Discovering Switzerland: enriching experiences beyond the classroom
From gastronomic delights served with stunning views to relaxing strolls infused with culture and history, here are our Swiss holiday favourites, beloved by the country’s culinary and hospitality students.
For those passionate about cooking, adventure, or luxury, Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS) is a great place to pursue these interests. Students can explore Switzerland and Europe while earning their culinary degree, which opens up many international career options.
CAAS has a strong tradition of excellence, with a worldwide reputation for quality education ranking it the top culinary school in Switzerland. Its beautiful location in the heart of Europe is also a major attraction.
Similarly, for those who enjoy working with people, studying hospitality business management at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland (CRCS) is an excellent opportunity. While studying in Switzerland, students can discover both the country and Europe, leading to various international career paths after graduation.
CRCS stands out among hospitality schools for several reasons: its robust business programmes, its connection to César Ritz, and its global reputation for quality, as shown by its high QS ranking. Its stunning location offers a rich cultural experience and breathtaking views, adding to its appeal.
So just where do students go in their downtime? Here are but a few stunning locations:
Le Bouveret
This gorgeous lakeside port village is a haven for water sports. In summer, enjoy free concerts by the shores of Lake Geneva, lakeside markets, the two-lake race from Le Bouveret to Taney, the International Steam Festival and the Swiss Jet-Ski championships. On July 31st, a spectacular fireworks show is held to celebrate the national holiday one day in advance.
Across the waters are breathtaking vistas to Lausanne, Montreux and France’s Evian-les-Bains. Stop by The Ritz Lounge to sip an espresso, and feast on tasty cuisine at The Lakeview Restaurant or The César Ritz Fine Dining restaurant. At Noville’s Michelin-starred Restaurant de l’Etoile, Benoît and Caroline Roch uphold culinary traditions begun by Benoît’s grandparents in 1949.
Walk off dessert on a lovely trail that starts at the train station in Le Bouveret before meandering along Lake Geneva, the Rhône River and the small lake of Vieux Rhône, a shoreline equally captivating by chartered boat.
Alternatively, there’s the Mosimann Collection, with treasures from the private collection of Master Chef Anton Mosimann, OBE. On display are historical cookbooks, royal cooking accessories, original recipes, photos and artwork, even a menu collection from the greatest restaurants.
Less than an hour away, Les Diablarets sits at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet. Ski year-round, visit glaciers, snowshoe, go sledding or take a memorable cable car ride to a suspension bridge strung between two glacial summits.
Brig
Sitting at the foot of the Alps in the Rhône Valley is a Swiss-German town with a charming old quarter and cobble-stoned streets. Take in the sights via guided walking tour and fall in love with the patrician townhouses, the renowned lifting bridge and the rich history of Brig.
Over at Stockalper Palace, three gilded onion domes crown what was once Switzerland’s largest private building built by a powerful merchant in the 17th Century. Be mesmerised by its magnificent courtyards, verdant gardens, mysterious cellars and well-preserved rooms.
Come mealtime, Walliserstuba is a fine restaurant for delicious traditional Swiss dishes or consider Restaurant ZerMili, where over 90% of the food – prepared to perfection by Chef Gottstein and his team – comes from the immediate area.
Open only for a select few months each year, Restaurant Alpina is a real-world 50-seat training restaurant where hospitality students from César Ritz Colleges Switzerland create a welcoming atmosphere. Here, Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland students craft a seductive menu that brilliantly fuses local ingredients with global culinary techniques.
Next, head to the gondola lift station Ried-Brig to board a cable car going 2,500 feet up to Rosswald. On a sunny mountain terrace, enjoy 15 miles of ski slopes or rent a toboggan for a downhill dash. Hikers may go on a day-long expedition to the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.
Every winter adventure should end with a relaxing dip in hot springs. The Brigerbad thermal baths offer 16 different indoor and outdoor pools. Try the warm thermal pool, the grotto pool, the sports pool for diving off rocks, the river pool or the longest alpine water slide in Europe.
Montreux
Known as the Pearl of the Swiss Riviera, Montreux is famous for its jazz festival every summer, its Christmas Market and its enchanting lakeside promenade. Lord Byron, Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and Freddie Mercury have all resided in and around the region – and it’s easy to see why.
Embrace the luxury of grand establishments like the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, an iconic five-star grand hotel with a reputation for impeccable hospitality since 1906. Within its Belle Époque architecture is a rejuvenating spa and gourmet restaurants.
Venturing into Montreux’s winding streets, look for the Michelin-starred Stéphane Décotterd, or tuck into a gourmet dinner on a vintage steamboat. A 30-minute walk along the waterfront will lead to Chillon Castle, where medieval meals are served and wine is tasted and bottled.
Built in the 12th-16th Centuries, this legendary castle has stone pillars dating back 1,000 years and is protected by a natural moat on all sides. This was also where the 16th Century prisoner François Bonivard languished for six years in a damp below-water dungeon, as immortalised in Lord Byron’s poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”.
Leysin
This sunny Alpine village is a year-round paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Get that adrenaline rush by skiing, hiking, paragliding, downhill mountain biking, or traversing a via Ferrata. Top sights to see include the peak of the Berneuse for its epic views.
For the musically inclined, Leysin hosts several events during the summer, including the Hautes Fréquences Festival with open-air concerts of contemporary music in July and a Midsummer Festival in August.
Gourmands will love La Fromagerie, which beckons with traditional Swiss fondues and decadent raclettes. There are also nightly cheese-making demonstrations, a museum and a gift shop, all in the pretty comforts of a rustic 17th Century chalet.
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