The Swiss castles

Lenzburg - one of the 17 castles and palaces in the new association "The Swiss Castles". c: Museum AargauThe new national network "The Swiss castles"wants to make the castle experience in Switzerland palatable to the population across regions, develop attractive offers and use synergies in the process. The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute GDI sees great potential in castle tourism. The umbrella organization Switzerland Tourism has promised support. Castles also hold great potential for events.New programsThe variety of tourist-oriented castles and palaces in Switzerland is unique. The new association creates an overview of the various offerings, defines quality standards and provides domestic and foreign visitors with a reliable guide to a Switzerland-wide castle experience. The cooperation promotes the exchange of knowledge and uses synergies so that "The Swiss Castles" can develop new attractive programs and event formats.Opposites to the technicized everyday lifeCastle tourism is on trend, according to the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute GDI. A study commissioned by the association concludes: "Traditional, authentic offers and nature experiences are increasingly in demand as a counterpoint to our technicized 24/7 everyday life. With their walls and their whole history, castles have good prerequisites to meet this increasing need."Already over one million visitorsThe association currently consists of 17 castles and palaces from nine cantons in three language regions, which received a total of over 1 million visitors in 2014: Castelli di Bellinzona (Castelgrande, Montebello & Sasso Corbaro, TI), Château de Chillon (VD), Château de Gruyères (FR), Château de Morges et ses musées (VD), Château de Prangins (National Museum, VD), Napoleon Museum (Schloss Arenenberg, TG), castles Habsburg, Hallwyl, Lenzburg and Wildegg (Museum Aargau, AG), castle Heidegg (LU), castle Jegenstorf (BE), castle Kyburg (ZH), castle Oberhofen (BE), castle Spiez (BE), castle Thun (BE) and castle Waldegg (SO). The association is open to the inclusion of other culture-oriented castles and palaces.