Six places of power in Switzerland offering peace and energy

Creux du Van – nature’s amphitheatre

The enormous rock basin in the Neuchâtel Jura is 1,200 metres wide and up to 160 metres high. Standing at its edge and looking down into the depths, you can feel the power of the landscape – a natural monument that seems almost supernatural owing to its perfect geometry. As early as the 19th century, naturalists described Creux du Van as a place of exceptional beauty, and today, it is a protected nature reserve. The silent expanse, combined with the might of the limestone walls, conveys a feeling of grandeur and tranquillity.

Seasonal tip: Particularly impressive in early summer, when the slopes are abundant with flowers. In autumn, fog envelops the basin, while the rim plateau above is bathed in light, like an island.

The Aletsch Glacier – the Ice Age up close

23 kilometres of ice, up to 900 metres thick: the largest glacier in the Alps is not only a natural wonder, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Researchers view it as a unique climate archive, while visitors can sense the power of its dimensions. The vastness of the ice inspires humility, while the glacier simultaneously radiates an archaic permanence that many find energising.

Seasonal tip: In midsummer, the glacier ice appears particularly fresh, while in autumn the clear air intensifies the colours: the white of the ice, the blue of the sky, the brown of the mountains.

Tamina Gorge – where healing water emerges from the depths

A narrow footbridge leads into the narrow gorge, the sound of the water growing louder with every step. The Tamina spring has been known since the 13th century – its warm thermal water bubbling up from the depths at 36.5 degrees. Monks from the Pfäfers monastery discovered this spring and turned it into a place of pilgrimage for those seeking healing. To this day, the gorge is a place where nature and history meet: the raw power of the water and the knowledge that people have been drawing strength here for centuries.

Seasonal tip: The gorge is particularly impressive in summer, when it is hot outside and cool spray envelops everything inside. In autumn, the colours of the forests enhance the contrast with the wet, dark confines, rendering the place even more mystical.

Lake Lucerne – tranquillity in the vastness of the water

Nestled between Rigi, Pilatus, and Urirotstock, Lake Lucerne has been considered a mythical place for centuries. Legend has it that this is where the Swiss Confederation was founded, and travellers found inspiration here. The vastness of the water, surrounded by mountains, creates a special tranquillity that is interwoven with national symbolism. It is therefore hardly surprising that romantics such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and William Turner once described the lake as a place of almost magical effect.

Seasonal tip: In spring, snow-capped peaks are reflected in the clear water, while in late summer, golden light casts a meditative mood over the lake.

Flüeli-Ranft – home of Brother Klaus

Niklaus von Flüe (1417 – 1487), known as Brother Klaus, lived here as a hermit in a gorge above Sachseln. His hermitage and the Ranft chapels remain preserved to this day. The place is an international pilgrimage site and is considered one of the most spiritually dense places in Switzerland. The interplay of mystical tradition, historical veneration, and the tranquil landscape gives Ranft a power that visitors can feel immediately.

Seasonal tip: In winter, an archaic tranquillity descends on Ranft when snow silences the gorge. In summer, pilgrimage trails lead through the Obwalden hills to a place that is considered the spiritual heart of the region.

Monte Verità, Ascona – Hill of Dreams

At the beginning of the 20th century, the hill above Ascona attracted artists, free spirits, and visionaries. They founded a community that followed a vegetarian diet, experimented with alternative forms of society, and worshipped nature. This life reform movement is well documented historically. Even today, the place still feels as though imbued with this energy: palm trees, views of Lake Maggiore, and traces of utopian ideals make it a place that conveys lightness and inspiration.

Seasonal tip: Particularly special in spring, when the magnolias and camellias are in bloom. In late summer, when the Ticino light is warm and golden, the sensuality of the place unfolds.

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