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SWISS MOUNTAIN ARTS

Aletsch Glacier, UNESCO World Heritage Site

     On Lake Geneva's shores France's snow capped mountains in the distance and climbing vineyards are near in this French speaking side of breathtaking Switzerland. Two favorite places to enjoy it: Lausanne's lakeside Beau-Rivage Palace with twelve acres of gardens is one of Europe's, and perhaps the world's finest hotels. It is what all other five stars should be.
           
      Down the lake the vineyard village of Cully has its Auberge du Raisin, a seven room wonder with two Michelin stars for its marvelous kitchen. From either this region is easily explored to become known.   

      Verbier, famous for skiing extremes, in summer has its highly regarded Music Festival. Enjoy lunch surrounded by snow-capped peaks hiking back down to town. Mountain climb, ski, hang glide, play tennis or golf, or listen in while the world's top musicians rehearse before attending their next performance.
           
      Martigny, the valley's regional Roman capital, has the Gianadda Foundation's collection and local Roman artifacts. A guide knows hidden Roman ruins of baths and their secret places of worship .
           

 
Chalet d'Adrien Palace Luzern KKL Concert Hall

     Hike ancient bisses, a still -used ancient Swiss irrigation system gathering waters from melting glaciers. Atop the Grand St-Bernard pass is the Romans' marble road, an artifact-filled museum and its namesake puppies. UNESCO's endangered 14 mile-long Aletsch Glacier, Europe's longest, is a cable car ride away.
           
      After a symphonic concert at Verbier's renowned Festival, the softest pillows are at the Châlet d'Adrien, a Relais & Châteaux hotel and in our ski program. It’s the heartbeat of comfort and calm high in the mountains.

      South on Lake Maggiore's Ascona in Switzerland's sub-tropical Italian persona is the Il Giardino, a flower bedecked, uniquely guest-friendly five star. From there Bellinzona's three medieval fortresses are a must: restored and ever-guarding their ancient trade route north, these untrod sights are so worthy of UNESCO status. Summer evenings there's open-air opera at the largest fortress, Castello Grande. See the remote Verzasca Valley with its drop-dead 007 dam, fascinating glacial rock formations and the dead-end hamlet of Sonogno: the valley’s rugged beauty conveys the hardships of life not so long ago.

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                                                         Beau-Rivage Palace

     To the north is popular Luzern, Schweizer-Deutsch country; another culture and architecture and the lakeside Palace Hotel, a grandes dames hotel. This small city has the wonderful Rosengart family museum, a private Picasso-filled collection recently donated to the city. Cross the lake to Vitznau up to Mount Rigi to admire Mark Twain's sunrise-missed favorite view.

     August and September Luzern's marvelous Music Festival with the world's most noted musicians, singers and symphony orchestras perform in Jean Nouvel's striking, acoustically perfect KKL concert hall.

For information & reservations, please call (800) 248-2807 in New York