Pride Journey Holiday Spotlight: Switzerland

The smell of cinnamon and mulled wine, sparkling lights, Christmas music and a magical ambience: Switzerland shows a truly special side in the run-up to Christmas. The Advent marks the start of the Christmas preparations in the country. Advent calendars are being crafted and, in some villages, there are even 'real' advent calendars with different houses decorating an 'Advent Window'. Switzerland offers numerous activities that certainly bring you in a festive mood. Stroll through a Christmas market, enjoy a traditional Swiss cheese fondue in a tram or chalet, relax in the spa surrounded by snow or whizz around an ice rink. Treat yourself with traditional sweet Swiss goodies like the ‘Basler Läckerli’, a hard spice biscuit and one of the best-known specialties from Basel or a ‘Grittibänz’, a bread man made from a sweet and rich egg and milk dough which is sold just in time for St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. By the way, did you know where Santa lives in Switzerland? High above Lake Constance, in the far east of Switzerland lies the village of Wienacht (German for Christmas) which is where he can be found. Just like every other year, he is extremely busy in the period running up to Christmas as he finds a considerable pile of letters in his letter box all addressed “To the Santa Claus, 9405 Wienacht”, and they come from all over the world: from Germany, Japan to Brazil.

Get inspired about Switzerland and visit us on our website on MySwitzerland.com.

Pictures: Fondue Tram in Zurich at the top, Christmas market in St.Gallen in the bottom.