käpfnach (Sandy, Hazel)
• Wädenswil - two bathing places (Rowena)
• Richterswil
• Tiefenbrunnen (Anne, Sandy)
• Utoquai

www.swissbadeanstalt.ch

Spring 2014 - Gardens in and around Zurich and Switzerland

Coming soon!

If you love camellias, make sure to visit the Locarno Camellia Show at least once – 28 March to 1 April 2014, but the park is open at other times.
Locarno Camellia Show

Giardina, Messe Zürich, 12-16 March 2014, one of the biggest garden exhibitions anywhere, at Messe Zurich.      
Giardina

Botanical Garden Grüningen Programme begins on 6 April 2014 with a Spring tour.
Grueningen Botanical Garden      

Schloss Greifensee, Easter Egg exhibition 5-6 Apr 2014
Schloss Greifensee Easter Egg show

Botanic Gardens in Switzerland

Many of the big Swiss cities have botanical gardens that are extensive and varied, and have free entry.

Zürich’s Botanic Gardens at Zollikon is open throughout the year. Explore the greenhouses to discover the tropical and exotic plants, and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful and extensive grounds; afterwards stop for coffee in the student refectory. It’s a great place to paint too.
See Zurich Botanic Gardens

St. Gallen, Geneva and Lausanne also boast wonderful botanic gardens which are well worth a trip by train and tram or post bus. 

One which you may not know about is Merian Park in Basel,which features large iris gardens in bloom in May and June, as well as greenhouses and extensive grounds, including a maze.
Merian Park Basel

Or if you visit Ticino with its palm trees and mild climate, try to visit Isola di Brissago by boat, where there is a spectacular display of exotic plants from around the world. It’s worth staying overnight in Locarno to make the most of this special destination.
Isola di Brissago

More locally, you could visit the Hochschule at Wädenswil which has a wonderful display of peonies in May to June.
Hochschule Waedenswil gardens

The city gardens are usually open throughout the year, although they may have seasonal highlights.

Privately managed gardens which feature seasonal displays 

The Hotel Schatzalp in Davos is open year-round but its alpine gardens are particularly delightful from June to August, when tours may also be arranged. The former sanatorium was the setting for Thomas Mann’s book, The Magic Mountain. 
Hotel Schatzalp Davos Alpinum

A venue specialising in irises is the garden and chateau at Vuillerens near Morges. May and June would be good times to visit, but the art gallery and garden shop are also a delight at other times. 
Vuillerens Iris Park

Back in Canton Zurich,  Seleger Moor near Rifferswil has wonderful displays of camellias and rhododendrons in May and June, but the plants, ponds and pathways can be explored at any time from April to October. 
Seleger Moor

Make a regular visit to Jucker Farmart at Seegräben, with its annual pumpkin sale with themed displays in October. 
Jucker Farmart Pumpkin show

Over the border in Germany, near Konstanz, is the wonderful Insel Mainau with its displays of seasonal plants. Over 40 gardeners are employed there to tend the tulips, rhododendrons, roses and dahlias and they often have indoor exhibits too. You can get to Mainau by car or boat from Konstanz.
Insel Mainau

Historic houses and castles with wonderful gardens

 

Schloss Arenenberg, former home of Napoleon III at Ermatingen near the Bodensee, also boasts a garden with a view which is well worth a visit by train and postbus.
Schloss Arenenberg

The Villa Boveri in Baden also has an excellent garden in addition to its wonderful historic house – visit both!
Villa Boveri

Kloster Ittinger, former Carthusian monastery turned conference centre near Frauenfeld, boasts an art gallery, traditional rose varieties, a herb garden and a labyrinth as well as a fine restaurant.
Kloster Ittinger

Kloster Fahr still a working convent with a lovely garden, at Zurich Engstringen

Kloster Fahr

Open spaces in and around Zurich

The arboretum at Mythenquai on the left bank of the Zurichsee and the opposite bank at Utoquai from Bellevue to Zurichhorn both offer pleasant places to stroll and savour the plants.

The China Garden in Zürich at Zürichhorn on the right bank of the Zurisee: a gift from the city of Kunming. Enjoy an oasis of calm in the city with a stylised Chinese-style garden featuring ponds, bridges, rocks and pavilions all with special significance.
China Garden

In Rapperswil, discover two rose gardens with scents to match the colours.

In Schaffhausen, don't miss the cloister garden with all its herbs, and on the Munot approach look out for the rose garden.
Schaffhausen Kloster Herb Gardens

Or for an adventurous day trip by train and cablecar, you can ascend to the meadows of wild narcissus at Les Avants near Montreux. April and May are the best times to visit there.
Les Avants wild narcissus

Garden centres around Zurich 

Unterentstringen (Hoffmans), Hombrechtikon (Egli), Langnau a.A (Bacher)

Enea’s Tree Museum near Jona  
Enea's Tree Museum

Meier’s Garden Centre at Dürnten near Rapperswil. It’s possible to spend a whole day there taking in all the wonderful indoor and outdoor displays.
Meier Garden Centre

Visit private gardens

Over 90 properties which open to the public on certain days of the year. See this list of venues:
http://www.offenergarten.ch/search.

Easter in and Around Zurich 2013

Boat trips

           Zurichsee summer season starts Good Friday 29 March 2013, short and long boat trips from Bürkliplatz to Thalwil/Erlenbach or Rapperswil

http://www.zsg.ch/en_home.html

Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) summer boat trips start Good Friday 29 March 2013, boats from Luzern to Alpnachstad for Pilatus, Vitznau for Rigi, Weggis, Brunnen, Fluelen, Kersiten for Burgenstock and other trips

      http://www.lakelucerne.ch/en/timetables-fares/seasonal-timetables.html

Chocolate shop and show

      Lindt factory shop, Kilchberg, opens Monday to Saturday except Good Friday and Easter Monday, Easter Bunnies and other special buys available

   http://www.lindt.ch/swf/ger/service/chocolate-shops/ostermarkt-kilchberg/

Salon du Chocolat - Chocolate tasting with the chocolatiers at Messe Zurich, 22 to 24 March 2013 

http://zurich.salon-du-chocolat.com/accueil.aspx

Brunch and Lunch

 Restaurant Schönegg, Wädenswil, open daily, with terrace overlooking Zurisee

http://www.schoenegg.ch/

Restaurant Domus, Zug, beside the Zugersee, open daily

http://www.restaurant-domus.ch/

Restaurant Uto Kulm, top of Uetliberg, book ahead for special Easter Sunday Brunch
            http://www.utokulm.ch/

       Hotel Storchen Sunday Brunch, every Sunday

http://www.storchen.ch/en/restaurants-and-bars/rtisserie/sunday-brunch/

Zoos and gardens

       Zurich zoo, open daily, includes Masaola Rainforest indoors

http://www.zoo.ch/xml_1/internet/en/application/d401/f403.cfm

Botanical Gardens Zürich, open daily, indoor and outdoor exhibits plus cafe

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/zurich_university_botanical_gardens

Music concerts

           Tonhalle Zürich

 Good Friday Concert, Missa Solemnis by Beethoven, Friday 29 March, 16.00,
              Saturday 30 March, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, 18.00

             http://www.tonhalle-orchester.ch/

 Opera House Zürich

  Saturday 30 March, Madam Butterfly,

  Monday 1 April, Parsifal

http://www.opernhaus.ch/spielplan/kalendarium/#section_march_7

Church Services

          Grossmünster Zürich, Good Friday Services 29 March, Easter Sunday Communion Service, 31 March, 10.00 

http://www.grossmuenster.ch/

Fraumünster Zürich, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.

http://www.fraumuenster.ch/images/stories/pdf/kibo/Kibo.pdf

Day trips

        Insel Mainau (DE) for the tulip displays, orchid show and Easter egg exhibition

http://www.mainau.de/veranstaltungskalender.html

Ittingen monastery and gardens, museum, restaurant and shop

http://www.kartause.ch/de/home/?#

Einsiedeln town, Baroque church and Benedictine monastery, crucifixion panorama

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/einsiedeln.html

Bern Bear Park, to see the bears

http://www.baerenpark-bern.ch/index.php?id=openinghours&L=0

 Langenberg Wildnispark, Sihlwald to see the bears, wolves, lynx in a natural setting

http://www.zoos.ch/langenberg/index.html

Mendrisio (TI) Easter Procession 28/29 March 2013 (evening)

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/service-updates/events/event-74164549.html

Julia Newton, 7 March 2013