Switzerland

Land that gives you a chance to see the miracle of nature, abounding history and cultural diversity.

Switzerland is a state (commonly known as the Heart of Europe) famous with its stunning Alpine environment, quality chocolate and high-end watches. It is landlocked, neutral and a treat of natural landscape, history and cutting edge innovation. From sliding through the Swiss Alps to visiting spectacular (and cute) cities such as Lucerne or Zurich or tasting the Swiss food, Switzerland has everything to offer to a traveller.

To obtain all information about Switzerland,look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Switzerland

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Geographical Location

Switzerland lies in the Central Europe with Germany to the North of the country, France to its West, Italy to the South, and Austria and Liechtenstein to its East. Switzerland covers a wide variety of geographical features despite being a rather small country, it includes snow-capped mountains and simultaneously glacial lakes, lush meadows, and beautiful villages. The Alps, which make 60 or so percent of the country, are dominant in the landscape giving one of the most notable natural images in Europe.

Topography/Natural features

Switzerland is mostly associated with the Alpine region that provides breathtaking sceneries of the snow-clad mountains, glaciers, and lakes. It is here in Matterhorn region that one of most renowned mountains of the world, known as The Matterhorn is found, Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch. Switzerland Astronomy (astronomie)internal Name: Helvetia is a mountainous country, which is known to contain the greatest of cities in Switzerland and wonderful lakes like the Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich, being on the Swiss plateau, between the Alps and the Jura Mountains.

Switzerland is also very rich in forests and rivers such as Rhine River and Aare River which can serve as scenic routes to the countryside by travelers. The country has also its national Parks like Swiss National Park which is a place where visitors get to venture in wilderness areas that are well conserved with wild life.

Climate

Switzerland enjoys a temperate climate, but this significantly changes depending on where it is or on what level of altitude it happens to be. Cold winters are encountered in the areas of the mountains hence the country is a ski resorted spot, whereas the lowlands have mild or warm summers. The Alps also have significant effect on the climate as the mountain range presents a wall that separates the damp weather of southern Europe and the dry weather of northern Europe.

History In Ancient and Medieval Times

The history of Switzerland is as old as the ancient times, the region was initially occupied by Celts. Later on, the Romans invaded the area in 1st century BCE and incorporated it to the Roman Empire. Switzerland was the part of the Holy Roman Empire formed in the medieval period after the fall of the Roman Empire.

In the 13th century, Swiss Confederation came to being as a loose union of mountainous communities in pursuit of defending their autonomy against any foreign influence. This started the history of Switzerland as an independent country and a neutral one. The Battle of Morgarten in 1315, when the Swiss beat the army of the Austrian Habsburgs made the swelling notion of Swiss independence permanent.

Neutrality in Modern History

The neutrality of Switzerland is confirmed in the act of Treaty of Paris in 1815 following the Napoleonic Wars and so far the nation has been engaging in ensuring neutrality. During both the World Wars, Switzerland was neutral though it was surrounded by warring nations.

Switzerland emerged in the 20th and 21st centuries as a world centre of finance, diplomacy, and even humanitarian activities with international organizations like Red Cross and World Health Organization being located in Switzerland. The nation is also distinguished by the fact that it has direct democracy and citizens are always given the opportunity to use referendums to vote on critical issues pertaining to the nation.

Respect of ethnic and Religious diversity

Switzerland is a multilingual nation and the four languages made official are German, French, Italian and Romansh. The residents of the country are mixed races who consist of Swiss Germans, French-speaking Swiss, Italian-speaking Swiss and Romansh speakers. Switzerland is ethnically homogenous but a large number of Swiss people consist of immigrants mainly the Italians, Germans, and Portuguese immigrants.

Switzerland is a Christian nation, although the two major religious practitioners are the Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. But the country is also famous in its religious toleration and secular population is also on the rise. In Switzerland, there is a small yet notable share of Islam and Judaism.

The Traditional and Cultural Practices

Switzerland has high cultural heritage that is a mix of German, French, Italian and Romansh cuisine. The Swiss folklore has been expressed by music, dancing, and festivals. Swiss people are seen as the ones who tend to stick to the traditions and to the art of being craftsmen especially in the industry of watches, cheese, and the chocolate industry.

The culture of the country is very diverse, and Swiss cuisine is representative of that diversity, to the extent that many people know cheese fondue, raclette and Swiss chocolate. The Swiss are also very much close to the nature and hiking, skiing and mountain climbing are among outdoor activities that characterize the Swiss life.

Language

Switzerland has four standard languages which include German, French, Italian and Romansh. The most spoken language is German, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the country, whereas, French, Italian, and Romansh languages are other languages that are spoken in countries but by a minority population.

Switzerland is an extremely multilingual state and most Swiss citizens are multilingual to an extent that many perfectly speak more than two languages especially in the bigger towns and tourist resorts.

Religious Festivals

Christmas and Easter are popular in Switzerland, be they religious or national. The towns and cities in Switzerland are adorned with festive lights during Christmas and families gather to have traditional Christmas meals and Christmas fairs. Another major holiday is Easter which is celebrated by church attendance, family parties and the giving of chocolate eggs.

Special Days and Holidays in the country

Swiss National Day, which also dates on the 1st August, commemorates the creations of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. This day is characterized by fireworks, parades and patriotic events. Another important Swiss holiday is called Federal Day, giving credit to the democracy in the country and to rights of citizens in referendums.

Economic Development

Switzerland features one of the highly-developed economies in the world, the specialization in which includes finance sector, pharmaceutical industry and high-tech innovation. Switzerland also has one of the largest financial institutions in the world such as Credit Suisse and UBS besides being characterized with high banking system and currency.

Switzerland is the leader in pharmaceuticals as well as some of the largest companies such as Novartis and Roche are based in Switzerland. The nation has a well-built education strategy, as well as investment in research and development with the national education system being of high standards and thus a pioneer in many of the leading-edge industries.

Tourism

Switzerland has a big role of tourism in its economy. The beautiful Alpine landscape of the nation draws a huge number of tourists annually, especially on activities like skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. Switzerland boasts of resorts which are on a world class level that include; the Zermatt, St. Moritz and the Lucerne resorts which offer outdoor as well as cultural experiences to the visitor.

In the Swiss travel industry too, heritage tourism is to the advantage, and tourist attractions include Swiss castles, historic towns, and museum collections that knit together the offerings of tourism in Switzerland with interest in Swiss culture and history. International tourists are also attracted to Swiss watches as well as Swiss chocolate.

Industry and Agriculture

Swiss agriculture is very specialized, dairy farming and wine producing along with grain growing being major industries. The nation is renowned in cheese production, mainly in Emmental and Gruyere as well as chocolate production with some of the known international brands such as Lindt and Nestle.

Switzerland also produces precision goods especially in the watch manufacturing sector such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and swatch which have their products worldwide renowned in their craftwork and innovation.

Switzerland Attractions You Cannot Miss

Switzerland is home to a great number of sightseeing exhibits including picturesque natural places, as well as historical monuments. There are six non-miss attractions:

1. Matterhorn

Matterhorn is among the most famous mountains across the continents with pinnacles in the Swiss Alps. Because of its unique pyramid shape, it is a good destination site of interest both to rock climbers and to the photographers.

2. Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is among the biggest lakes in Europe and it has been enclosed by cities of Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux. Boating, swimming and breath taking view of the Alps around can be done in the lake.

3. Swiss National Park

Known as the first national park in Switzerland, the Swiss national park is in the Alps and has remarkable views of the mountains and an opportunity of watching wild animals like red deer and Ibex.

4. Lucerne

Lucerne is a beautiful place with medieval old buildings, such as Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument, amazing views of the lake, and close vicinity of Mount Pilatus.

5. Zermatt

Zermatt is a well-liked ski resort and mountaineering town in the foot of Matterhorn. Car-free town gives a different experience of Swiss Alps to visitors.

6. Bern

Bern is the capital of Switzerland that is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its pieces of sweet medieval architecture such as Zytglogge clock tower and Bear Park.

Healthcare System

Switzerland is one of the countries with the best healthcare system in the world, being fully covered and having high quality of medical practice. It has the best hospitals in the world and medical research centers, offering state-of-the-gauge treatment and care.

Education System

Switzerland has one of the best education sytems, where primary and secondary school are free, and there are some of the best Universities in the world, such as ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva.

Conclusion: 

Switzerland is a world leader on innovation, wealth, and tourism which is very much in sync with its culture and nature. Be it its Alpine mountains, old cities, or its long traditions, Switzerland is a place that has got something to offer to all of us.

Frequently asked Questions

At what time is Switzerland recommended to visit?

Summer (June to August) is the most appropriate season to visit Switzerland to enjoy outdoor activities or to visit Switzerland during winter(December to February) to engage in skiing and snowboarding.

Which are the best places of interest in Switzerland?

The best places of interest are Matterhorn, Lake Geneva, Swiss National Park, Lucerne, Zermatt as well as Bern.

Which are the spoken languages in Switzerland?

Switzerland is a country with four official languages that include German, French, Italian as well as Romansh.

Is Switzerland tourist friendly?

Yes, Switzerland is considered as one of the safest countries to tourists as there is low crime rate and its infrastructure is well maintained.

Which cultural festivals do I have to visit in Switzerland?

Some of the notable cultural events that one can attend in Switzerland includes Swiss National Day and the Montreux Jazz Festival and Fete de lEscalade.