Switzerland is easily accessible from all parts of France, whether by air, rail or road. The country's dense rail and motorway networks make it easy to get around. For MICE organisers, towns and cantons generally offer a dedicated team to answer all logistical and organisational questions. These structures generally suggest itineraries and ideas, and can coordinate the reception of visitors... A tour around the theme of watchmaking and time involves short journey times from one town to another - usually an hour by road or train. An ideal loop is to start in Lausanne, then visit the cantons of Fribourg, Bern, Neuchâtel, Biel and finally Solothurn, with the option of taking the Lyria train or flying from Basel-Mulhouse Euroairport.
How to get there
From Paris, Dijon, Lyon, Marseille or Alsace, the train is the quickest and most sustainable solution. From Paris, the TGV Lyria offer six daily trains to Lausanne with a stop in Dijon. Alternatively, you can get to Lausanne via Geneva, which is served by eight trains a day from Paris. There is also a TGV Lyria from Marseille via Aix and Lyon to Geneva. Finally, Paris-Basle via Dijon, Belfort and Mulhouse is linked by Lyria six times a day. From Basel, there are numerous trains to Berne, Biel and Lausanne. Finally, from Alsace and the Rhône-Alpes region, TER trains also serve Switzerland (Strasbourg-Basel; Annecy/Annemasse-Geneva-Lausanne; Besançon-La Chaux-de-Fonds).
Air France, Easyjet and Swiss are the main airlines serving Switzerland from France.
- Air France offers flights from CDG to Geneva, Mulhouse/Basel and Zurich.
- Easyjet connects Corsica, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Lille, Nantes, Nice, Paris CDG and Orly, Rennes and Toulouse to Geneva. Connections are also available from Corsica, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse to Basel/Mulhouse.
- Swiss connects Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Paris CDG and since this spring Nantes to Zurich. There is also a Nice-Geneva route.
Getting around
Many cities offer a discount card for public transport and activities. It is generally given free of charge to travellers staying at least one night in a hotel. This is the case in Berne, Lausanne and Neuchâtel. The conditions of use vary from city to city.
Stay
Swiss hotels have a reputation for quality, but also for high prices. Don't hesitate to check out the special "package" offers available from certain city tourist offices, the Swiss National Tourist Office or transport companies.
Lausanne - The capital of Vaud has its legendary 1900 palaces such as the Beau-Rivage Palace (+41 21 613 33 33) facing Lake Geneva or the Royal Savoy Hotel ( +41 21 614 88 88)between Lake Geneva and the city centre. Cheaper alternatives are the Ibis Styles Lausanne Center Mad House (+41 21 340 69 99) in the Flon district or the Swiss Wine by FassbindA stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the city (+41 21 320 21 41).
Bern - There's the iconic Bellevue PalaceBern's most prestigious address, which has been welcoming official guests of the Confederation for over 150 years (+41 31 320 45 45). Antique façade and contemporary look for the Best Western Pluswith a terrace overlooking the old town (+41 31 329 22 22). Ibis Bern Expojust a few minutes' walk from the exhibition centre and easily accessible by public transport (+41 31 335 12 00).
Biel/Bienne - Just a few metres from the station, the Art Deco Hotel Elite has been recently renovated, offering a contemporary ambience with an art deco touch. Large meeting rooms, roof-top and an amazing fitness area (+41 32 328 77 77). Le Mercure Plaza Biel is a modern establishment in the city centre, with meeting rooms and a fitness centre (+41 32 328 68 68 ).
Fribourg - Behind a superb 17th-century building, theHotel de la Rose offers contemporary and elegant comfort just a few metres from the cathedral and the old town. Meeting rooms and terrace (+41 26 351 01 01). Opposite the station, the Alpha Hotel is a lovely, modern and bright three-star hotel (+41 26 232 72 72).
Neuchâtel - Honour to the Relais et Château neuchatelois, the Beau-Rivage. Situated along the lake, this Belle Epoque palace embodies traditional Swiss luxury with its spa and Gault et Millau-rated restaurant (+41 32 723 15 15). More contemporary in style and located right on Neuchâtel's marina in the heart of the city, the Best Western Premier Hotel Beaulac is the city's largest hotel, offering conference rooms, a restaurant, a sushi bar and a terrace overlooking the port (+41 32 723 11 11). Since 2020, a renowned hotel school has been transformed into a hotel ideally located for business travellers. Neuchâtel City Hotel halfway between the station and the old town. Contemporary furnishings and meeting rooms (+41 3 27 22 11 11).
Solothurn - Staying at the place where Bonaparte almost slept is certainly a must for any holidaymaker. La Couronne Hotel. The boutique hotel gracefully blends classic French and contemporary styles. Seminars and meetings are possible in this historic establishment (+41 32 625 10 10). In a historic building built in 1735 by a French architect, theHotel an der AareThe hotel is on the banks of the river and just a short walk from the cathedral and station. An establishment full of charm and intimacy (+41 32 626 24 00).
To meet
Swiss cities are particularly well equipped to host congresses and conferences. As well as traditional exhibition centres and conference centres, many more unusual venues (museums, open-air spaces, art galleries, old factories) can be transformed for a MICE event. The convention offices of tourist offices offer logistical support and advice for organisers, and are full of good ideas.
Switzerland – https://meetings.myswitzerland.com/fr-ch/ or international freephone number: 00 800 1002 0030
Lausanne – https://www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/fr/business/ or coma@lausanne-tourisme.ch
Bern – https://www.bern.com/fr/business or https://www.bern.com/fr/business/services
Biel/Bienne – https://mice.j3l.ch/fr/biel-bienne-seeland/congres.html or daniel.grosskinsky@biel-seeland.ch
Fribourg – https://www.fribourg-meeting.ch/fr or contact@fribourg-meeting.ch
Neuchâtel – https://mice.j3l.ch/fr/neuchatel/congres.html or www.neuchatelcongres.ch
Time and watchmaking
Information on organising a tour on the theme of time and watchmaking or finding contacts
Switzerland https://www.myswitzerland.com/fr-ch/decouvrir/ete-automne/ete/histoires/la-vallee-des-horlogers/
Neuchâtel/La Chaux-de-Fonds/Bienne : https://www.j3l.ch/fr/Z10403/horlogerie-horlogerie or https://explorewatch.swiss/
Biel City of Time : https://www.citedutemps.com/fr/
Everything you need to know about Swiss watches, the website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry is packed with information, figures and interesting links: https://www.fhs.swiss/fre/homepage.html
