Swissminiatur, Miniature park in Melide, Switzerland.
Swissminiatur is an open-air miniature park in Melide, on the shore of Lake Lugano, covering 14,000 m². It holds over 130 models of Swiss patrician houses, churches, castles and monuments at 1:25 scale, among them a walk-through model of Milan Cathedral added in 2003. About 3.5 km of track carries 18 trains in three gauges, plus cogwheel, cable and suspension railways and model ships.
Pierre Vuigner founded Swissminiatur in 1959 after selling his possessions to finance the project, inspired by the Dutch park Madurodam. This establishment marked the beginning of a distinctive Swiss tourist attraction that represents the nation in miniature form.
The park's name combines "Swiss" with "miniature", and its 1:25 scale models let visitors cross the country in a short walk. Since 2003 the collection has included a walk-through model of Milan Cathedral, the only non-Swiss object, added for Ticino's 200 years in the Confederation and recalling the canton's former ties to the Duchy of Milan.
The grounds are easy to navigate on foot, with clear paths between the miniature models and railway routes throughout the space. The best time to visit is during dry weather, when the transportation systems operate smoothly and the model details are most visible.
The only non-Swiss model is a walkable replica of Milan Cathedral, added in 2003 for the 200th anniversary of Ticino joining the Swiss Confederation. It recalls the canton's former ties to the Duchy of Milan.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,662 contributors worldwide.
