Archiv für die Kategorie ‘Outdoor’

Schloss Lenzburg

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Castles are usually nice locations for weddings. Of those castles open to the public and allowing weddings, I define three categories:

  1. very attractive
  2. so-so
  3. blah.

I’d put Schloss Lenzburg (Schloss means castle) in category 2.

It lies on a small hill just above the town of Lenzburg near Zurich. You can have your marriage ceremony both outdoors and indoors, even with an option for both: outdoors, and should the weather turn unfavourable, the option to move inside.

Schloss Lenzburg is quite popular for weddings, so be prepared that your wedding party might not be the only one around. The outdoor ceremony takes place on the Bastion, which is just above the Rose Garden. The indoor ceremonies can take place in one of the large halls.

Schloss Lenzburg from the road below Schloss Lenzburg from the road below
The path leading up and the entrance gate The path leading up and the entrance gate
The inner courtyard. receptions can be held here The inner courtyard. receptions can be held here
The bastion, prepared for an outdoor wedding The bastion, prepared for an outdoor wedding
Another view of the bastion Another view of the bastion

Restaurant Heuwiese, Weite

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Near Sargans, just on the border across the Rhein river from Liechtenstein’s Vaduz lies Weite, in the middle of nowhere. Restaurant Heuwiese is there, and the meadow just outside the Restaurant makes for a nice and peaceful ceremony location. A reception, lunch or dinner can be had in the restaurant, of course.

There are literally hundreds of restaurant locations in Switzerland which would be suitable for a wedding, so this is just one example. You don’t really need that much to pull it off: a romantic location, a ceremony officiant, some chairs or benches – perhaps with white coverings, some decoration like flowers and perhaps a band, a musician or a DJ for a bit of emotional music.

A wedding setting on the meadow just outside the restaurantA wedding setting on the meadow just outside the restaurant
A dinner setting in the restaurantA dinner setting in the restaurant
Theres also a pergola ouside which is sheltered against rainTheres also a pergola ouside which is sheltered against rain
The decorated fountain in the pergolaThe decorated fountain in the pergola

Paxmal, Walenstadt

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Swiss artist Karl Bickel constructed the Paxmal high up over the Walensee lake at Schrina-Hochrugg from 1924 to 1949 using his own labor and funds. It is reminiscent of a house of worship, with a walled courtyard with no roof containing a water pool  and a covered “altar” area with a neo-Greek entrance, although it was not designed nor is used as a house of worship.

All the inside walls are adorned by large mosaics celebrating the family, work and old age.

Note that the covered area is very small, it ends right at the wall behind the columns, so you’re out of luck should there be rain. Ceremonies take place in the uncovered courtyard by the water pool.

The Paxmal, with the uncovered courtyard and covered facadeThe site has a unique atmosphere to it, being rather quiet and peaceful, with the Walensee visible down the steep mountainside as well the mountains on the opposite side of the narrow valley. Looking up are the craggy tops of the Churfirsten range.

Directions: I couldn’t locate a map to the site nor find driving directions from my navigator (Schrina-Hochrugg is a geographic spot, not a town), so I had to ask locally. You start from Walenstadt and head for the restaurant Krone there. Take the small road uphill, it’s called Bergstrasse. The road will get narrower and narrower and at some point cars cannot pass each other, so always make a mental note of the last passing point in case you have to back up. The road is steep as well, so it isn’t something for the faint of heart. You won’t any signs to the Paxmal until you’re fairly near. There is a fork at one point, take the road heading towards the Sanatorium (Ruggstrasse). The last couple of hundred meters is not tarred. There is a small parking lot at the end, although if it’s full you will need to head back to park lower down and hike up.

At the top, where the road ends at the car-park, follow the sign indicating Paxmal and you’ll reach after a 5 minute walk. A spot just next to the top parking lot is used by para-gliders to jump off making the road up busier than what would be caused by the tourists to the Paxmal alone.

Looking in the other direction, the Walensee below and mountains beyondLooking in the other direction, the Walensee below and mountains beyond
Left-wall mural - The FamilyLeft-wall mural – The Family
Mural in the covered areaMural in the covered area
View down from the top parking lotView down from the top parking lot
The Chufirsten high above the PaxmalThe Chufirsten high above the Paxmal
Path leading down to the PaxmalPath leading down to the Paxmal
It says all events must be announced, call the number notedIt says all events must be announced, call the number noted