00:00Ich bin Lilly Douse und das ist Grand Voyager.
00:04In dieser Serie, ich vertrete die Welt zu erleben,
00:08die unglaubliche Plätze erfüllen,
00:10mit Kultur, Luxury und Adventure.
00:13Along der Weg, ich die Leute,
00:15die Geschmacken,
00:17und erleben die Momente,
00:19die jeder Einstieg nicht vergessen.
00:26Today, I'm off to discover the alpine charm of Switzerland, a small but dynamic nation in the heart of Europe.
00:34A place known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich culture.
00:40Hello and welcome to Switzerland. In this episode, I'll be discovering what makes this diverse country so unique.
00:48From the mountains to the lakes, there really is so much to explore.
00:54My Switzerland adventure begins in Zurich, the country's largest city and a major centre for finance and culture.
01:02I'm meeting a local who's going to show me around the city and we're starting at Zurich's historic cable railway.
01:09We're going to hop on the Polybahn, a very, very nostalgic to Nicola.
01:16For more than a century, this iconic funicular has carried passengers up the hillside.
01:23At the top is one of the best viewpoints of a Zurich's historic old town.
01:29What an incredible view we have here and these amazing towers stand out above the rest.
01:34And what are some of the key buildings that we can see here? Because this is the old town.
01:38It was once the city inside the medieval walls, constructed in the 13th century, demolished in the 19th century.
01:46And what we see are the main churches.
01:49Zurich's skyline is filled with churches and spires, showing the important role religion has played here over the centuries.
01:58Nearby is ETH Zurich, one of the city's most prestigious universities.
02:03This is a masterpiece of the German architect Gottfried Semper, one of the most important universities in the world.
02:12The university has educated some of the world's leading thinkers, including Albert Einstein.
02:20On the way down, we pass by grand buildings, manicured gardens and cobbled streets, before reaching the Limat, Zurich's main
02:31river.
02:32So you see Lili, we were from the universities down here very quickly.
02:37Zurich is a very, very easy walkable city.
02:40You have sometimes the feeling that things are far away, but they are not.
02:43The banks of the river are home to several important buildings, including Zurich Town Hall.
02:50This water is absolutely incredible. It's crystal clear.
02:54Yes, because it's actually alpine water. It comes from the lake, and Lake Zurich is made of alpine water.
03:03As we explore more, I notice something unusual about the Swiss flag.
03:09Unlike most national flags, it's square.
03:12And this has to do with the four sides, four official languages in Switzerland, German, main spoken one, followed from
03:21French, Italian, and Rector Romance.
03:24And all the four sides should be treated the same way, very democratic.
03:29For such a small nation, Switzerland has an incredible amount of diversity.
03:36Further along, we reach an elevated spot, famous for its ancient trees.
03:42This place is called the Court of the Linden Trees.
03:45The Linden has always been a meaningful tree.
03:50Once used for public courts and meetings, it's now a place to gather and enjoy the views.
03:57Close by is Lake Zurich, one of over a thousand lakes across Switzerland.
04:04Surrounded by beautiful pathways and parks, it marks the end of my tour with Barbara.
04:10Zurich has been incredible.
04:12And before I move on, I'm taking a pedalo out to see the city from a different perspective.
04:19From the lake, you can see the skyline and the mountains beyond.
04:24With so many lakes in Switzerland, there truly are many ways to get around.
04:29But I must say, this one is my newfound favourite.
04:36Just a short distance from the lake is one of Switzerland's most popular attractions.
04:43Lindt's home of chocolate, the country's largest chocolate museum.
04:48Inside, visitors can travel through time and learn how Swiss chocolate became famous around the world.
04:57A key moment came when Rudolf Lindt developed a new mixing process that gave it its signature velvety texture.
05:06There's plenty of flavours to sample, and I'm certainly making the most of it.
05:17After learning the history, I'm joining a workshop to make some chocolate for myself.
05:23Guiding me is a Lindt master chocolatier.
05:28My name is Stefan.
05:29I work in research and development department.
05:32So my daily business is to create new recipes.
05:35That's the coolest job in the world.
05:37And something which is very important is, I have to taste chocolate all day long.
05:42Because only if you taste chocolate, you can figure out which ingredients work best together.
05:47Stefan explains the chocolate-making process.
05:50From fermenting and roasting the cocoa, to mixing and conching, which creates its smooth texture.
05:58After the conching, the chocolate looks like this.
06:01Now I understand the basics, it's time to create something of my own.
06:06Another Lindt master chocolatier shows me how to make the perfect bar.
06:11So I go for a milk chocolate, then we pour it inside, distribute it,
06:17and shake it a little bit on the table to cover the whole surface of the bar, of the malt,
06:24with the chocolate.
06:26We need to tap a little bit to release the air bubbles.
06:28Next, I give it a go, pouring the mixture into the mould.
06:3345 degrees to the chocolate.
06:36Then I remove the excess chocolate.
06:38No pressure.
06:39No pressure.
06:41I add the finishing touches, and my chocolate bar finally comes together.
06:46What a better present to take back from Switzerland than the best chocolate, right?
06:51The best chocolate, which I made.
06:54Check that one out.
07:01After exploring the world of chocolate, I'm travelling by boat across Lake Lucerne.
07:07Surrounded by towering mountains, it was formed by ancient glaciers.
07:12The lake covers more than 100 square kilometres, and is one of the largest in Switzerland.
07:19It's a beautiful way to experience the lake.
07:22High above it is the historic Bergenstock Resort, where I'm staying during my time in Switzerland.
07:29This incredible journey definitely takes arriving in Stahl to a whole new level.
07:36To reach the summit, I board a funicular that's been carrying passengers up the mountain for over a century.
07:44The journey is truly jaw-dropping, and once here, the views stretch as far as the eye can see.
07:52Today, the resort is Katari-owned, and my room is fittingly named the Katara Suite.
07:59We have here 310 square metres full of luxury and beautiful views.
08:06The Lake Lucerne, on the other side, we have the beautiful Swiss Alps.
08:10We have one master bedroom, a beautiful sun terrace, and a lot of space to enjoy.
08:16The suite is absolutely stunning, but it's the mountain outlook that steals the show.
08:22After exploring my room, I head to the spa to unwind.
08:27High above the lake, it's easy to forget the world below.
08:31This 10,000 square metre spa is the kind of place you could stay for hours.
08:38Everything about this resort is relaxing, from the fresh air, the scenery, and of course, this incredible spa.
08:48Feeling refreshed, I head down to try some local cheese, in an original 16th-century dining hall.
08:56Welcome to the Simmentaler Stube, our original stube from Bern.
09:02We serve our famous fondue here.
09:04It's from our small dairy down the valley.
09:08It's producing all the cheeses you see on the table here.
09:10There are so many cheeses to choose from, ranging from mild and creamy, to rich and full of flavour.
09:18They all taste delicious, but my favourite has to be the Swiss fondue.
09:24Gosh, that's incredible.
09:26We finish by trying some traditional Swiss dishes that celebrate the country's love for cheese.
09:32A wonderfully indulgent end to the tasting.
09:37You can't come to Switzerland and not try the cheese.
09:41And cheese from a valley just behind us?
09:44Incredible.
09:47After a cheese-infused feast, it's time to stretch my legs and explore the mountains.
09:53There are many hiking trails leaving the resort, so we pick one of the most iconic ones and start our
10:00ascent.
10:01During fall, it's really amazing because you have really the different colours of the trees and the leaves.
10:10It's a secluded walkway along the cliff face, with lush greenery framing the incredible views.
10:17I love the contrast, like having the clouds and the mountains.
10:20It's something so special.
10:21You feel like you're on top of the world, floating above clouds sometimes.
10:25Indeed, actually.
10:26Sometimes we have just the clouds here and it's actually kind of heaven.
10:30And we are just above the clouds, so it's very nice.
10:33As you reach higher, you can see four Swiss regions, known as cantons, surrounding the lake.
10:40You have here Lutzen canton.
10:43You have on the side, you have Obwalden, Nidwalden.
10:48And a little bit further over there, we have Uri as well.
10:52We continue on, reaching the Hamitschfan lift, Europe's highest outdoor elevator.
10:58Built in 1905, this engineering masterpiece whisks visitors up a 153-metre cliff face in under a minute.
11:09It's definitely not for the faint-hearted, but it's worth it to reach the summit.
11:14Actually, we have to steal some snow on top of the mountain, and then we have the valley, and of
11:22course the cows that are just behind us.
11:24This really is one of the most picturesque settings, and it's been the perfect way to end my time in
11:31Switzerland.
11:33With its beautiful landscapes, and fresh mountain air, Switzerland is the ideal place to unwind.
11:41The serenity of Switzerland has truly blown me away.
11:45From the beautiful lakes, to the local cuisine, and the jaw-dropping backgrounds, this place is one for memories.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
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