Hidden Gem
12 stories
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Trubschachen and the Kambly Experience: a day in the old Emmental
A 45-minute walk past 13 historic buildings, a heritage museum run by the villagers themselves, and a free tasting of around 100 kinds of biscuit — one Emmental village, one unhurried day, and a biscuit-painted train to get there. Everything worth knowing about Trubschachen and the Kambly Experience: what to see, when to come, and what is closed when.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
The Clay City in the Woods: Inside the Grande Citadelle de Monthoux
Half an hour from Morges, on the road up to the Marchairuz pass, a fantastical medieval metropolis rises out of the forest floor — gothic spires, bridges, dragons and hermits, all modelled by hand from river clay. It looks like AI-generated concept art. It is real, it is free to visit, and it is still growing.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Kanderdelta: Thun's wild river mouth that most tourists never find
Just outside Thun lies the Kanderdelta: gravel bars, floodplain forest and a river that was moved on purpose in 1714 and never stopped rearranging its own shoreline. Rare birds, a natural beach, grey glacial mud — and almost no one there at sunrise.
🇫🇷 France
The Évian Funicular — A Free Ride Through 120 Years of Spa Town History
A funicular from 1907, closed for 33 years, nearly demolished, then brought back to life. Wooden carriages, a 140-meter tunnel, five tiled stations, and a ride that costs nothing but feels like time travel. Évian's best-kept secret.
🇫🇷 France
Évian-les-Bains — A French Day Trip 35 Minutes by Boat From Lausanne
Board a boat in Lausanne, step off in France 35 minutes later. Évian-les-Bains is a Belle Époque spa town where you can drink the world's most famous water for free, ride a funicular from 1907, and cross an international border without a single checkpoint.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Medieval Spectacle Hinwil — Switzerland's Biggest Knight Tournament
A thousand knights, blacksmiths, and musicians take over a field near Zürich every spring. The Mittelalterspektakel in Hinwil is Switzerland's biggest medieval festival — jousting, fire shows, craft markets, and free entry for kids.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Morges Tulip Festival — Switzerland's Free Answer to Keukenhof
Over 100,000 tulips on the shore of Lake Geneva, the Alps as a backdrop, and not a single ticket booth. The Morges Tulip Festival is Switzerland's best-kept spring secret — and it's completely free. A guide by Jojo.is...
🇫🇷 France
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse — the mysterious source of the Sorgue River
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is home to the mysterious source of the Sorgue River — a powerful karst spring emerging from a deep cave. With crystal-clear emerald waters, dramatic cliffs, and hidden depths, it’s one of the most fascinating natural wonders in Provence.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Beckenhof Park — a quiet retreat just 10 minutes from Zurich’s main station and bustling city center
A peaceful hidden gem just minutes from Zurich’s center, Beckenhof Park offers blooming flowers, historic charm, and a quiet escape from city crowds—perfect for relaxing, reading, and enjoying a serene garden atmosphere year-round.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Rosengarten Bern — The Best Viewpoint That Most Tourists Miss
Rosengarten is a free viewpoint in Bern with a stunning panorama of the old town, the Alps, and the Aare River. How to get there, what to see, best time to visit. A guide by Jojo.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
The Musical Wonder of Zurich: The Carillon Kurz on Bahnhofstrasse
On Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, the Carillon Kurz delights visitors with a daily musical show of bells and moving Swiss figurines. Inaugurated in 1982, this 36-bell clock is a charming symbol of Swiss craftsmanship, tradition, and culture.
🇩🇰 Denmark
A Magical Adventure: Thomas Dumbo's Troll Hunt
Thomas Dambo, a Danish eco-artist, creates giant troll sculptures from recycled materials, hidden in nature worldwide. These magical artworks blend storytelling, sustainability, and adventure, inviting people to explore scenic landscapes while discovering a powerful environmental message.