Where The Party Never Stops
Dust off your hiking boots and take a trip to explore the beautiful Swiss Countryside, home of the Alps, the mighty Matterhorn and yodelling. It takes just a few hours to get there, so check out the cheap flights, and go a-wandering with your knapsack!
Switzerland is a sophisticated, yet deeply traditional country. It has beautiful medieval towns and villages, breathtaking countryside, first rate winter sports, great food and ancient traditions which are alive and kicking. No matter when you go to Switzerland, there is always something new to experience. The Swiss have a strong love of the countryside, music and history which means you’ll have plenty of opportunity to experience some amazing events. Here’s just a few to whet the appetite.
Yodelling
In July, visit Bachläger Alp for the Folk Festival and well known Yodelling Fair. Singers from the region come together to compete and meet. It’s an amazing sight. The main camp is at 2,000 metres and the air is very clear so remember to bring a sunhat and some sun screen! The countryside is spectacularly pretty, with icy streams and chalets dotted about in flower filled meadows.
This extraordinary form of singing, developed in the mountainous regions as a method of communication. Isolated farmers were able to keep in contact with each other using the hillsides to help reflect and magnify the singing. Yodelling, like any language has “dialects” and these reflect the character of the region, so East, West, North and South all have their own styles of Yodelling.
Music
Zermatt Unplugged is Europe’s only acoustic instrument festival. The festival is attended by a wide range of bands, recording artists and groups from all musical genres. It runs from 12-16th April, and it takes over the village, with a specially set up concert tent and many bars and restaurants involved in show casing musicians and their music. In Geneva, the AMR Jazz Festival takes place in April in the Alhambra Theatre. It has gained an international reputation for excellence, but it remains select – so if you love Jazz, this is the place to be! It was set up in 1971, with the aim of encouraging improvised and contemporary music.
Festivals and Carnivals
The Swiss love any excuse for a party – which is why it’s no surprise to learn they have their own Salsa Festival! The Zurich Carnival runs from 11-13th March is a major street party with costumes, masks, and musicians. The Basel Art Festival shows work in the outdoors with the local streets becoming the art gallery. And in the little town of Nendaz, in July you can see a real spectacle – the International Alphorn Competition, where hundreds of musicans compete with their Alphorns.
Switzerland has so many wonderful towns, cities and villages and each of them have something intriguing and wonderful to show – make sure that Switzerland is on your holiday destination list – start scouting for a bargain flight and a few hours later, you’ll be settling in to sample some delicious Swiss cuisine for a fabulous start to your break!