2023

Music back at Rachmaninov’s Villa Senar

Following expulsion from his native Russia, composer Sergei Rachmaninov lived in exile from 1917. In 1930, he purchased a plot in Weggis near Lucerne, had a villa built there in the Bauhaus style, and used it as a summer residence between 1933 and 1939. The Villa Senar, complete with Rachmaninov’s Steinway piano, was recently bought by the City of Lucerne and as of this summer, will host various events and concerts so that visitors can come and enjoy this beautiful spot right on the banks of Lake Lucerne. rachmaninoff.ch/en

Opening of Vitra Garden House and expo

Located just outside Basel, the Vitra Campus is home to the Vitra Design Museum and, since the 1980s, a number of buildings designed by world-renowned architects including Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, Zaha Hadid and Herzog & de Meuron. Summer 2023 will see the completion of a new highlight, the Garden House, designed by Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane. To mark the occasion, between 25 March and 3 October the Vitra Design Museum will host an exhibition called Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, which will provide an insight into Tane’s work, the Garden House cand the history and future of modern gardens. design-museum.de/en

Opening of the CERN Science Gateway

A new visitor centre at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva will open to the public in summer 2023. Designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, it will house immersive exhibitions, labs for hands-on experiments and a large auditorium, and will both enable people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in CERN’s discoveries, science and technology, and encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology. The CERN Science Gateway will also boast a net zero carbon footprint. sciencegateway.cern/project

The locals know it best in Basel

Explore the city of Basel like never before thanks to The Locals Know It Best, a new card game tour which encourages visitors to interact with locals and discover hidden gems like local hangout Kleinbasel Rheingasse and trendy microbrewery Mat & Ely. Simply buy the card game (around £4.50) from the tourist office on Barfüsserplatz, ask passers-by to pick a card, get them to answer the questions on the card with an insider tip, then go experience the places recommended! The aim of the game is to have fun, discover new places and meet Basel locals. basel.com/en/city-tours/locals-know-it-best

Ticino launches new Swiss Wine Tours

Thanks to its mild climate, the southernmost Italian-speaking canton of Ticino is home to over 1,000 hectares of vineyards and over 3,600 winemakers, 80% of which grow merlot grapes for both red and white wine. New for summer 2023 are eight vinicultural experiences to entice wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike on tailor-made tours to visit winemakers across the region, accompanied by a sommelier or oenologist, and often paired with Ticinese culinary specialties and/or a scenic vineyard bike ride. ticino.ch/en

Island paradise on Lake Zurich

The crowning glory of Zurich is its beautiful lake, but did you know a boat trip on Lake Zurich could take you to one of the city’s best-kept secrets? The idyllic island of Ufenau is a nature reserve which is easily reachable from the city centre. Swimming is prohibited here, but a visit is well worthwhile thanks to the island’s medieval churches and ‘Haus zu den zwei Raben’ restaurant, which serves local delicacies including delicious, fresh Fischchnusperli (battered fish). Wander down quiet lanes and around picturesque St Martin’s Chapel before enjoying a glass of local wine with beautiful lake views. zuerich.com/en | zsg.ch/en