Located just a short distance from Lugano, Melide’s Swissminiatur is the perfect way to visit Switzerland… in just one hour! This outdoor museum hosts more than 120 miniature models plus a dense railway network. Each year, over 200 thousand tourists from across the world visit Melide’s Swissminiature park. Located on the banks of Lake Ceresio, the park is surrounded by mountains including Monte Generoso, San Salvatore and San Giorgio.
ENTER THE FASCINATING WORLD OF SWISSMINIATUR
If you want to have an overview of Switzerland and spend a nice time in a wonderful region, don’t miss Swissminiatur, an exciting place and a must see attraction for everyone visiting Switzerland.
Swissminiatur was inaugurated on 6th June 1959 and celebrated its 50 year anniversary in 2009. It is an open-air miniature park located in Melide, on the shore of Lake Lugano, in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. The park is surrounded by mountains like Monte Generoso, Monte San Salvatore and Monte San Giorgio, which has been declared UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
In an area of 14,000 m² visitors can admire more than 120 models at scale of 1:25 which represent the most important buildings, monuments and forms of transport in Switzerland. A 3,560m long model railway with 18 different trains runs through the park. It is fascinating to watch the variety of trains that run along the tracks, cross bridges and stop by at stations. Boats are also in motion on the lakes, cable cars and funiculars go up and down the mountains and cars move along the highway. For garden lovers, the whole park is beautifully decorated with a selection of 1,500 different plants and over 15,000 flowers. There are several coin operated rides for children and a self–service restaurant which serves local, Swiss, Italian, authentic Chinese and Indian cuisine. The park can also accommodate large groups.
History of Swissminiatur
Swiss Miniatur is the result of Piere Vuigner’s dream to recreate something like the Dutch miniature park of the Netherlands “Madurodam”. Vuigner, a resident of Canton Valais, was smitten by this dream. He toured around Switzerland to find a fitting site where this dream could be materialised. Finally, Melide was chosen as the site primarily because of its wonderful landscape. On the 6th of June 1959, the park was opened for public. In 2009, the park, which is spread over an area of 14,000 square kilometres, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Initially, only 10-12 models, mainly visited by Italian tourists who came to Switzerland to shop, were built on the premises. As time went by, the offer increased and, by the 1980s, the facility boasted some 100 models. The park now features as many as 120 miniature models, a dense railway network, lakes, bridges, freeways, cable cars and funiculars. The structures of the models are built by a French specialist, while details and finishing touches are added at the Swissminiatur workshops.”
Highlights
* The park houses 120 models which are perfect replicas at the scale of 1:25 of the most important buildings in Switzerland, mansions, patrician houses, castles, churches and many such structures.
* There are 18 miniature trains running on 3.5km railway track across the park and stop at various miniature stations. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the park is a paradise for modern railways fans.
* Nature lovers are in for a treat because the park is surrounded by 1500 varieties of plants with 15,000 different kinds of flowers.
* There are dedicated children’s areas in the park and coin operated exciting rides to keep them entertained. The park has restaurants as well as lovely picnic spots. The restaurants serve local, Indian and Halal cuisine.
BANQUETS AND BUSINESS DINNER
Events, Banquets can also be held in our self-service Restaurant inside the park with seating for 200 people inside, which offers local, Italian, Indian and Halal cuisine. For the occasions the park is entirely lighted up.
Navigator : Swissminiatur is open daily from mid-March to end October; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In winter we open for groups on request. The park can be easily reached by motorway, train or boat from Lugano. Lugano city centre is only 4 km north, with Zürich 200 km north and Milan 60 km south. The train station and the motorway entrance and exit are located 300m from the park. A large car park also includes parking for coaches.
