I went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches along the way

COASTING past glassy lakes, rolling hills and chocolate-box villages, I’m experiencing a side to Switzerland that can only be discovered by road.

This is Europe’s answer to Route 66, a road trip to blow the USA’s famous highway out of the water.

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The Grand Tour Of Switzerland has been thoughtfully curated to pack in all of the country’s highlights: A whopping 46 attractions, 22 lakes, five Alpine passes AND 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

And the 1,021-mile-long circuit is celebrating its tenth birthday this year, so it couldn’t be a better time.

I started off in hilly Lausanne — dubbed the “Olympic City” as it is the home of the sporting event’s HQ.

Perched on the shores of Lake Geneva, I first had to take a dip in the inviting turquoise waters.

And I was surprised at how warm the glacial water was — an inviting 22C in summer.

This impressive city has embraced its proximity to the French-Swiss lake with its array of man-made beaches.

You forget you’re in a landlocked country.

My favourite swimming spot was Ouchy Beach — a free bathing area, providing a platform overhanging the water, which opened last summer.

While it prides itself as a leisure and wellness destination, Lausanne is not a static city.

It also boasts a medieval old town with cobbled streets to explore, an Olympic Museum and a thriving nightlife.

From here, the Grand Tour loop sent us clockwise towards the city of Neuchatel.

And if there was ever a trip that is about the journey — not the destination — it is this one.

Luckily, the route is extremely easy to navigate thanks to the 650 distinctive road signs leading the way, and it’s one of few road trips which can be done in an electric vehicle, thanks to a dense network of charging stations along the entire length of the circuit.

From the comfort of the car, I could enjoy views of green meadows and vast forests.

The freedom that comes with travelling by motor is that you can also find hiking spots that are harder to reach on public transport.

One example is the Creux du Van — an immense rock face surrounding a deep basin, dubbed Switzerland’s Grand Canyon — in Val-de-Travers.

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After a short hike from the roadside, I found 360° panoramas of the Alps and Jura valleys.

Apart from the distant cow bells, it was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Perfect holiday snap

From here, I travelled to Neuchatel.

The medieval town is known as the heartland of Swiss watchmaking.

It’s also the home of the extremely punchy spirit, Absinthe, which can be investigated in greater detail at the Maison de l’Absinthe in Motiers.

The museum showcases the origins of the anise-flavoured spirit, and there is plenty of opportunity to sample it, too.

It’s not just stunning scenery that makes the Grand Tour such a spectacular route.

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Gastronomy is also a huge part, highlighting the country’s prowess in the cheese and chocolate-making industries.

The picturesque town of Gruyeres, on top of a 269ft hill overlooking the Saanen Valley, is famed for its namesake cheese and there’s no better place to try it than at Table des Chevaliers.

This restaurant serves the cheese the traditional way, in a fondue, with views of the pre-Alps.

The 13th-century chateau at the centre of Gruyeres also boasts one of 88 designated photo spots along the Grand Tour route for the perfect holiday snap.

If it’s cheese you’re into, you can’t miss the Emmental Valley and a trip to the Emmentaler Show Dairy.

Here, you can explore the former dairies and learn the production process before trying local delicacies.

My five-day adventure finished in Lucerne, where the jewel is the 672ft Chapel Bridge, thought to be the oldest covered bridge in Europe.

By the end, I felt I’d truly experienced a slice of Switzerland in the most authentic way possible — and with a belly full of dairy.

This is a trip that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Even if that does sound a little cheesy.