This blog concludes a series of three articles that highlight destinations that are in Tourissimo’s bike tour lineup and that are just across the border from Italy. This one is about Switzerland.
Many people perceive Switzerland as an Alpine region (cows included) and not much else. That is in fact true because most of the country (roughly the size of Colorado) sits on or at the foot of the Alps.
Because of the mountains, Switzerland is also very much about water. And that is less obvious to most. Switzerland has 1,500 lakes and 6% of Europe's freshwater stock. Amazing!
Therefore, is not surprising that our Romantic Switzerland bike tour is so much about water in the form of lakes and rivers. The itinerary starts on Lake Kostanz and ends on Lake Geneva. In between we ride along two major rivers: the Rhein and the Aare.
Along those rivers lay some highlights of our east to west ride.
I realized many months after designing our bike tour of Switzerland that water was actually a theme of relevant magnitude. Also, it seemed off to me, from northern Italy and not far from the Italian-Swiss Alps border, that the watershed on the Swiss side flows north. Then I remembered some basic concepts, inclined plane and gravity!
The Rhine Route crosses Eastern Switzerland in a huge arc, accompanying the mighty Alpine River from its mountain source to the major Rhine port of Basel.
Stein am Rhein is situated in a beautiful countryside along the lower end of Lake Kostanz, where the lake becomes the Rhine River again. Stein am Rhein is a unique gem and offers a wide variety of art, culture and outdoor activities.
Among its landmarks, the Hohenklingen Castle, which was built high above the town in the 11ht century, is a stylish reminder of the history of Stein am Rhein.
A little farther along the Rhein at the border with Germany, we will enter Schaffhausen and stop at the thundering Rhine Falls. The town is nestled between the Black Forest and Lake Konstanz. We are in the northernmost corner of Switzerland, surrounded by gentle hills and vineyards (2 on the map).
Read also Article One, Slovenia and the 7 Things You Must Not Miss, and Article Two, Why Monte Carlo Is Synonymous with Luxury (and How to Visit!).
The Aare ride portion follows the river from the small glacial lake on the Grimselpass until it joins the Rhine. That is where our ride leaves Bike Route 2 and joins the Aare Bike Route going west. We are at the very center of the Mittelland region, a very fertile, hilly high plane accounting for nearly one-fourth of the country and enclosed by the two mountain ranges, Jura and Alps, and the two largest lakes, Lake Geneva, Lake Kostanz. The Mittelland is the agricultural heartland of the country and is where the majority of Swiss settlements, population, and industry are located.
The Aare, the largest Swiss river, cuts through the Mittelland. The river route will lead us to Bern, the capital, and our stay for two nights.
Bern’s Old City has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Busy market stalls liven up squares, and pubs and restaurants with plenty of character serve wholesome food under ancient arched ceilings, while small theaters in cellars below the arcades offer stimulating entertainment.
Another UNESCO site on our Swiss bike tour mixes natural beauty and human ingenuity. We will discover the 800 hectares of terraced vineyards of the Lavaux. If you are in the area, taste the local wines at one of the wine cellars and learn more about local wine growing culture and grape varieties. You’ll be surprised (I was) about the quality of those wines.
The steep terraced vineyards benefit from the threefold warmth of solar, thermal and radiation sources: directly from the sun, mirrored reflections from Lake Geneva and the heat stored in the many stone walls in the surroundings. This is the source of Switzerland’s Grand Crus in wine.
Go to the tour description or contact us to inquiry about your own private Romantic Switzerland Bike Tour.
