|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Switzerland
The country is known for the political neutrality and isolated location where it is enclosed by scenic mountains. One must mention the Swiss bank account, whose anonymity, along with tax relief makes it the safest bank in the world and Zürich one of Europe’s major financial centers acting as a major center for conventions, meetings. Besides, being the base for many industrial, economic and political activities world wide, Switzerland is also the place visited for the treasure of its natural beauty, eye-catching locations, unforgettable ski resorts, famous Swiss alps, amazing shopping places and great night life which make it the hottest place for spending a memorable vacations. Fact File Official name : Swiss Confederation Government : Confederation with Direct Democracy Nationality : Swiss  Capital
city : Bern Ethnic groups : 65% German, 18% French, 10% Italian, 1% Romansch, 6% other Location : Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy Continent : Europe Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $ = 0.678141 GBP(subject to change). Population : 7.31 million Languages : German, French, Italian, Raeto-Romance Religion : 46.1% Roman Catholic, 40% Protestant, 5% other, 8.9% other. Area : 41290 sq km Famous for : Chocolates, amazing natural scenery, ski resorts, Switzerland is the most preferred tourist destination in the world. Major cities : Bern, Zurich, Interlaken, Geneva, Lausanne Clothing : Summer : cotton; Winter : heavy woolens Major events : Carnival time, or Fasnacht(February), Combat de Reines (cow fighting) (March to October), Montreux Jazz Festival (July), National Day (August 1and Swiss wrestling in the Emmenthal area east of Bern. On the fourth Monday in November, Onion Market (Zibelmarit) is hosted in Bern. Things to Buy : Watches, crystal, embroidered items, clocks, pottery, Swiss army knives, lace, cowbells, antiques, cutlery, ski clothing and equipment, shoes, chocolate, cheese, and liquorsThings to do: winter sports, shopping, siteseeing Cuisine : Switzerland cuisine known for the culinary dishes cooked with a raw and traditional touch. There is an effect of the French cuisine in the west, Italian cuisine in the south and German cuisine in the north and east of Switzerland. People genarally eat meat-potatoes-and-cheese, various sauces supplementing the vegetables and delicious desserts. Specialities of Switzerland : Various types of fondue (potato fondue is great) and the air-dried meat, served in wafer-thin slices, known as Bundnerfleisch. Different types of cheeses, desserts and meringues are popular. Swiss chocolates are famous world wide. Rosti (crispy, fried, shredded potatoes) is German Switzerland's national dish
Residents of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the USA do not require a tourist visa. A maximum stay of three months applies and passports are rarely stamped. Culture Swiss culture has contributed remarkably to literature, art, and music. It is a fine blend of the German, French, and Italian cultures embodied in the Swiss linguistic regions; it is separated from these parent cultures, for example, by Swiss dialects and cultural inter-change. From early times Switzerland has been revealed to many foreign determines, and as early as the Middle Ages the nation had gained a high cultural level. Carolingian culture, particularly painting and Romanesque architecture, developed, and the Saint Gall monastery was a brilliant center of Western culture. Since then most European cultural trends, such as humanism and the Reformation, have been intermixed.  Much
of modern cultural life has been determined by television. The three
networks, French, German, and Italian, while portraying their respective
cultures, include many programs from France, Germany, and Italy.
French-language television also includes shows from Canada and Belgium,
whereas the German network presents programs from Austria. All of the nation
is determined by American movies and television programs. Cable television,
reflecting the Europeanization of Switzerland, has brought a wide mixture of
additional programs to the large urban centres. When to Go Switzerland can be visited any time throughout the year but summers (June to September) offer the most pleasant climate for outdoor activities and excellent vacations. Since both the traffic and prices are high during summers periods like April-May and late-September-October are more desirable when crowds are lesser and prices are far more reasonable during this period. For the lovers of winter sports time from November to March is ideal. Climate The climate in Switzerland is moderate throughout the year but winters are severe for the tourists coming from warmer climates. During summers (July to August) temperature ranges from 18 C to 28 °C (65° - 82° F) . The Autumn and Spring day temperature is between 8 C to 15 °C (46° - 59° F) and the winters(December – February) are cold with temperatures ranging from -2 C to 7 °C (28° - 45° F). Getting there By Air : The main entry points for international flights are Zürich and Geneva. Basel, Bern and Lugarno airports also receive international flights. By Trains : Intercontinental trains provide a convenient way to travel to Switzerland, and European rail passes make train travel inexpensive By Bus : Buses are slower, less comfortable and cheaper. Reaching Switzerland by road is easy since there are fast, well-maintained highways through all surrounding countries. By Water : If time and money allows one can get to Switzerland by boat along the Rhine all the way from Amsterdam. Switzerland can also be approached by lake steamer ferries from Germany via Lake Constance, from Italy via Lake Maggiore and from France via Lake Geneva. Getting around  Switzerland
has a completely integrated and comprehensive public transport system
containing trains, buses, boats, funiculars and cable cars. Though Internal flights are available but due to a great ground transport they are not very popular. There are plenty of domestic flights shuttling daily between Zürich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lugano, most of them operated solely by Crossair. The Swiss rail network covers 5000km (3106mi) and trains are clean, reliable and frequent. There are yellow postbuses which supports the rail network and their stops are next to railway stations. The other way to move around the country are by hiring cars which are comfortable and reliable due to the excellent road transport. Major attractions Bern, the Capital City : Bern is the capital of Switzerland and of Bern canton and lies in the west of the country on the River Aare. It is the second most populous and second largest canton of the country. It comprises of three sections firstly, the Bernese Alps or Oberland with many resorts and peaks, secondly the Finsteraarhorn and Jungfrau with meadows and pastures in the valleys and finally the Mittelland [midlands] which lies in the fertile northern foothills of the Alps. Château de Chillon : Chillon Castle is the most popular historical site in Switzerland. The monument stands right on Lake Geneva and the enchanting fortress came into light when Lord Byron wrote about the fate of Bonivard, a follower of the Reformation who was chained to the fifth pillar in the dungeons for four years in the 16th century. The castle belongs to 11th century which has been much modified and expanded since then. Great St Bernard Pass Hospice Museum : The museum throws light on the importance of the monks' rescue work and religious vocation, which go back to the 11th century Jungfrau Region : Some of Switzerland's most eye-catching vistas and sites are found around the peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger, the surroundings of which are made magnificent due to the “greens, and golds” of nearby hills and valleys. The highest railway in Europe, known to be the best rail trip finds its way through both the Eiger and the Mönch before concluding at the tip of the awesome Jungfraujoch. Other attractions Ascona Estavayer-le-Lac Franches Montagnes
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Berne Switzerland Travel|Lucerne Switzerland Travel|Geneva Switzerland Travel|Zurich Switzerland |Interlaken Switzerland | |||
| France|Netherlands|Italy|England|Austria|Spain|Germany|India|Sri Lanka |Nepal|Maldives|Oriental Countries|Switzerland Holidays | ||||
