Red Guide to the Top Best Swiss Star & Bib Gourmand Restaurants and Hotels

The Michelin Switzerland 2010 Red Guide, or gourmet bible, has been released with tips and reviews of  the best Swiss three star and bib gourmand restaurants and hotels.

The Michelin Switzerland 2010 Red Guide to the best Swiss hotels and restaurants has been released for sale in Switzerland. Although Switzerland has only two three-star restaurants, an overall total of 101 Michelin stars assure that Switzerland has the highest number of Michelin stars per capita. Michelin increased one restaurant to two stars and added eight new one-star restaurants to the Switzerland guide.

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Visit a Swiss Marché de Noel or Weihnachtsmarkt during Xmas Time

The best Christmas markets (Marché de Noel or Weihnachtsmarkt) to visit in Switzerland are in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Montreux, Pilatus, St Gallen, and Zurich.

photo credit: c0d3in3

In recent years, many Swiss cities have introduced Christmas markets to bring some holiday cheer to the December advent period. Very few Christmas markets in Switzerland can claim the long tradition of German Christmas markets but as a bonus some Swiss Christmas markets will stay open past Xmas Eve. Well-known Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) in German-speaking Switzerland are in Basel, Bern, St Gallen, and Zurich while Montreux (pictured above) on Lake Geneva has the most famous Marché de Noël in French-speaking Switzerland. Mt Pilatus and Rochers-de-Naye have Christmas markets on Alpine peaks.

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Direct Buses & Trains to Genève Aéroport (GVA) from Lyon, Grenoble, etc

Cheap buses, transfer services, and trains from Geneva Airport (GVA) in Switzerland go to French towns such as Lyon, Grenoble, Chamonix, and Alpine ski resorts.

photo credit: bribriTO

Geneva International Airport (GVA) is on the Swiss-French border. Genève Cointrin Aéroport is used by travelers not only to Geneva but also to French towns such as Lyon, Grenoble, Chamonix, Chambéry, Annecy, and many Alpine ski resorts. Direct buses run from the airport to many French destinations while transfer services to Alpine ski resorts are popular and best reserved in advance, Train journeys from Geneva Airport to French destinations including Lyon almost always requires a transfer at Genève Cornavin station.

All public transportation, except taxis, from Geneva Airport depart from the Swiss side of the airport. Passengers go through the same (Schengen) immigration whether traveling to France or Switzerland but as Switzerland is not part of the EU, passengers using public transportation have to pass through Swiss customs whether traveling directly to France or not (and repeat the procedure at the train station or when the bus pass the border again).

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Low-Cost Budget Airlines Flying to Genève Cointrin Aéroport / Ski Resorts

Geneva Airport (GVA) is used by low-cost budget airlines for cheap flights from the UK, Europe, and the USA with easy connections to Swiss and French Alpine ski resorts.

photo credit: pravin8

Geneva Airport (Genève-Cointrin Aéroport) straddles the Swiss-French border just minutes from downtown Geneva. In recent years, Geneva Airport seems to have bucked the trend and showed increased numbers in flights and passengers. Many low-cost airlines fly here and Geneva Airport (GVA) is an important base of budget airline Ryanair as well as local airline Baboo. Most flights to Geneva are from European destinations but many cities further afield in the Middle East and even the USA (Washington and New York) also have direct flights.

Many flights to Geneva Airport (GVA) are seasonal with a huge increase in the number of flights and destinations served during the winter ski season. Geneva Airport is convenient for travelers to many Swiss ski resorts while it is often also more convenient for winter sport resorts in France than local French airports.

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Public Transportation from Switzerland to Genève Cointrin Aéroport (GVA)

Buses and trains provide easy access to Geneva Cointrin Airport (GVA) from central Genève and Switzerland. Arriving passengers get free public transportation passes.

photo credit: jeckman

Geneva Cointrin Airport (GVA) is very conveniently located 5 km (3 miles) from downtown Genève. A mainline train station in the basement of Genève Aéroport allow for very easy rail access from many parts of Western Switzerland while buses provide fast and cheap transportation to much of Geneva. Although adjacent to a major highway on the one side and the French border on the other, walking and cycling to Geneva Airport are possible too.

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Large Special Collection of Impressionist Paintings in the Kunstmuseum, Switzerland

Vincent van Gogh’s Landscapes Paintings Special Exhibition in the Kunstmuseum, Basel will be one of the greatest temporary art gallery shows in Europe 2009.

Blumenbeete in Holland, Vincent van Gogh April 1883, © National Gallery of Art Washington

The Vincent van Gogh – Between Earth and Heaven: the Landscapes will be one of the best temporary art collections in Europe in 2009. The Kunstmuseum Basel (Art Museum) will host the Vincent van Gogh – Zwischen Erde und Himmel: Die Landschaften exhibition from April 26 to September 27, 2009. On display will be 70 Vincent van Gogh landscape paintings as well as more landscape paintings by Van Gogh’s contemporaries including French Impressionist and Fauvist painters.

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Getting to EuroAirport (BSL, MLH, EAP) in France, Germany & Switzerland

Getting to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, MLH, EAP) by car, train, or bus is easy and cheap from Swiss, French (Alsace), and German Black Forest towns.

photo credit: dongga BS

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, MLH, EAP) is generally easiest reached by public bus from Basel in Switzerland. Basel Airport is physically in France but operated jointly by the Swiss and French authorities. Easy public transportation is also available to towns in Alsace, France and the Black Forrest in Germany.

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Low Airfares and Tickets on Budget Airlines Flying to BSL, MLH, EAP

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, MLH, EAP) is a favorite for cheap flights and discount ticket on low-cost airlines flying to Switzerland, Germany, and France.

photo credit: irishflyguy

Flying to Switzerland is often anything but cheap. However, Basel Airport (BSL) has many flights on low-cost airlines to European destinations. EasyJet, Air Berlin and TUIfly have a strong presence at Basel Airport, which is a sound alternative for budget travelers heading to Alsace in France and the Southern Black Forest in Germany.

• The full name of Basel Airport is EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg has three IATA codes: BSL, MLH, and EAP – BSL is the most common with many internet reservation services not recognizing EAP at all. Some destinations are only served during the summer season.

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A Top Romanesque and Gothic Church with Cloisters, Switzerland

The Basler Münster (Minster) is the top historical sight in Basel, Switzerland. It is a big Romanesque and Gothic church with cloisters and the tomb of the humanist Erasmus.

photo credit: son_gismo

The Basler Münster (Minster) towers over the Rhine Valley and the old town of Basel from Münsterberg hill. This mostly fourteenth and fifteenth-century Gothic church is the top historical and architectural sight in Basel, Switzerland’s fourth largest city.

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Tour the Old Town, Münster (Minster), Rathaus, and Best Museums

The Romanesque-Gothic Minster, historical Rathaus on Marktplatz, old streets in Spalenberg, fountains, and excellent museums are the best sights to see in Basel, Switzerland.

photo credit: dongga BS

The Swiss city Basel is on the Rhine River at the border with Germany and France. This city of almost 170,000 inhabitants has an interesting historical center, pedestrian shopping streets, and excellent museums.

The Romanesque-Gothic Basler Münster (Minster)

The Romanesque-Gothic Basler Münster (Basel Minster) is the top historical and architectural sight to see in Basel. This large church on Münsterberg Hill towers of the town and the Rhine River valley. Its origins are twelfth-century Romanesque but most of what is visible today is late medieval Gothic.

The Minster in Basel is famous for its highly decorative Romanesque St. Gallen portal where Christ sits in judgment on the tympanum. Also note the elephants carved out of stone facing the Rhine river.

• European humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469-1536) is buried in the Basler Münster.

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