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& AUSTRIA SWISS LAKES destinations

hocolate, cheese, watches: beach, or take a stroll along a treasures – a two-week jazz town of Gruyère (from £37). Or CSwitzerland is positively lakeside promenade.” festival every July, the historic, for active types suggest a trip brimming with goodies, and its Shearings says its bookings to fairytale-esque castle of Chillon, over to the 2,000-metre-high riches are no less abundant on Switzerland have risen 16% year and several museums including Rochers de Naye mountain, which the lakes front. Several thousand on year, so now’s a good time waxwork attraction Chaplin’s offers picturesque gardens and of these beauty spots are to get selling with help from our World and music hub Mountain postcard views over the Eiger and scattered among the country’s guide to lakes for every client. Studios, where Queen, David Mont Blanc peaks (from £25). snow-capped peaks and alpine Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Classic Collection Holidays, villages, offering eye-popping w other music legends all recorded meanwhile, recommends the patches of blue alongside a It would be sacrilege to talk hits. Unesco-listed Lavaux vineyards wealth of activities. about the Swiss waters without There are plenty of add-on, for a tipple or two – especially The great Swiss “A holiday beside a Swiss lake giving the sprawling Lake Geneva commission-boosting excursions in September, when the region offers relaxing cruises along the its dues. Set in the southwest available here too. Thomson hosts a festival celebrating all water and the opportunity to corner on the border with France, Lakes & Mountains offers a things wine. stop off at charming villages,” it’s the country’s biggest lake and trip on the Belle Epoque-style Elsewhere on the shore lies the says Alan Croft, commercial the largest in central Europe. ‘chocolate train’, which takes medieval, hilly city of Lausanne, director at the Swiss Holiday Rowing, paddleboarding, passengers to the Cailler-Nestlé worth suggesting to history fans Company. “In the lakeside resorts, sailing and diving are all possible factory – where the world’s first with its picturesque old town and visitors can swim in one of the here, while the town of Montreux, chocolate bar was made – via 12th-century Gothic cathedral. lake off lidos, which often have a small set on its shores, offers its own the medieval, cheese-tastic The region isn’t short on Sell Switzerland with Laura French’s guide to the country’s most spectacular lakes

@laurafrench121

Lake Geneva PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK PICTURE:

52 travelweekly.co.uk 20 July 2017 20 July 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 53 SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA SWISS LAKES destinations

hotel options either. For those Italian-influenced architecture. willing to push the boat out Recommend visiting at the end suggest Angleterre et Résidence, Guests can enjoy of June for the Lugano Jazz an upscale abode where Lord Festival, when a string of open- Byron stayed in 1816, or Chateau canyoning, river air concerts take to the streets, d’Ouchy, set in a historic castle rafting and kayaking, or in October for the ‘Festa right by the lake. or take a lake steamer d’Autunno’, celebrating local food across the water and wine. Nearby, the fishing w villages of Morcote and Gandria Closer to the centre of the are well worth a look-in too; the country in the mountainous, latter, all quaint walled courtyards picture-perfect (and Unesco- and historic narrow lanes, has listed) Bernese Oberland sits the alongside million-year-old steinegger y barely changed in a century town of , sandwiched stalactites and stalagmites, and rem and provides a glimpse into the between Lake and Lake the Giessbach waterfall, whose region at its most traditional. Brienz. “Interlaken is a great powerful rapids tumble down For clients looking to combine choice for an active break,” says into . the lakes into one, suggest a

Jodie Perkins, Inghams product For a good base here TURISMO/ TICINO ; multi-centre rail journey. Great ss manager for Switzerland and recommend the five-star Hotel y Rail Journeys’ Grand Tour of w Germany. “Guests can enjoy Beatus, which offers free Above: w Mediterranean feel and there’s Switzerland combines Lugano urs activities such as canyoning, river excursions including guided Lake Lugano For a taste of Italian Switzerland, plenty to keep clients occupied with Lucerne, St Moritz and rafting and kayaking, or take a walks, bike rides and boat trips suggest the glacial Lake Lugano, thanks to vineyard tours, beyond, offering idyllic vistas Left: lake steamer across the water to on the western shore (from £1,314 located in the Ticino canton on cooking classes and water sports over glistening waters, dramatic one of the many pretty villages.” for seven nights with Inghams). the south coast and a stone’s alongside hiking and e-biking. slopes and bottle-green Nearby you’ll also find the If clients are on more of a throw from Como. Warm weather, The city of Lugano itself, valleys from the comfort of the limestone caves of St Beatus, budget, suggest Manor Farm Italian cuisine and verdant set on the northern shore, is Bernina and William Tell Express

made up of illuminated walkways Campsite, set on the edge of SWISS-IMAGE.CH/ PICTURES: mountains give it a distinctly chock-full of art galleries and (from £2,995).

Lake Thun. Available through forests and deep-cut valleys Eurocamp, the park is a hotspot towards Blausee, a tiny dot on for families, with windsurfing, the map named for its enticing canoeing, fishing and more colour. available from a private beach, and walking, cycling and other w LAKE LUCERNE activities on hand to appease Northeast of all this lies Lake outdoorsy types (a week costs Lucerne, the fourth-biggest in from £1,480 for a group of up the country and accessible from to eight, based on an August 15 the historic, castle-topped city departure). of Lucerne. “This is probably one schacher Not far from there lies the of Switzerland’s most beautiful smaller, quieter Lake Oeschinen, cities,” says Kathryn Morris, stephan / set just above the historic village European product manager at of Kanderstag and considered Shearings. “It’s compact and

tourism one of the country’s most scenic easy to get around with beautiful lakes thanks to its emerald hues architecture at every turn.” erland and breathtaking surroundings. The city has a rich heritage. z Riviera Travel combines a scenic As well as being home to Rütli ; swit ; cable car ride over the lake with Meadow, where the Swiss a stay in Interlaken on its Bernese Confederation was signed in

boesch Oberland tour. Guests will explore 1291, it’s also the location for medieval towns and villages via the William Tell legend and has robert the yellow post bus, the several restored, century-old Railway and other iconic trains paddle steamers which continue (from £1,549). to shuttle visitors across the Those keen on exploring the lake today. Active types will find Above left: area on foot could also look to something to please too, with Lausanne Inntravel, whose self-guided sailing, waterskiing, diving and Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond more all popular, and the soaring left: Lake trip leads hikers through brightly peaks of Mount Pilatus and

PICTURES: KANDERTAL TOURISMUS/PICTURES: KANDERTAL Oeschinen coloured meadows, verdant Mount Rigi handily close by.

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