All year round the Merian Gardens is an everlasting spectacle. In the beginnings of Spring, the rhododendron garden erupts in an almost overwhelming kaleidoscope of incredible colours. As the thermostat gradually creeps up in Summer, Europe’s largest collection of bearded irises are conjured. We owe the existence of these Irises to passionate nature lover Helene von Stein-Zeppelin, who saved a few precious Irises from destruction during the war by hiding them in walled gardens. She later cultivated the collection, eventually nurturing it back to full strength, with over 1000 varieties, which now captivate us with their unusual ruffled petals. As the colder Autumn and Winter months bring freezing temperatures, while many plants go into hibernation, the pure beauty of the snowdrop bursts through the frost - a maverick among flowers. The rarity of this bloom is emphasized by its being the only collection of snowdrops in Switzerland.

A classic English Garden and a flourishing orchard fill the air with the delicate fragrance of blossoming flowers and ripe fruit. The garden also features wildlife which are a little more active, as sheep, chicken and rabbits roam the pastures and lend the distinct feel of being truly at one with the other beings we share our planet with. From May to September, embark on an immersive experience in The Bee Apiary, with colourful hives and buzzing bees busy producing sweet, runny honey all day along. It would be a real feat to think up something more relaxing than an afternoon spent in these gardens.