Switzerland: Useful
information about country.
fiogf49gjkf0d Switzerland
is one of Europe's most visited countries, but one of its least understood. Pass through for a day or two, as most people do, and you'll get the quaint stereotype of Switzerland that the locals deem suitable for public consumption - the Alpine idyll of cheese and chocolate, Heidi and the Matterhorn. Stay longer though and another Switzerland will emerge, the one which the Swiss inhabit, and one which can be an infinitely more rewarding place to explore. Sights are breathtaking, transport links are excellent, costs are no higher than in Britain or Germany, and the locals are unfailingly courteous. Almost everyone speaks some English along with at least one of the official Swiss languages (German, French, Italian, or, in the southeast, Romansh).
Notoriously placid these days, Switzerland nonetheless spent the first five hundred years of its existence rent by conflict, and fought a civil war as recently as 1847. The Swiss Confederation (abbreviated in Latin to "
CH
") dates back to 1291, when Alpine peasants formed an alliance to defend themselves against the Hapsburgs. By the early 1500s, the Confederation had grown into a military superpower feared throughout Europe. It was only with the Reformation that the Swiss began to earn their reputation for neutrality, a reputation which served them well right through into the boom years after World War II. In the 1990s, the country's image was tainted, as exposA©s uncovered Swiss banks' dubious wartime collusion with the Nazis. Public soul-searching in the aftermath of the scandal is heralding Switzerland's first tentative steps towards ending its dogged isolation and joining the EU and the UN.
As for
where to go
, Switzerland invented tourism: the country's breathtaking scenery has drawn travellers since the early 1800s. The most visited Alpine area is the central
Bernese Oberland
, which has the highest concentration of picturesque peaks and mountainside villages, although the loftiest Alps are further south, where the small but crowded resort of
Zermatt
provides access to the country's most distinctive mountain, the Toblerone-peaked
Matterhorn
. In the southeastern corner of the country, wild, thickly forested mountain slopes provide the setting for the world-famous resorts of
St Moritz
and
Davos
. Of the northern German-speaking cities,
ZA?rich
has a wealth of sightseeing and nightlife possibilities and provides easy access to the tiny independent principality of
Liechtenstein
overlooking the Rhine.
Basel
and especially the capital
Bern
are quieter, each with an attractive historic core, while
Luzern
is in an appealing setting close to lakes and mountains. In the French-speaking west, the cities lining the northern shore of Lake Geneva
-
notably
Geneva
itself, and
Lausanne -
make up the heart of
Suisse-Romande
. South of the Alps, sunny, Italian-speaking
Ticino
can seem a world apart from the rest of the country, particularly the palm-fringed lakeside resorts of
Lugano
and
Locarno
, with their Mediterranean, riviera atmosphere.
More travel guides:
fiogf49gjkf0d Money and banks
fiogf49gjkf0d Communications
fiogf49gjkf0d Emergencies
fiogf49gjkf0d Food and drink
fiogf49gjkf0d Switzerland
fiogf49gjkf0d Getting around
fiogf49gjkf0d Travel details
fiogf49gjkf0d Information and maps
fiogf49gjkf0d Switzerland on the Net
fiogf49gjkf0d The Swiss museum passport
fiogf49gjkf0d Opening hours and holidays
fiogf49gjkf0d Adventure sports
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Switzerland TOP CITIES :
Zurich
Geneva
Zermatt
Lausanne
Basel
Lucerne
Berne
Lugano
Interlaken
St Moritz
Davos Platz
Ascona
Grindelwald
Bern
Gstaad
Lucern
Montreux
St Gallen
Arosa
Chur
Gallen
Luzern
Wengen
Adelboden
Bad Ragaz
Davos Dorf
Engelberg
Fribourg
Leukerbad
Locarno
Biel
Crans Montana
Glattbrugg
Kandersteg
Klosters
Meiringen
Neuchatel
Saas Fee
Thun
Zuerich
Aarau
Baden
Davos
Dietikon
Egerkingen
Grisons
Gunten
Lenk Simmental
Nyon
Olten
All cities ...
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