Medieval “hidden gems” in northern Switzerland?
A traveler is planning a trip to Switzerland in May to explore key medieval sites including St. Gallen and Müstair, while also visiting Reichenau Island in Germany. They're looking for more off-the-beaten-path suggestions for medieval art and architecture as they travel across the northern part of Switzerland.
- Consider visiting charming towns such as Romont and Payerne, which are noted for their medieval sites.
- Utilize the Swiss Travel Pass for convenient travel across Switzerland, especially if you plan to use public transport for your itinerary.
- Look for sample itineraries online that include various medieval castles and towns to enhance your trip experience.
- Don’t forget to include some hiking and scenic routes in your schedule to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
AI-generated summary-
Looking forward to a May Switzerland trip where we hope to see the two major UNESCO medieval/history/art history sites I’ve read about for years: St. Gallen and Müstair. (Also visiting Reichenau Island in Germany just across the border.) In researching additional destinations for lovers of all things medieval, I also discovered –really just by accident– St. Martin’s in Zillis and its amazing 1100s ceiling. And that got me wondering if there are other off-the-beaten-path “gems” of great medieval art and architecture. We’re primarily traveling in east to west across the northern half of Switzerland. Any suggestions or recommendations?
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Quite a few places come to mind
Aigle, Rolle, Romont, Yverdon, Laufen, Porrentruy, St Ursanne, Fribourg, Baden, Bremgarten, Brugg Laufenburg, Rheinfelden, Burgdorf, Thun, Murten/Morat , Bern, Liestal, Waldenburg, Olten, Aarburg, Zofingen, Aarau, Lenzburg, Frauenfeld
Romont is a superb hilltop ‘fort’, Payerne is also interesting
Hi Dan Gifford,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Have a look at this link: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/culture You might find some relevant recommendations on the list.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Dan Gifford,
This sample itinerary is full of charming towns and castles in northern Switzerland: http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/allseasondrivingtour. It’s described as a car trip, but if you’ll travel by train it will still get you some ideas. Have fun preparing!
Thank you for all the great feedback and suggestions. This is what we’ve come up with for medieval sites based on some centrally-located places to stay. The trip won’t be ALL medieval — we want to do some hiking, scenic train routes, dining, etc. But figured I’d keep the topic on point:
5 Nights Ermatingen:
- Reichenau Island, Germany
- Stein Am Rhein
- St. Gallen
5 Nights Chur:
- St. Martin in Zillis
- St. Peter in Mistail
- Waltensburg Reformed Church
3 Nights Zuoz:
- Saint John Abbey, Müstair
- Poschiavo
4 Nights Murten (Morat):
- Payerne Priory
- Roman Amphitheatre in Avenches (not medieval, but still interesting!)
- Lausanne Cathedral
- Château d’Aigle
- Neuchâtel
Any other suggestions in keeping with the theme?
This looks very exciting. I think you’re gong to have a wonderful trip.
Regards,
Anna
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