Ran across an article in Bloomberg News: Swiss Boaters Fight Billionaires for Lakeside Access about the struggle to gain access to lake shores, especially in the Leman region, where rich owners zealously guard their lakeside properties. Similar article (thanks, Google ) in SwissInfo a few months ago: Campaigners want public access to all waterways.

The organization behind the campaign is Rives Publiques, which seems somewhat similar to the Right to Roam campaign of the Ramblers Association.

interesting, so its like public beaches in the US. Some believe no one can own the beach. others disagree.
i think it should be a mixture of both. private so people can enjoy the shore the way they wish, and public so people can be herded into promenades, and forced to eat from carts and little venders. personally i like the hiking trails that arent commercialized and seem more natural. living in CA many people own houses with the back emptying out into the woods and public hiking trails,. it seems to work because the locals keep the hiking trials clean and maintained, and the trails arent filled of mcdonalds and millions of people. it seems to work for both. protecting nature and letting people enjoy it.