Switzerland is famed for fine chocolate, dazzling mountain scenery and the world's most luxurious watches. But here in Lucerne, I am ready to build another beloved Swiss product: my very own Victorinox Swiss Army multi tool. You know the one – perfect for camping, with a corkscrew, toothpick and even a blade to remove stones from horses' hooves. It's a bit of kit every Boy Scout would dream of, and for just £28, I'm making my own.
My stay begins with a few days in Brunnen, a picturesque town set on the northern shore of Lake Lucerne, beneath the Axen mountain's slopes. The Hotel Waldstätterhof is an ideal base, with its sweeping lake views, private bathing area and rooftop spa. From £167 per night. A short stroll through the enchanting old town takes me to Hirschenplatz, where I find Swiss Army Knife maker Victorinox's store and museum. Yes, I know I won't really need a gadget that has a fish scaler every day but there's something appealing about having just the right gizmo for any occasion. And who can argue that a toothpick or corkscrew won't frequently come in handy?
Making My Own Multi Tool
I'm one of an eager, seven-strong group who've pre-booked a lesson in making our own bespoke multi tool, the Victorinox Spartan, by hand. It's a boyhood dream come true. Supervised by a Victorinox expert, we sit at a row of small desks, each with our own tool-making press and boxes of Victorinox knife components, blades and a small hammer. As an apprentice pocket-knife maker, I'm shown how to place each layer of blade into grooves and then used a foot pedal to press the layers and tools together. All Spartan knives include a can opener, a bottle opener, tweezers and a toothpick. In addition, we can choose between a screwdriver or a corkscrew. As a wine lover, I opt for the latter and the chance of being the hero of any impromptu picnic. Once the various components are fitted together, the final touch is adding the plastic casing and gently tapping everything into place before choosing the font for the computer engraving. While I take 20 minutes to build and finish my Victorinox, the staff here can put together a tool in a matter of seconds.
Seeing Lucerne
There's stunning scenery in Lucerne, and the next day I set out on an early morning train ride for the Legends Of Lake Lucerne cruise aboard the historic steamboat, Gallia. Built in 1913, it has always been the fastest lake steamer in Europe and can reach speeds up to 31km per hour – that's 20mph or 16 knots. As the Gallia's paddle wheels churn, I am served a mouthwatering five-course meal of local cuisine including dumplings with fresh char (alpine fish), alpine lamb and Bollinger champagne. We glide past landmarks including Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus to the Bürgenstock mountain ridge, the fjord-like landscapes of the Urnersee and William Tell's chapel.
An actor dressed in period clothing portrays Casimir Friedrich Knörr, the 19th-century pioneer of steam navigation on the lake, and entertains us with the history of Lucerne. On the bridge of this 113-year-old paddle steamer, I'm surprised to find a hi-tech radar control room and the traditional ship's wheel replaced by a single joystick. 'I don't suppose I could steer her for a second?' I ask the captain. Seconds later I'm at the helm of the magnificent 207ft vessel – and a second boyhood dream has come true in one unique Swiss adventure.
Getting There
Swiss flies from Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Zurich or Geneva. One-way fares start from £76 to Zurich, the more convenient for Lucerne, and from £54 to Geneva. The Swiss Travel Pass offers unlimited train, bus and boat travel in over 90 cities and grants free entry to more than 500 museums. Buy on Travel Switzerland.
