Summertime in the Valais

I have been waiting for this day for weeks…the time has finally come to share this post!  We travelled to “Heidi’s Country” (this is how I nickname this secluded place) to spend the summer holidays in the mountain countryside.

Although I have posted our visits previously, each trip we experience is quite a bit different from the previous ones.

We had such a special time and it is my hope that some of the magic we experienced translates into this post.  At the very least, I hope that, by the time you are through viewing it, you will consider adding the Swiss Alps to your bucket list, because it is a region that truly deserves a visit.

I never experienced a morning here when I woke up and was not happy. It is for this reason that I take so many photos so whenever I look at them, I catch myself smiling and I am imagining I am there. It is wonderful to smell nature, feel the cool breeze, listen to the sound of the cow bells and play with the wild cat.

The tastiest fruits come from this region: a plate of raspberries.

Ask a Valaisan foodie to name the most popular dessert in the Valais and inevitably the response from many will be fresh apricot tart. For me, this is also one of the best and tastiest tarts that I have ever tried!

Lots of time to make comforting food, like this traditional British dessert - bread and butter pudding - which I slightly adapted to make it crispy and moist at the same time. Check out the upcoming recipe.

I read two books and will soon be back with my book reviews.  I’m a huge fan of the Portuguese author Eça de Queirós. “O Primo Basílio” (English title: Cousin Bazilio) is an exceptional and fun novel published in 1878 and translated around the world.

Eugenie Fraser’s moving account “The House by the Dvina” is a really beautiful read and I’d highly recommend it!

The nearby village...

One of my favourite things about the Swiss Alps is the absolutely stunning natural beauty.    Scenery doesn’t come more dramatic and more beautiful than in the Valais.

Lavey-les-Bains thermal baths are nearby and we often went to spend a fabulous pampering moment ar these thermal baths surrounded by mountains and greenery. As photos are forbidden there, these are snapshots taken with my smartphone.

The last day of my holidays we took the Tortin chairlift from Siviez to visit the Japanese Garden which is a source of delight to walkers. This magnificent natural site is situated at the end of the small valley of Tortin, at the summit of a beautiful glacial moraine, the view over the region is superb and the water that runs down the numerous meanders makes it special.

A City Break in Frauenfeld, Switzerland

Hello everyone! Today I thought I would share some photos from my latest adventure which took me to the little-known city of Frauenfeld, capital of the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland, situated 34km from Zurich.

I spent a weekend exploring the city highlights. It was the perfect amount of time to discover this small and cute city of about 26'000 souls. I took the train and in just over 3 hours arrived in this captivating and not well known Swiss city.

I stayed at the Zum Goldenen Kreuz (Zürcherstrasse 134, Frauenfeld) which is a traditional Swiss hotel. It has a renowned restaurant with a lovely terrace where one can taste Swiss German specialties.

Frauenfeld Castle

Frauenfeld Town Hall

Stadtkirche St. Nikolaus Frauenfeld

Lovey stroll along the river Murg Frauenfeld

US-Mex Frauenfeld Bar-Restaurant (Zürcherstrasse 148, Frauenfeld) - Before dinner we went for an aperitif here. I chose a “Rio Verde” cocktail and Sweetheart had a “Frozen Mango Margarita” both drinks were delicious.

After a long stroll in Frauenfeld, we went back to the hotel’s restaurant - which was fully booked.

The history of the Zum Goldenen Kreuz (Zürcherstrasse 134, Frauenfeld) dates back to the 17th century. This house has welcomed guests such as the Duke of Weimar and the poet Goethe. After a complete renovation in 1978, the venerable house shone in new splendour. This Hotel-Restaurant is located on the outskirts of the old town. It offers free wi-fi and each room has a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower.

One can take a seat in the house or on the terrace.

The interiors of the restaurant are just gorgeous with ancient wood panelling and framed pictures on the walls.

We loved this simple, yet great 3star hotel enormously because of its historic building. We had an amazing dinner, the staff were so friendly and the food was to die for. So if you are looking for a lovely address we recommend to you this authentic place.