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Switzerland
City Guide
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Switzerland Travel Guide
PRACTICAL INFORMATION Official name: Switzerland Suisse, officially the Swiss Confederation,
Capital: Bern (federal capital)
Largest city Zurich
- Language: The three principal languages spoken in Switzerland are German in the centre and east of the country, French in the west and Italian in the south. But if you don’t speak any of the above don’t worry, English is the most widely spoken second language in all regions.
- Religion: The most popular religion in Switzerland is the Roman Catholic Church (44% of the population). There are various Protestant denominations (38.5%), while immigration has brought Islam (4.3%) and Eastern Orthodoxy (1.8%) as sizeable minority religions.[12] The stability and prosperity of Switzerland, combined with a linguistically diverse population, has led some to describe the country as a consensus, or consociational state.
- Currency : The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (SFr) and one is divided into 100 centimes (known as Rappen in German speaking Switzerland). Bills come in denominations 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 10000SFr and coins are divided into 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes and 1, 2 and 5SFr.
Switzerland Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE Genova:
The city is crowded with museums, has many excellent cultural events and is ideally placed for quick hops to the Swiss and French Alps. Basking in the sunshine of its peaceful setting on Lake Geneva's banks, this acclaimed neutral territory displays an obvious self-confidence. It is in pristine condition, clean, efficient and safe, yet spirited in its style and love of adventure.
Lucerne
Lucerne is ideally situated in the historic and scenic heart of what many believe to be the 'true' Switzerland - picture mountains, lakes, cowbells, alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss. The charming town straddles the Reuss River on the western edge of Lake Lucerne.
Northeast of the city centre is the poignant Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss soldiers who died in the French Revolution.
Zurich
Hundreds of new bars, restaurants and clubs have opened since planning laws were changed in the late 1990s and Zürich now hosts Europe's largest annual street party.
Admittedly, the first impression, of a small, clean and orderly metropolis with church steeples above a crystal-blue river and lake, is pleasant rather than exciting.
Switzerland Entertainment
EVENTS : February is carnival time, or Fasnacht, in many towns, but Basel really funks it up with elaborate parades beginning at a bleary 04:00.
The Zürich techno Street Parade in August is becoming one of the biggest annual street parties in the world.
In the lower Valais, from March to October, cows battle it out in the Combat de Reines (cow fighting) to see which beast is most suited to lead the herd up to the summer pastures.
The world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in July.
National Day (August 1) is celebrated with fireworks throughout the country, and Swiss wrestling in the Emmenthal area east of Bern.
On the fourth Monday in November, Bern hosts its famous Zibelmarit (Onion Market), where traders take over the whole town centre and many a tear is shed.
Switzerland Transports
TRANSPORTS Switzerland has a fully integrated and comprehensive public transport system incorporating trains, buses, boats, funiculars and cable cars. Internal flights are not of great interest to the visitor, owing to the excellent ground transportation. The Swiss rail network covers 5000km (3106mi). Trains are clean, reliable and frequent. Yellow postbuses supplement the rail network and their stations are next to railway stations. There are car-rental agencies in most sizeable towns. Roads are well maintained, well signposted and generally not too congested, though you may find it hard to concentrate with such wonderful scenery unfolding around you. Bicycles can be hired from most railway stations and returned to any station with a rental office. You'll need calf muscles the size of an ox to get very far though. All the larger lakes are serviced by steamers, and rail passes are
HOW TO GET THERE By Air: The main entry points for international flights are Zürich and Geneva. Basel, Bern and Lugarno airports also receive international flights. There is no departure tax when flying out of Switzerland.
By train: Trains are a popular and convenient way to travel to Switzerland, and European rail passes make train travel affordable.
By bus: Buses tend to be slower and less comfortable, though sometimes cheaper. Getting to Switzerland by road is simple, since there are fast, well-maintained motorways through all surrounding countries. If you have time and money, it's possible to get to Switzerland by boat along the Rhine all the way from Amsterdam. Switzerland can also be reached by lake steamer ferries from Germany via Lake Constance, from Italy via Lake Maggiore and from France via Lake Geneva
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