Hotels for Marc Haei's friends

About the destination: With the Alps and the Lake Lucerne as its backdrop, charming and prosperous Lucerne is a spectacular city. Brightly coloured wall painting, an art form that flourished in the late 16th century, decorate its narrow streets and colourful squares. The city is ideal for boat trips and excursions to Mt. Rigi and Mt. Pilatus. A walk along the river affords a great view of the old city. Two ancient bridges cross the river. The Chapel Bridge is decorated with scenes from Swiss history, and runs by the Water Tower, symbol of the city. The shorter Spreuerbrücke is adorned with Kaspar Megliner’s eerie Dance of Death paintings. Walk by the Altes Rathaus, City Hall, and through the charming squares of Weinmarkt and Hirschenplatz for a taste of authentic Swiss wall painting. For a bird’s-eye view of Lucerne’s dozen or so churches and three mountains, Pilatus, Rigi and Titlus, climb the medieval fortifications with their numerous towers. Don’t miss Das Löwendenkmal, a huge sculpture of a lion carved into the face of a rock dedicated to the Swiss mercenaries of Versailles. Mark Twain dubbed it “the saddest and most compassionate piece of rock on earth”. In the Am Rhyn Haus, next to the Altes Rathaus, you can see an interesting collection of late Picasso works. The combination of tranquil lake and breathtaking snow-capped mountains give Lucerne a special charm which is furthered even more by the medieval old town, famous wooden bridges and beautiful skyline.

About the destination: Zermatt is a scenic ski resort, located at the northern base of the mighty Matterhorn. Skiing, hiking and mountaineering are the main attractions in this resort, nonetheless there is so much more to see in this flower bedecked village. Hinterdorf is the oldest part of Zermatt where you can still find a few of the old traditional Swiss wooden houses dating back to the 17th and 16th century. The St. Mauritius Church dominates the skyline of Zermatt. It is located at the Church Square, Kirchplatz, in the heart of Zermatt's busy city centre. Next to the Catholic Church, the Matterhorn Museum houses the remains and preserves Zermatt's history. Located close to St. Mauritius Church is the town's cemetery, the Mountaineers' Cemetery. There, the headstones tell some amazing stories of the climbers who met with destiny during their attempt to climb the Matterhorn. The main street is a hive of activity and has restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, gift shops and many shops retailing Swiss Watches. Beautiful Swiss style buildings adorn each side of the street. The English Church is a lovely little church set high on the hill overlooking Zermatt. It is a very heavily timbered building inside and, whilst not as big or as ornate as the Catholic Church, it has a charm all of its own. Well worth the walk up the hill. Bustling, crowded, busy and beautiful all at the same time, Zermatt is the epitome of Swiss atmosphere. Although busy with visitors and holidaymakers, this town has retained that lovely Swiss ambience and feel about it.

About the destination: The city of Geneva has a population of 200,000 inhabitants and is one of largest in Switzerland, is the capital of the canton and is situated on the Lac Leman, also named Lake of Geneva, it is divided by Rhône River, which emerges from the lake. It is a nice and charming city with numerous bridges. The Gothic Cathédrale de St-Pierre towers over the vieille ville, Geneva’s old section of narrow, winding streets and flower-bedecked homes. Climb the north tower for a spectacular view of the old town. Most of the city’s museums are in the vieille ville. The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire prides itself on its eclecticisms. Exhibits range from ancient Greek vases to Dadaism art. The Petit Palais houses a wonderful collection of modern art in an intimate 19th century palace. Geneva’s lakefront is beautiful. The audacious Jet d’Eau is one of the world’s tallest fountain. Don’t miss the manicured Jardin Anglais with its famous Horloge Fleurie, a large clock adorned with flowers, erected in homage to Geneva’s clock industry. Geneva remains the international city it has been for centuries, epitomizing the Swiss neutrality which has welcomed such diverse visitors as Lenin and Borges. Today, diplomats and the executives of innumerable corporations fill Geneva’s offices, though seldom its spotless streets. Sedate and picturesque, Geneva is the most pleasant city in Switzerland.

About the destination: Paris, situated on the river Seine, is the capital and largest city in France. It is one of the most iconic cities in the world and it is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic cities, so much so that is has been dubbed the City of Love. Paris offers historical sights, monuments, a pleasant atmosphere, lovely cafés, parks and museums to satisfy any traveler. A large part of this City of Light, including the River Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is home to some of the greatest old building in the world such as Le Tour Eiffel, Notre Dâme, Sacre Coeur, L´Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, the Moulin Rouge or the Hotel des Invalides. There is no ending of the list of things you have to see in this city, but Le Louvre, one of the finest museums in the world of art and culture, should not be missed. Paris remains vastly influential in the realms of art and design and is home to some of the most impressive modern buildings such as La Défense, the Centre Pompidou, the Institut du Monde Arabe or the Stade de France. Paris is a city of immense vitality and beauty and it is an amazing and fascinating destination. With its history and architectural patrimony, Paris is the city everyone wants to see.