Luxury Hotels Group Blog » Bern Switzerland http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:24:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.3 Go Barmy in a balloon over Bern http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/go-barmy-in-a-balloon-over-bern/ http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/go-barmy-in-a-balloon-over-bern/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2015 10:09:52 +0000 http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/?p=2860 Home to the federal capital of the country, as well as countless towns and villages, the Canton of Bern is arguably the most fascinating of the Swiss Cantons. Moreover, with its idyllic mix of rivers, valleys and mountain views, it's also one of the most beautiful.And there's no better way to appreciate this beauty than to take a hot air balloon ride over the region. A number of tour operators offer leisure flights to intrepid tourists keen to discover Switzerland from the air, with strong levels of competition ensuring that such flights can be enjoyed by everyone from budget holidaymakers right through the discerning traveller enjoying the luxury hotels and world-class restaurants this part of Europe boasts in abundance.The one big draw of flying over Bern is the sheer diversity of the Canton. Most guides will choose to follow the Aare River as it winds through lush green valleys towards the Hallwilersee. Dotted along the river are numerous quaint, traditional villages that look like they haven't changed for centuries, while occasionally, a small, picturesque city, complete with old church and square will come into view.However, it's not the towns and villages that give this central part of Switzerland its beauty. Rather, it's the green countryside that surrounds the main city of Bern itself before reaching the foothills of the Alps.Additionally, most balloon flights will also take guests over the Emmental region. As might be expected of a region famed for its long, proud tradition of cheese-making, the countryside here is a luscious green, with herds of cattle and small farms visible from the balloon basket, offering some spectacular photo opportunities.But for the best pictures, wait until the balloon gets closer to the Alps themselves. Approaching from the Bern region, the Jura chain of mountains soon comes into view, with its snow-capped peaks taking the breath away and ensuring that a balloon ride over the traditional heart of Switzerland really is an experience that won't be forgotten in a hurry. 

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]]> http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/go-barmy-in-a-balloon-over-bern/feed/ 0 Have a ‘relativity’ good trip to Bern http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/have-a-relativity-good-trip-to-bern/ http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/have-a-relativity-good-trip-to-bern/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:36:22 +0000 http://blog.luxuryhotelsgroup.com/?p=2855 The classical view of Albert Einstein is of the ageing scientist with the white lab coat and wild hair of the same colour, but while that was true of the great physicist in his later years, there is much about his life that people will not know.Although his later years were spent in the US, Einstein lived in Bern for much of his early life and visitors to the city can learn much more about this by visiting Einstein House, where he resided from 1903 to 1905.That may have been a short time, but it was in 1905 that he had his 'annus mirabilis' and transformed the science of physics with his theory of special relativity. He then began his work on general relativity while still in the city. This period also saw him publish a paper titled 'On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light', which may be a mouthful, but also won him the Nobel prize for physics in 1921.His rented house stood at Kramgasse No. 49, and now visitors can come and see it for themselves. The interior has been restored to reflect the decor of the period, but a number of additional features have been introduced. In particular, there is an illustration of the Milky Way on the stairway. However, the original spiral stairway to the second floor has been left just as it was. Just imagine walking up it - and thinking about the wonders of the swirling galaxies as you go.The second floor apartment provides an accurate representation of the living conditions experienced by Einstein, his wife Mileva and their son Hans Albert. It also displays pictures and texts presented with modern media. The furniture, however, is very 1905, while the walls display various black and white pictures of the younger Einstein, who was 26 in 1905.Einstein House is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and costs CHF6 to enter for adults and CHF4.50 for senior citizens. It certainly doesn't take an Einstein to work out this is a must-see for visitors to Bern.

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