Ferdinand Hodler may wonder why so few international visitors come to Winterthur despite its wealth of art

Patrons at Park Hotel Winterthur's restaurant Bloom enjoy a parkside setting

Swiss visionary Le Corbusier was more than an architect

Winterthur is Switzerland's city of photography

Despite being only 20 minutes away from SWISS International Air Lines' ultramodern home at Zurich Airport via a convenient rail connection, Winterthur is off the map for international visitors despite being one of Switzerland's richest cities in terms of cultural institutions and festivals.

Winterthur used to be a heavily industrial city; of course, where there is industry, there is wealth, which explains why there are so many fine museums here today.  The factories moved out of the city centre a long time ago, leaving behind many large spaces now converted to venues for athletics and the arts.  One of the best transformations is the Fotozentrum, which houses both the Swiss Photography Foundation and the Fotomuseum, one of the leading facilities of its kind in the world. 

Traditional museums give a peek at artwork rarely seen outside Switzerland.  The beautiful Oskar Reinhart Collection show off the best of Swiss art, with works by Ferdinand Hodler, Karl Hofer, and Hermann Haller adorning the walls.  If these names are unfamiliar, it is because the Swiss guard their art judiciously; the Oskar Reinhart Collection stays intact, rarely sending works on tour or lending them to other museums.  One block away on Museum Street is the Winterthur Museum Of Art, a classic museum showcasing a variety of styles and eras in thoughtful order.  There are Swiss artists here, too, including a rare painting by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, more famous to the world as architect Le Corbusier, though the stars of the collection are less familiar works by very familiar names such as Van Gogh, Renoir, and Delaunay as well as artists not often seen outside Europe such as Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, and Giorgio Morandi.

In addition to its museums, Winterthur sees a number of lively festivals take place throughout the year, including a very popular African culture festival taking place each May as well as the Winterthur Music Weeks each August and the open Doors art weekend each September.

Conveniently located within walking distance of Winterthur's railways station as well as all the top museums in the city, Park Hotel Winterthur offers an appealing place to stay.  As do most Europeans, the Swiss love to be outdoors in fine weather, and Park Hotel's location next to a beautiful park right in the centre of the city affords its guests and visitors an airy base while in town.  As a small, business hotel, park Hotel Winterthur's unfussy, modern style is highlighted by a spacious lobby.  Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the park view as well as the fresh air.  Park Hotel Winterthur focuses on efficient service, an ethic reiterated in its restaurant, aptly named Bloom.

Bloom is Winterthur's most attractive restaurant.  Taking full advantage of its park setting, Bloom brings fine dining experiences to the city in the lovely garden.  Mediterranean tapas are a speciality at Bloom and are served nightly in addition to the regular menu.

Park Hotel Winterthur
Stadthausstrasse 4
CH-8402 Winterthur
Switzerland
+41 52 265 02 65
welcome@phwin.ch
phwin.ch