'/%3e%3cg style='filter: drop-shadow(0 2px 4px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1));'%3e%3cpath d='M-10 600L160 300L330 600Z' fill='hsl(205 34% 80%)'/%3e%3cpath d='M170 600L380 250L590 600Z' fill='hsl(205 34% 60%)'/%3e%3cpath d='M500 600L650 400L800 600Z' fill='hsl(205 34% 80%)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3ctext x='50%25' y='50%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' font-family='PT Sans, sans-serif' font-size='40' fill='hsl(205 34% 60%)' font-weight='bold' letter-spacing='0.1em'%3eGaanWe%3c/text%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Swissminiatur
Address
Via Cantonale, 6815 Melide, Switzerland
Country
switzerland
Website
https://www.swissminiatur.chOpening Hours
Daily 09:00-18:00 (March 16 to November 9, last entry 17:30)
Popularity
**🏆 Switzerland's Premier Miniature Park | Traveler's Choice Award Winner** - **200,000+ annual visitors** discovering Switzerland in miniature - **65+ years of operation** since opening in 1959 - **120+ detailed models** representing iconic Swiss landmarks - **TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award** for consistently excellent reviews - **UNESCO World Heritage sites** represented in miniature scale
Switzerland in Miniature - A Unique Cultural Journey
Swissminiatur offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore all of Switzerland in just one day. Located on the shores of Lake Lugano in the picturesque village of Melide, this remarkable outdoor museum presents the entire Swiss Confederation in perfectly crafted 1:25 scale models.
🏰 A Living Museum Since 1959
As Switzerland's only miniature park, Swissminiatur has been captivating visitors for over six decades. What began as a vision to showcase Swiss architectural and cultural heritage has evolved into an internationally recognized attraction that serves as both entertainment and education.
🎯 Architectural Masterpieces in Miniature
The park features 120+ meticulously crafted models representing Switzerland's most significant landmarks:
Historic Castles:
- Château de Chillon - Lake Geneva's iconic water castle
- Castelgrande Bellinzona - UNESCO World Heritage fortress
- Castle of Rapperswil - Medieval stronghold on Lake Zurich
Religious Monuments:
- Federal Parliament Building in Bern
- Basel Minster - Romanesque and Gothic cathedral
- Milan Cathedral - The only interior-viewable model
Cultural Icons:
- Heidi Village Maienfeld - Celebrating Swiss literary heritage
- Olympic Museum Lausanne - International sporting legacy
- Zermatt's Matterhorn - Switzerland's most famous peak
🚂 Living Transportation Network
The park's 3.5-kilometer model railway system brings the miniature landscape to life with:
- 18 model trains continuously traveling through the scenery
- Operating funiculars climbing miniature mountains
- Cable cars and gondolas crossing valleys
- Lake steamers navigating miniature waters
Attractions in Swissminiatur
Château de Chillon
🏰 Lake Geneva's Most Famous Castle
Château de Chillon represents one of Switzerland's most photographed and visited historic monuments, beautifully recreated in precise 1:25 scale. This water castle model captures the romantic essence of the original medieval fortress.
🎯 Historic Significance
- 13th-century fortress built on Lake Geneva's rocky island
- Inspiration for Lord Byron's poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon'
- Strategic military position controlling ancient trade routes
- Architectural evolution spanning several centuries
🔧 Model Details
- Precise architectural reproduction with accurate proportions
- Detailed stonework replicating medieval craftsmanship
- Surrounding water features mimicking Lake Geneva setting
- Landscaped approaches showing historical context
This model allows visitors to appreciate the castle's strategic lakeside position and architectural complexity from unique aerial perspectives.