Few last minute suggestions for your Holidays
Some essential elements make for a perfect Christmas atmosphere. Among the reasons that Switzerland ranks among Europe’s top Christmas destinations are snow, sleigh bells, and steaming cups of hot chocolate or mulled wine. It is fitting that Switzerland, with its snow-capped Alps, clear blue glacial lakes, and countless towns and villages, would appear on the front of a seasonal greetings card. Few last minute suggestions for your Holidays
So if you have not yet made up your mind, we have a few suggestions for you to consider for the holidays.
Discover the charm of the prettiest Christmas towns, their festive markets, and their traditional seasonal events, plus enjoy some of the country’s best winter sports activities during your Christmas vacation.
Gruyères
In Switzerland’s central alpine region, Gruyères is a stunningly Gothic medieval town. Its namesake cheese, outstanding chocolate, and fairytale castle are world-famous. Gryères celebrates Christmas with the town’s festive market and decorated streets adorned with festive lights.
Gruyères is not complete without tasting its local cheese and the fantastic Swiss chocolate it produces. The Maison de Gruyere is a cheese factory with interactive exhibitions showing how this famous cheese is made. Its origins are in milk produced by dairy herds grazing in alpine meadows, and it passes through many processes before it reaches maturity to become flavorful Gruyere cheese.
You can watch experts at work at the Maison Cailler (https://cailler.ch/en/maison-cailler) before tasting some of the delectable treats made by the confectioners. Would you like to learn to make your confection? You can at the Chocolaterie de Gruyères.
Exploring the Château de Gruyères is also a must. The eight-hundred-year-old turreted castle is one of Switzerland’s best places to visit. Don’t miss it. Few last minute suggestions for your Holidays
Lugano
There are several excellent reasons why Lugano is one of the top Christmas destinations in Switzerland. In a superb setting on the shores of Lake Lugano, with a backdrop of dramatic mountain ranges, the city is a blend of Swiss and Italian cultures.
Even though Lugano is stunning at any time of the year, it just gets more spectacular when it wears its festive cloak. Christmas in Lugano is more than a two- or three-day celebration.
Festivities in the city begin on December 1st and end on January 6th. Most of the city’s public celebrations occur in the two city’s central plazas, the Piazza Manzoni and the Piazza Della Reforma, in style more reminiscent of Mediterranean traditions.
With an enormous Father Christmas, traditional Swiss alpine huts, and daily entertainment themed around Christmas. The Piazza Manzoni transformed into a Christmas village.
Furthermore, the Piazza Della Reforma hosts the Food Lover’s Chalet, where you can enjoy a hot chocolate or spiced mulled wine while escaping from the cold.
Do not miss the Underwater Nativity Scene in Lake Lugano. . The scene is invisible during the day but becomes magical at night when illuminated. Few last-minute suggestions for your Holidays
Einsiedeln
An abbey built in the tenth century dedicated to the Virgin Mary draws pilgrims year-round but takes on added significance during the Christmas season in Einsiedeln.
Einsiedeln Abbey is an imposing structure that dominates the town centre and is flanked by a large plaza where one of the largest Christmas markets in Switzerland is held every year. Unfortunately, the market is not open this late at the season, but many more things to visit.
When it comes to Christmas in Einsiedeln, it is not only about visiting monasteries and seeing religious effigies. Einsiedeln boasts an incredible winter sports program including skiing and tobogganing in the immediate area and the resort area of Hoch Ybrig.
Einsiedeln would not be complete without a glance at the Diorama Bethlehem. This nativity scene has more than four hundred and fifty characters that are individually crafted. In addition, the Goldapfel Gingerbread Bakery and Museum in Einsiedeln is a very Christmassy place to visit. Discover the antique baking equipment on display while enjoying some traditional Christmas gingerbread.
That would be all for today, with some more we are coming tomorrow. Hope we have given you some exciting ideas.
Enjoy your Holidays and spend as much time as possible with your family and loved ones!
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Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash
