An example of a mountainous country, pride of its past and polyglot, Switzerland is an ideal land for any cycling plan we can think of. And the one we propose here will allow us to discover a great part of its contrasts, both physical –the Jura mountain range, the heavily inhabited central plains and the Alps- and cultural, with the German language dominating the north part of the route and the Italian extended to the south of the imposing St Gotthard Pass.

There will be four stages and over 300 kilometres of asphalted routes between Basel and Locarno, as well as being perfectly signposted for the ‘La Suisse à vélo’ project, which has created nine new long distance routes in Switzerland. For the first stage of the journey, 110 kilometres, we must go to the triple northern border between Switzerland, France and Germany, specifically to Basel. It is the third largest city in the country, built on the shore of the Rhine River, which is navigable up to this point.

Today we will cross the Jura region first, a calcareous mountain range rather smaller than the Alps and with green valleys. Crossing the Jura Range towards the south will mean a little more than 30 kilometres of constant but smooth ascent to Schafmatt (812 metres), and from there onwards the stage gets easier as we will go down towards Aarau and we will finish the second half of the day rolling along easily until we reach the beautiful Lucerne, located on the northwest shore of the vast Lake of the Four Forest Cantons, with its very famous wooden bridge (19th century).

The second stage is half as long as the first one (only 50 kilometres) for two reasons: enjoying as much as possible Lucerne and the huge lake which we will explore today right in the land of William Tell, on the one hand; and keeping our strength for tomorrow’s slopes, on the other. After admiring the lake’s multiform west coast, we will do the same on the south shore, but only until we reach Beckenried, where a ferry will take us to the other side, to Gersau, so that we can also visit the north and east shores, towards Flüelen, the end of the route.

We should really have a big breakfast on the third morning because even though the stage is not as long (63 kilometres), St Gotthard awaits us. To start with, and after about ten thousand quieter metres, Erstfeld is the starting point of 30 kilometres of continuous ascent but only at an average incline of 3.5%. After a brief break, we begin the actual pass from Hospental, eight kilometres at over 7% through amazing gorges and the legendary Devil’s Bridge, whose construction cost so many lives. On the summit (2,108 metres), photograph and descent to Airolo, already in the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland.

Once we are through the Alps, we end with a fourth day of progressive descent and coasting along, 87 kilometres towards Locarno, almost on the Italian border. It is the mildest region in Switzerland, on the shores of the southern Maggiore Lake. The ideal surroundings for a few days of rest and beach. We deserve it!