Top 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland

Switzerland is famous for its cheeses, chocolates, watches, bank secrecy measures, and Alpine views, but there are also other things to see in this European country, including these top five Swiss UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Convent of St. Gall

Located in the city of St. Gallen, the Convent of St. Gall is one of the oldest Roman Catholic sites in the continent. The convent was probably built in the Carolingian era, with the earliest record of it being on 719. Saint Ohtmar, the founder of the abbey, has built the structure on the place where Saint Gall spent his days as a hermit.

The Convent of St. Gall has one of the richest libraries in the world in terms of medieval literature, and was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Lavaux

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Lavaux covers over 800 hectares of terraced vineyards facing the scenic Lake Geneva. Historians and scholars have found evidence that prove Lavaux was used as a vineyard as early as the time of the Roman empire, but the existing terraces in the area was carved into the landscape in the 11th century. These terraces were initiated by the Cistercian and Benedectine monks who once lived in the area.

The main variety of wine grapes grown in this part of the Vaud canton is the Chasselas, which is also known as Gutedel or Fendant.

The Old City of Bern

Located in the heart of modern Bern, the Old City of Bern was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The old city was built on a hill that is surrounded by the U-shaped Aare River on three sides. Built in the 12th century, the city featured a compact layout that lasted for hundreds of years.

The old city is also home to the tallest cathedral in the country, as well as other historically important structures, and still retains its unique medieval character up to this day.

Swiss Alps Jungfrau – Aletsch

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, the protected area of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau – Aletsch is the first World Natural Heritage Site in the European Alps. Found between the cantons of Valais and Berne, this site features the largest glaciated area in the western region of Eurasia. Since the 1800’s, this site has been a popular tourist destination, but most of the area is untouched by the tourism industry in the region.

It is also home to the longest and biggest glacier in the European Alps, the Aletsch Glacier.

The Three Castles of Bellinzona

Located in the canton of Ticino, the twon of Bellinzona is home to three castles, namely, the Castelgrande, the Montebello Castle, and Sasso Corbaro Castle, as well as the fortified walls that surround these structures. These structures were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Built on a perch that overlooks the lush Alpine Valley, Castelgrande also features a series of reinforced walls that protects the surrounding city and connects the former to Montebello Castle.

Sasso Corbaro Castle, on the other hand, is perched on a separated promontory in the southeastern part of Bellinzona.