Switzerland
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).
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,
Zürich
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.
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Location: |
Central
Europe, east of
France, north of
Italy
Germany |
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Background:
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Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long
been honored by the major European powers, and
Switzerland was not involved in either of the two
World Wars. The political and economic integration
of Europe over the past half century, as well as
Switzerland's role in many UN and international
organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties
with its neighbors. However, the country did not
officially become a UN member until 2002.
Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations, but retains a strong
commitment to neutrality. |
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Natural hazards:
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avalanches, landslides, flash floods
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Environment - current issues:
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air
pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased
use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of
biodiversity |
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Languages:
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German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%,
Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%,
other 8.9% |
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Exchange rates:
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Swiss
francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001),
1.69 (2000), 1.5 (1999), 1.45 |
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