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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Top 10 Sightseeing Highlights Along the Gotthard Tunnel Road - From Basel to Chiasso

There are many sightseeing spots along your travel from Basel to Chiasso.
The key one's to see according to myswitzerland.com are:

1. Seengen - Hallwyl Castle



"Castle Hallwyl July 21st 2005" by Tage Olsin - Own work (Photo taken by me). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

Hallwyl Castle, one of Switzerland's finest and most romantic moated castles. The castle is located at the Lake Hallwil nature reserve.

Video Helicopter View 1.16 min.

 



Opening Times:
April 1 - October 31

10 am - 5 pm

Prices see here.
Children per Person  8 Chf, Adults per Person  14 Chf

By Car:
Direction South

After Olten follow A1 to Zurich at Autobahnkreuz Wiggertal
Exit Aarau-East to Schinznach.
28 minutes drive. Distance 31 km.


Navigate: Burgweg, 5707 Seengen

Back to A1 go via Luzern.You will drive along two beautiful lakes and take a short cut to get back to the highway.
Around 40 minutes drives. Distant 35 km.


Direction North

Exit E35 in Luzern to follow A14 to Chur/Zürich.
Exit A14 
at Buchrain.


Navigate: Burgweg, 5707 Seengen

More Info on Hallwyl Castle


2. Lucerne - Chapel Bridge and Water Tower

Photo by Bigbirdz

















The bridge was build in 1332.

Webcam: http://swisswebcams.ch/1119270291

Lucerne Video 15 min 130 000 views:


By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at exit (No. 26) Luzern.

Go to Bahnhof Parking P1+P2
Navigate: Bahnhofplatz 1, Luzern

The Bahnhof Parking is open 24 hours.
Prices: 1 hr = 4 CHF
First 15 min = 2.50 CHF, 30 min= 3 CHF and 45 min=3.50 CHF
1 hr 15 min = 4.50 CHF and 1hr 30 min= 5 CHF...

Return to the E35 at Exit (No. 27) Luzern-Kriens.

Direction North

Exit E35 at exit (No. 27) Luzern - Kriens.

Navigate: Bahnhofplatz 1, Luzern for parking.
Further details see Direction South above.

Return to the E35 at Exit (No. 26) Luzern.


3. Lucerne - Mount Pilatus

View from Mount Pilatus by SteFou!











Take the world's steepest cogwheel railway from alpnachstad  to the top of the mount Pilatus 2132m above sea level. Alternatively you can take the gondolas and aerial cableway from Kriens.

Webcam: http://www.pilatus.ch/en/webcams/

Mount Pilatus Video 25 min 104 000 views:


World's steepest cogwheel railway - Alpnachstad.

Open: from beginning/mid-May to 22 November 2015.
Time: Ascent from 8.10-17.50 last descent 18.45.

Prices: Adult 72 CHF / Children 36 CHF

By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Hergiswil to A8 towards Interlaken/Sarnen/Stans

Exit  A8 at Alpnachstad

Navigate: Brünigstrasse 2, 6053 Alpnachstad

Return to E35 the same way.

Direction North

use the same route as people driving to direction south.


Gondola and aerial cableways - Kriens/Luzern

Open: from 01.04.2015-18.10.2015 and 07.11.2015-12.12.2015
Please see the timetable for details. Changes occur in October, November and December.
Time: Ascent from 8.30-17.00 last Descent 17.30 / Ascent 08.30-16.00, last descent 16.30.

Prices: Adult 72 CHF / Children 36 CHF


By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Exit (No. 27) Luzern/Kriens

Navigate: Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens/Luzern

6 min drive. Distance 2.5 km.

Return to E35 the same way .

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.


4. Entlebuch - UNESCO Biosphere
Escholzmatt  Photo by Benedikt Meier

















Switzerland first biosphere with moors, karst formations and beautiful mountains.
Many opportunities for excursions by bike and hiking.

Video 2:32 min


Navigate: Chlosterbüel 28, 6170 Schüpfheim
Biosphärenzentrum
Time: 08.00-12.00 and 13:30-17.00

More details in German

By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Exit (No. 27) Luzern/Kriens

44 min drive. Distance 31.3 km

Return to E35 the same way .

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.

5. San Gottardo Pass
Ospizio San Gottardo Photo by Stefan Bucher











The Gotthard Pass is only open during late spring until early autumn.
Signs along the highway will indicate when the pass is closed or open - see here as well (in German) Gotthardpass

Video Driving the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland in a Ferrari 360 Spider 24:26 min, 121 500 views:


By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Exit (No. 40) Göschenen.

Direction North

Exit E35 at Exit (No.41) Airolo.

If you are on the Gotthardpass you will pass by the San Gottardo Theme Park Sasso


6. Airolo San Gottardo Theme Park Sasso
"Forte Airolo Schweiz" by Thomas Philipp - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -










The fortification of Sasso San Gottardo was once one of the most secret places in Switzerland. Now there is a theme park in the former bunker. Man’s use of natural resources and the Gotthard Myth takes center stage in the theme park.

Video 4.14 min


Open on please see this webpage
Time: 10:30-15:30 

Prices: Exhibition and historical Fortress
Adults 25 CHF, Retired 16.50 CHF, Students/Trainees 15 CHF, Childreen <15 years free

By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Exit  (No. 41) Airolo.
15 min drive. Distance 15 km.

Navigate: Sasso San Gottardo, Passo del S. Gottardo, 6781 Airolo

Return to E35 the same way.

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.

7. Bellinzona - Castles of Bellinzona
Castle of Montebello Photo by SteFou!

















The medieval castles of Castelgrande, Castello Montebello and Castello Sasso Corbaro protect Bellinzona. Bellinzona was a very important line of defence for the ancient Romans.
Castelgrande was the first castle build in the 13th century. The castles are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. More Info here.

Video Bellinzona 5:23 21 300 views:
 
 
 
Video Three Castles of Bellinzona aerial view 1.40 min
 
Open Castelgarnde and Castello Sasso Corbaro:
Castle: Mon 10.00 - 18.00, Tue - Sun 09.00 - 22.00
Museum: Apr - Oct 10.00 - 19.00 Daily, Nov - March 10.00 - 17.00 daily
Prices: Adults 5 CHF

Open Castello Montebello
Museum: mid March - Oct 10.00 - 18.00 daily

By Car
Direction South
Exit E35 at Exit (No. 45) Bellinzona Nord (Autobahnkreuz) direction San Bernardino
Exit A13 at Exit (No. 45) Bellinzona Nord

Parking: Autosilo Piazza del Sole SA
Navigate: Piazza del Sole 7, 6500 Bellinzona

Return to E35 at Exit (No. 47) Bellinzona South

Direction North
Exit E35 at Exit (No. 47) Bellinzona South

Return to E35 at Exit A13 at Exit (No. 45) Bellinzona Nord
Exit E35 at Exit (No. 45) Bellinzona Nord (Autobahnkreuz) direction Gottardo



8. Ascona - Laggo Maggiore
Ascona Photo by Diriye Amey















Ascona is famous for its old town and a beautiful lake promenade at the Lake "Lago Magiore". You can also visit the basilica San Pietro e Paolo built in the 16th century.
More details on accommodations, activities and events here.

Video 2:58 17 000 views:


By Car:
Direction South
Exit E35 at Exit (No. 47) Bellinzona Sud
25 min drive. Distance 20 km

Parking: Centro Arca
Navigate: Via Giuseppe Cattori 11, 6600 Locarno

Return to E35 the same way

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.

9. Lugano - Monte Brè


View from Monte Brè Photo by Randi Hausken

 
 


















 
Mont Brè is Switzerland's sunniest mountain. It offers a magnificent view of Lake Lugano and the city of Lugano. TripAdvisor Reviews.
 
Video 0:45 min 19 000 views
 

Video Cable Car Mont Brè 3 min 7000 views

More information on the cable car.
Open: Cassarate Ascent 9:10 - 18.45, Mon Brè last Descent 19.05 (01.06-31.10)
Cassarate Ascent 9:20-16.45, Mont Brè Last Descent 17:05 (01.11-31.05)
Schedule
Prices: Adults Return 25 CHF, Children 6-16 Return 12.50 CHF

By Car:
Direction South
Exit E35 at Exit (No. 49) Lugano Nord
17 min drive. Distance 7.9 Km

Navigate: Via Pico 11, 6900 Lugano

Return to E35 the same way

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.

10. Mendrisio - Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio Rainbow Photo by amanderson2

















Monte San Giorgio is one of the most important fossil deposit in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a museum of fosils.

Video 2:14 min

Museum of Fosils:
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 09.00-17.00 hrs.
Prices: Adults 12 CHF, Children 6-16 years 8 CHF, Family Ticket 2 Adults + 2 Children 6-16 years 25 CHF

By Car:
Direction South

Exit E35 at Exit (No. 52) Mendrisio
16 min drive. Distance 7 km

Navigate: Via Bernardo Peyer 9, 6866 Meride

Return to E35 the same way.

Direction North

use the same way as people driving to direction south.

If you would like to recommend other sightseeing spots along the way please leave a comment or contact me at petepalme@gmail.com