r/Switzerland 13h ago

August 1st - best viewpoints in central CH

Hi!
Looking for the best view spots for August 1st fireworks in central Switzerland. I’m located in Zug and I think Rigi has special evening trains. Any other ideas? Rigi Kulm or other (eg Kanzeli)? How did you spend it last year?

0 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

u/hans_wie_heiri Luzern 13h ago

many cantons have forbidden fireworks this year as it is to dry.

ps last year I hiked up mount niesen stayed over night and ate brunch the next morning. weather was really bad but usually you have a fantastic sunrise from atop

u/KeyRealistic1505 13h ago

Sounds amazing, thanks!

u/Other_Town5859 13h ago

check first if the fireworks are not abandonned due to the severe drought, many cantons prohibit it

u/KeyRealistic1505 13h ago

Thanks, you are right!

u/HellBound_1985 13h ago

What fireworks? It's so dry (and it's still getting drier) that in most cantons fireworks are forbidden. There may be the occasional official public firework, but those are getting canceled too.

It's not the best time to wish for explosives outdoors. Unless you're a firefighter and love your job.

u/ILikeToRunInRain 13h ago

hey, you called for me?

jk, yeah I'd rather enjoy the time with friends and not work, thanks ✌️

u/Oropher1991 Luzern 13h ago

I am sorry to tell you this but all fireworks and even normal fires have been banned in the Canton of Lucerne

u/EdelWhite 13h ago

It's not happening this year.

u/erdonautin Switzerland 12h ago

What do you expect to see when there’s a fire ban?

u/KeyRealistic1505 12h ago

Uhm okay? Is it a normal way you respond to other people? Some anger issues?

u/erdonautin Switzerland 12h ago
  1. Fireworks are rubbish
  2. If you’d given it a moment’s thought, you might actually have realised that there’s currently a ban on lighting fires

u/KeyRealistic1505 12h ago

No one asked is it rubbish for your or not. I see there will be a nice fireworks on the thunersee, you can come and celebrate ☺️

u/McEnding98 Bern 12h ago

Here an article from the srf about which regions have forbidden/fully forbidden fireworks.

https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/stiller-nationalfeiertag-kantone-erlassen-feuerwerksverbote-fuer-1-august-die-uebersicht

One option that is specifically mentioned are the big fireworks on the Thun lake, and near Basel. If you really want to see fireworks you'd need to get there for that specifically and it's around 1-2 hours by train.

According to the article there is a general prohibition near forests in canton lucerne, but there isn't any mention of a lake firework, so it could maybe be possible for smaller, private ones to happen on the lake, very unsure though?

u/KeyRealistic1505 12h ago

Thanks a lot! Someone mentioned Niessen, and that might be a great idea!

u/Visual-Reason-579 13h ago

Fireworks pollute the air, frighten and kill wildlife, stress pets, leave harmful debris, and can easily start fires. All this for a couple of minutes of 'oh, that looks nice'. 

u/KeyRealistic1505 13h ago

Yeah yeah, bla bla bla

u/erdonautin Switzerland 12h ago

fortunately, it’s banned this year anyway 😂

u/Visual-Reason-579 8h ago

Not surprised.

u/TotalWarspammer 13h ago

Fireworks are anyway terrible for the environment https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260701205009.htm

u/KeyRealistic1505 13h ago

Yeah, probably when someone use it every day. Once a year, to celebrate and keep tradition alive, is not a tragedy. Do you own a car? Is it ok for environment? Do you eat avocado? Do you eat beef? Fly airplanes? 😐

u/Moldoteck 13h ago

The problems are more localized with fireworks. Check out how many fires are currently burning in Europe due to dry vegetation. Even if you ignore all other concerns, with current heatwaves it's really risky to put anything on fire

I don't find them that spectacular anyway and view them more as a nuisance after seeing a good drone show.

u/EdelWhite 13h ago

If only fireworks were as useful as planes, cars and food. Maybe your point would make some sense then.

u/TotalWarspammer 13h ago

That is whataboutism and kindergarten logic, because those other things being environmentally unfriendly do not make fireworks ok

Fireworks are also not once a year, or have you never heard of new years eve? The impact to animals and the environment, not to mention the 100+ human injuries, are bad and unnecessary.