4 Best Sights in Fribourg and Neuchâtel, Switzerland

In the center of the Old Town sits the turreted, mid-13th-century Château de Yverdon-les-Bains. Most of the castle is now a museum, with exhibits on locally discovered prehistoric and Roman artifacts, Egyptian art, natural history, and, of course, local history. A special room is dedicated to the famous Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827), who spent 20 years here. His influential ideas on education led to school reforms at home and in Germany and England.

In front of Yverdon's Hôtel de Ville—an 18th-century building notable for its French-inspired neoclassical facade—stands a bronze statue of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, grouped with two children.

Although Yverdon has a lot of history, it also has a special place in its heart for the future, thanks to this fanciful "museum of science fiction, utopia, and extraordinary journeys." Although mainly a research center and library for scholars, the House of Elsewhere mounts fascinating exhibitions for the general public, including such recent shows as the ones devoted to the popular Return to Dinotopia books and H.P. Lovecraft.

The municipal Thermal Center is completely up-to-date, with indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, and massage jets, as well as numerous massage, beauty, and relaxation treatments. Swim caps are mandatory, and children under three must wear swim diapers.