Switzerland’s UNESCO Heritage Sites That Need To Be In Your Travel Itinerary

Switzerland seems like it came straight out of a fairy tale with its verdant meadows, snow-capped Alps, decadent chocolates, and gourmet cheeses. It is also the location of more than a dozen  Swiss UNESCO World Heritage sites, which is something that surprisingly few people are aware of. The history and culture of Switzerland are extensive and storied. In 2016, in recognition of Le Corbusier's brilliance, Switzerland added its final UNESCO site. Over many centuries, Switzerland's rich history has influenced the country's distinctive culture. There is no barrier to entry for those who want to learn about the area's rich history and culture, which have been painstakingly maintained for future generations. Make sure to include all of the Swiss UNESCO World Heritage Sites in your next Swiss vacation itinerary. Here are some of our favourite UNESCO sites in Switzerland!

Old Town of Bern

In addition to being Switzerland's capital, Bern's old town has been a Swiss UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. The six km of arcades in the old town attest to the colossal urban design of the Middle Ages. In the heart of Bern, along the banks of the River Aare, lie the old streets with their oddities like the Clock Tower (Zytglogge), Prison Tower (Käfigturm), and cathedral (Münster).

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St. Gall's Abbey

With a beautiful baroque church at its core, the Abbey of St. Gall is a one-of-a-kind complex of historical structures marking twelve centuries of uninterrupted activity. In 1983, the renowned monastery complex of St. Gallen, together with its library and archives, was inscribed as a SWISS UNESCO World Heritage site. Currently housed at the Abbey Library, which is also known as the Seelenapotheke (the place where the soul is healed), are 170,000 volumes. The Baroque hall is home to 50,000 of them, together with the 2,700-year-old Egyptian mummy Shepenese. The 2,100 manuscripts that make up the bulk of the library's collection are shown in the displays.

Rhaetian Railway

Through the Graubünden mountains, the Rhaetian Railway connects Thusis and Poschiavo; this feat of railway engineering is made possible by man-built bridges, viaducts, and helical tunnels. Railfans gush over the daringly twisted Landwasser bridge and declare the Albula line, which runs between Chur and St. Moritz, to be the most scenic mountain route on Earth. For a train enthusiast, this is one of the best UNESCO sites in Switzerland!
In addition to passing via the massive Morteratsch glacier, the Bernina Express makes its way down to Poschiavo in dangerous circuits before climbing to 2253 meters across Europe's highest railway Alpine pass, the Bernina, without the use of cogwheels.
Brusio offers an uncovered helical tunnel, an additional uniqueness for passengers continuing to Tirano. The cultural environment of Albula and Bernina, with its untouched towns, ruggedly picturesque vistas, and primitive Alps, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing, which is centred upon the "Kleine Rote" (little red one).

Monte San Giorgio

Monte San Giorgio, a pyramid-shaped mountain covered in trees that sits next to Lake Lugano, is widely considered to be the finest example of Triassic marine life fossils, housing a succession of fossil riches laid down some 240 million years ago. The proximity of the lagoon to land means that fossils of land-dwelling insects, plants, and reptiles are also present. At Meride, you can see the fossils displayed beside the 2.5-meter saurian Ticinosuchus, which welcomes visitors to the museum. This is one of the most naturally beautiful Swiss UNESCO sites!

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Bellinzona's Three Castles 

Bellinzona was designated as a  Swiss UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 due to its collection of castles and fortifications. Three fortified castles stand as formidable monuments to a defensive line that has been vital since the Roman era. During the Middle Ages, the Ticino Valley was surrounded by the walls of Castelgrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro, which were used to regulate transportation and the path to the Saint Gotthard Pass.

The town of La Chaux-de-Fonds

When you think about Switzerland, you think of the craftsmanship of Swiss watches. Unesco in Sevilla has designated the watchmaking hubs of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle as Swiss UNESCO World Heritage sites. The two nearby towns in canton Neuchâtel were recognised by the agency committee for their distinctive architecture, adding them to the nine other Swiss sites that currently benefit from the Unesco name. The location showcases exceptional instances of well-preserved and operational mono-industrial manufacturing communities. Two cities where the watch industry and urban development work hand in hand are Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds. La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle were both moulded by the watch business in the course of a few decades. They were formerly modest mountain communities situated 1,000 meters above sea level. A new industry that has come to represent the area was the inspiration for the urban composition, which includes the street layout, buildings, and factories.