|best|: Switzerland In Spring

It is the sound of the world waking up. And it is beautiful.

This is the season of the Chästeilet , or the "cheese distribution." As the cows march up from their winter stables to the high alpine pastures (the Alpaufzug ), villages celebrate with parades, flower crowns, and folk music. It is a photographer’s dream and a cultural spectacle rarely seen by winter tourists. The Lake Geneva Region (Montreux & Lavaux) While the higher Alps are still icy, the shores of Lake Geneva are in full bloom. The famous Montreux Riviera explodes with color, particularly the narcissus flowers in the nearby hills. Stroll the flower-lined lakeside promenade, and take the golden-pass train through vineyards that are just beginning to bud. switzerland in spring

If you want summer in spring, head south through the Gotthard Tunnel to Ticino. Here, palm trees sway on the shores of Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore. By mid-April, magnolias and camellias are in full riot. It feels like Italy, but with Swiss efficiency. It is the perfect escape if the high passes are still closed. It is the sound of the world waking up

Ask most travelers to picture Switzerland, and they will describe a winter wonderland of pristine ski slopes or a summer postcard of lush green alpines. But there is a secret season that locals guard jealously: spring. It is a photographer’s dream and a cultural