observatory

June 19, 2020

Tower observatory of the Turin Cathedral

The Turin Cathedral (Duomo di Torino or Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista) is a church in Turin built at the end of the 15th century. It hosted the Shroud of Turin from 1578, when it was moved from the Holy Chapel (Sainte Chapelle) in Chambéry, to 1649, when the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (Cappella della Sacra Sindone) next door was completed. It currently hosts it again since the fire of the chapel in 1997.

The cathedral has a bell tower (Torre campanaria), separate from the main body, which can be visited. It is quite high (63 m) and offers a great view on the city of Turin and the surrounding mountains. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of the Diocesan Museum of Turin (Museo Diocesano di Torino), on the other side of the cathedral from the tower. After that, there is an underground passage to reach the tower then stairs to get to the top.

May 3, 2020

Sunset at Monte dei Cappuccini

The Church of Santa Maria al Monte dei Cappuccini is built on a hill overlooking the river Po in Turin. That hill has a great view on the city and is a popular place to watch the sunset.

April 19, 2020

Dome Observatory of Basilica di Superga

Basilica di Superga is an 18th-century church located at the top of the Superga hill above Turin. Its Royal Crypt is the burial place of the Savoy family (although earlier members were buried at the Hautecombe Abbey near Chambéry). The Basilica also has a dome with an outside observatory that offers a great view on Turin and the Alps.

October 21, 2019

Château des Sires de Faucigny (Bonneville)

The Château des Sires de Faucigny is a medieval castle in Bonneville, Haute-Savoie. I went there after visiting the Tour des Comtes de Genève in La Roche-sur-Foron nearby. It was built in the 13th century to serve as the seat of the Lords of Faucigny. The castle then passed under the control of the house of Savoie and became a jail until the 20th century. It was recently renovated and opened to the public for the first time this year. The two large towers, the rampart between them and the courtyard can be visited. Entrance is free.

October 19, 2019

Tour des Comtes de Genève (La Roche-sur-Foron)

The Tour des Comtes de Genève (Tower of the Counts of Geneva) is a medieval tower located in La Roche-sur-Foron, near Annecy. The tower is built at the top of the large rock (roche in French) that gave its name to the town. During medieval times, it was actually the keep of a castle belonging to the Counts of Geneva, who had made the town their capital, before they moved it to Annecy. The castle was destroyed a long time ago but nowadays, the tower remains and can be visited at a cost of €2. There is a great view at the top.

September 22, 2019

Aiguille du Midi

At the beginning of summer, I went to Chamonix to visit Aiguille du Midi, a mountain next to Mont Blanc and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area: It can easily be accessed by cable car from the valley and, with the highest viewing platform located at the 3842m summit, it offers the best view on the Mont Blanc, the surrounding glaciers and the Chamonix valley.

January 11, 2019

Jardin des Deux Rives / Garten der Zwei Ufer & Weißtannenturm

The Jardin des Deux Rives (Park of the Two Shores), also known as Garten der Zwei Ufer in German, is a park built in 2004 that straddles the France / Germany border along the river Rhine: One part is in Strasbourg, the other in Kehl. The two parts are linked with a pedestrian / bike bridge, the Passerelle des Deux Rives. On the south part of the park in Kehl is the Weißtannenturm (White fir tower), a wooden tower with a good view on the park and the Rhine from the top.

January 8, 2019

Tower of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg is a large catholic church in Strasbourg and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It was built between 1176 and 1439 in the gothic style. Next to the main tower, there is an observatory (accessible by stairs only) that gives a good view of Strasbourg.

October 28, 2018

Towers of Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève

The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève is a church in the old town of Geneva. It was built as a roman catholic church in the Middle Ages but became the adopted home church of Calvin, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. Entrance to the main building is free, however access to the towers, with an open air observatory and a great view of Geneva and the lake, costs 5 Fr.

June 21, 2018

Tour de Sauvabelin & Parc de Sauvabelin

The Tour de Sauvabelin (Sauvabelin Tower) is a 35m-high wood tower, located inside Parc de Sauvabelin in Lausanne. It offers a good view on Lausanne and the surrounding area, such as Lake Geneva or the mountains. The park is also worth a stroll, with multiple forest paths, a lake and even a small zoo.