Centred on the peak of Piz Sardona, this nature reserve has held Unesco World Natural Heritage status since 2008. A geologist's dream come true, it's one of the best places in the world to observe mountain creation and plate tectonics, thanks to the Glarus Overthrust. This razor-sharp 'magic line' that slices across the rock faces of Switzerland's eastern Alps denotes where 250- to 300-million-year-old rocks were pushed some 40km on top of younger, 30- to 35-million-year-old rocks.
© patjo/Shutterstock
Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona
Northeastern Switzerland
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.88 MILES
A riot of turrets and towers plonked high on a hillside and set against the theatrical backdrop of jagged mountains, Schloss Vaduz is quite the fairy-tale…
19.83 MILES
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13.87 MILES
Near the Plessur River, the Obertor marks the entrance to Chur's alley-woven Altstadt (Old Town). Along with the stout Malteserturm (once the munitions…
27.8 MILES
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Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum
19.74 MILES
This museum provides a fascinating romp through the principality’s past, heritage and natural history, from medieval witch trials to the manufacture of…
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27.35 MILES
This 13th-century hilltop castle is storybook stuff with its red turrets and creeping vines. It’s a steep climb up to the ramparts, which command far…
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27.4 MILES
Identified by a slender spire, Feldkirch’s cathedral has a large, forbidding interior complemented by late-Gothic features and dazzling stained glass. The…
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28.29 MILES
This giant cube of a museum showcases the world's largest Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938) collection. The German expressionist painted extraordinary…
Nearby Northeastern Switzerland attractions
0.14 MILES
A glacier spills down the eastern flank of mighty Piz Sardona (3056m), close to the tri-border between the cantons of Glarus, St Gallen and Graubünden…
4.82 MILES
Located at 1350m, this stuck-in-time Walser-speaking hamlet is great for slipping off the map for a while, with its ludicrously picturesque cluster of…
5.6 MILES
Shimmering a startling shade of turquoise, the fjord-like Gigerwaldsee reservoir is flanked by sheer-sided, wooded mountains and laced with waterfalls. A…
6.95 MILES
Ringed by thick woods, this exquisitely turquoise lake is a 15-minute stroll and then short lift ride south of Flims Waldhaus. It's an attractive spot for…
8.27 MILES
This Romanesque church is perched on a hill that has been a site of worship since prehistoric times, as attested by the line-up of modest menhirs leading…
10.48 MILES
For a little Alpine fun, take the winding mountain road to Flumserberg, perched high above the lake and facing the impenetrable rock wall of the…
12.2 MILES
Formed by glacial moraine, this vivid blue lake is reached via a beautiful mountain trail from Braunwald. The moderate, 3½-hour walk leads through meadows…
12.7 MILES
Jewel-coloured Alpine lakes, a fast-flowing river and a striking mountain backdrop make this valley worth a detour. It mixes high pastureland with dense…