European Heritage Days

On European Heritage Days, you can come and explore Switzerland's cultural buildings and archaeological sites in ways not usually possible. The weekend is great for those with a passion for history, or as a taster for those who are just curious. 

European Heritage Days (Journées européennes du patrimoine)

Do you want to tour one of the largest palaces in Switzerland or perhaps ride in a historic trolley bus? Maybe you would rather learn about edible cereals in a botanical garden or take a cycle ride along a Roman road? At European Heritage Days, all of this is possible, and plenty more!

The weekend takes place every year and is part of a campaign to encourage people to learn more about history, their environment and the country's cultural treasures. 

There are events aimed at the casually curious as well as those who are already deeply interested in a topic. The programme is extremely varied and easy to search through. For things such as guided tours, the page tells you which language they are given in, but many places are simply open to explore and language is no barrier. As well as being able to filter by date and canton, you can also choose the type of activity, the century you are interested in or the type of location.

What you can do at European Heritage Days

There is so much to do and see! There are over 430 events scheduled so far, all over the country, and with only two days to take part, you'll be spoilt for choice. Here are just some highlights that are taking place:

Archaeological Find Processing, Zug

Explore behind the scenes at the Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology in Zug and see what exactly it is they do all day with their brushes and scalpels in the laboratories.

A guided tour of Müstair Monastery

Spend an hour learning about the exceptional paintings and architecture of the remote Müstair monastery, and how it fits into the history of the local landscape.

Lavaux, networks of walls and paths, Lausanne

Take a guided walk through the 450km network of walls and the 10.000 terraces that form the immense Lavaux vineyard. Learn about the creation and maintenance of the slopes, as well as the history of its ownership.

In the footsteps of the reformation, Geneva

An English-language guided tour of Geneva takes you back to the Middle Ages, when the city was a haven for Protestant refugees fleeing their home countries.

Attending European Heritage Days

There is a mixture of free and paid-for events that are taking place right across Switzerland for Heritage Days. Most do require advance reservation in order to keep groups small and manageable. You can find out exactly what is happening and how to reserve your place on the European Heritage Days Switzerland website.