SWITZERLAND
Swiss Confederation, state in Central Europe. According to the state structure - a federal republic. The area of ​​the country is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. In the north it borders with Germany, in the west with France, in the south with Italy, in the east with Austria and Liechtenstein. northern border partly runs along Lake Constance and the Rhine, which begins in the center of the Swiss Alps and forms part of the eastern border. The western border runs along the Jura mountains, the southern - along the Italian Alps and Lake Geneva. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Switzerland. The capital is Bern. Population - 7100 thousand people (1997). Population density: 172 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 61%, rural - 39% (1996). Area - 41.3 thousand square meters. km. The most high point- Peak Dufour (4634 m above sea level). The lowest point is 192 m above sea level. National languages- German, French, Italian, Romansh. The main religions are Catholicism, Protestantism. Administrative-territorial division - 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons. Monetary unit: Swiss franc = 100 rappenam (centimes). National holiday: Founding Day of the Confederation ("Oath of Rütli") - 1 August. National Anthem: "Swiss Psalm"

NATURE
Surface structure. In Switzerland, there are three natural area: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast. The Jura Mountains, separating Switzerland and France, stretch from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. They alternate mountain folds with a predominance of limestone and valleys; folds in places cut through small rivers, forming valleys with steep slopes (clouses). Agriculture is possible only in the valleys; the gentle slopes of the mountains are covered with forests or used as pastures. The Swiss plateau was formed on the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial deposits in the Pleistocene and is currently cut by numerous rivers. The surface of the plateau is hilly, agriculture is developed in wide valleys, and the interfluves are covered with forests. Most of the country's population is concentrated here, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in the same region. Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. These high, uneven, snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The wide bottom of the main valleys is used for fields and arable land. The area is sparsely populated. The Alps serve as the main source of income, since the picturesque nature of the highlands attracts many tourists and climbers. The highest peaks are Dufour peak (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m ) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Rivers and lakes. Most of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its tributary Aare (the most important of its tributaries are the Reuss and the Limmat). The southwestern regions belong to the drainage basin of the Rhone, the southern regions to the Ticino basin and the southeastern regions to the basin of the Inn River (a tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland have no navigable value. On the Rhine, navigation is supported only as far as Basel. Switzerland is famous for its lakes, the most picturesque of them are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Firwaldstet, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed during an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains to the Swiss plateau. South of the axis of the Alps in the canton of Ticino are the lakes of Lugano and Lago Maggiore.

Climate. In Switzerland, there are pronounced climatic differences due to altitude and exposure to the sun and winds. The climate is humid, on the plateau - moderately warm, in the mountains - cold. Daily temperatures in the lowlands fluctuate on average during the year from 10 to 16°C, in summer they rise to 27°C or more. The hottest month is July, the coldest month is January. The highest peaks of the Alps are covered with eternal snows. The snow line rises to 2700 m on the western slopes and up to 3200 m on the eastern slopes. In winter, the temperature drops below 0 ° C throughout the country, with the exception of the northern shore of Lake Geneva and the shores of lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore, part of which belongs to Italy. The climate there is as mild as in northern Italy, because the mountains protect against the intrusion of cold northern winds (bizet). In January-February, under conditions of high pressure over the Alps, clear cold weather sets in, favorable for winter sports. The southern slopes at this time receive a lot of solar heat. In Switzerland, sharp strong winds are frequent, accompanied by rain and snowfalls. Foehns prevail in spring, summer and autumn - warm dry winds blowing from the east and southeast. Since the currents of humid air from the Mediterranean rise up the slopes of the Alps, and then descend to the Swiss plateau, the southern slopes receive almost twice as much precipitation as the northern slopes. The average annual precipitation in Basel (277 m above sea level) is 810 mm, in Lausanne (375 m) on the northern shore of Lake Geneva - 1040 mm, and in Davos (1580 m) in the southeast of the country - 970 mm.
Flora and fauna. The Swiss Plateau is located in the zone of European broadleaf forests. The predominant species are oak and beech, sometimes pine is mixed with them. On the southern slope of the Alps, the chestnut tree is typical. Higher on the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transitional belt between broad-leaved forests and alpine meadows (on high altitudes). There are many bright colors in the mountains. In spring, crocuses and daffodils bloom, in summer - rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss. The animal world has experienced a strong influence of human economic activity. While the snow partridge and mountain hare are still quite common, such characteristic animals of the upper tiers as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wildlife. In the Swiss National Park, located near the border with Austria, roe deer and chamois live, less often - alpine ibex and fox; there are also white partridge and several species of birds of prey.
POPULATION
ethnic groups. The Swiss constitute a close-knit national community, although the population consists of ethnic groups speaking different languages ​​(German, French, Italian and Romansh) and often differing in religion. However, mutual tolerance and goodwill allow them to live and work in one country. A typical national image of the Swiss was formed - a short, stocky brown-haired or blond with brown or gray eyes, having a reputation as an enterprising hardworking person with business acumen. Many Swiss hold key positions in the economy of other countries. There are many foreigners living in Switzerland. In 1997, foreign workers and other foreigners made up 19.4% of the country's population. Most of the unskilled work in Switzerland is done by foreign workers, who come mainly from Italy and other countries in southern and eastern Europe.
Languages. official languages Switzerland - German, French and Italian. Romansh, which is derived from Latin and also has national status, is spoken by approximately 1% of the country's population. The most common German language: its local dialect - Alemannic (Schwitzerduch) - is used by 73% of Swiss citizens and 64% of the country's population. French is spoken approx. 19% of the population, predominantly in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Friborg and Valais. Italian is spoken by approx. 4% of Swiss citizens (mainly in the canton of Ticino), and taking into account foreign workers - 8% of the country's population. Romansh is spoken only in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.
Religion. In the late 1990s, 46% of the Swiss population were Catholics, 40% were Protestants. The proportion of Protestants declined after World War II due to the influx of foreign workers, predominantly Catholics. As a result of a national referendum in 1973, two articles of the constitution were repealed, which prohibited the activities of the Jesuit order and the formation of religious orders. Confessional differences in Switzerland do not always coincide with linguistic boundaries. Among the Protestants one can find both French-speaking Calvinists and German-speaking followers of Zwingli. The centers of German-speaking Protestantism are Zurich, Bern and Appenzell. The majority of French-speaking Protestants live in the canton of Geneva and the neighboring cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel. Catholics predominate in central Switzerland around the city of Lucerne, in most of the French-speaking cantons of Friborg and Valais, and in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. There are small Jewish communities in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.
Population. In 1997, the population of Switzerland was 7097 thousand people and was concentrated mainly in the lowland areas. highest density The population is distinguished by large industrial centers - Zurich, Basel and Geneva. The largest cities in the country (population in thousands in 1997): Zurich (339), Geneva (173), Basel (171), Bern (124), Lausanne (114), Winterthur (87), St. Gallen (71) and Lucerne (58).

STATE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Federalism and Democracy. The basic principles of the Swiss constitution of 1874 are federalism and democracy. Article 3 of the constitution guarantees the 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons into which Switzerland is divided all the rights of self-government, except for those that are the prerogative federal government. These include declaring war and making peace, signing international treaties and joining alliances, training, material support of the armed forces and their management, regulation of foreign trade. The federal government and the cantons have the right to impose taxes. In addition, the federal government exercises control over communications, higher education, and labor. The adoption of the principle of federalism played a significant role in uniting the very heterogeneous canton states into the first all-Swiss federal state in 1848. Over time, the federal government began to more actively influence all aspects of the life of the country. Nevertheless, the Swiss still feel a strong attachment to their native cantons and their traditions. Until 1971, Switzerland was one of the few countries in the world where women did not have the right to vote at the national level. In February 1971, the male electorate approved a constitutional amendment that gave the country's women the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. At the cantonal level, the granting of voting rights to women was delayed: in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, women finally received the right to vote only in 1991. The Swiss constitution also includes mandatory referendums on all constitutional amendments, popular initiatives to put forward such amendments and legislative referendums on certain laws and treaties. The same rights, often in conjunction with legislative initiative, apply at the cantonal and local levels. In addition, some cantons retained direct democracy in the form of general meeting residents (Landsgemeinde): this is a system of direct participation of all the voters of a canton or locality in the approval of certain laws and elections officials. Following a referendum held in March 1991, the voting age for federal elections was lowered from 20 to 18.
Political system. The main organs of the Swiss Confederation are the federal council, the federal assembly and the federal court. The executive body is the federal council of seven members elected by parliament for a term of four years. The only formal limitation on the composition of this body is that only one deputy can be elected from each canton. However, in fact, the composition of the council is strictly limited by tradition: for example, it must necessarily represent the main geographical areas countries and two of the language groups (French and Italian). Since 1959, the composition of the council has, as far as possible, reflected the influence of the main political parties. Each year, one of the members of the council is elected President of Switzerland, but this position is not vested with special powers. The legislative body of Switzerland - the federal assembly - consists of two chambers: the council of cantons, to which two representatives are elected from each canton and one from each half-canton, and a national council of 200 deputies, elected in proportion to the population of the cantons. The Assembly is elected for a term of four years. It has the usual legislative powers, but some laws must be approved by popular referendum. The Federal Court of Switzerland is located in Lausanne, the other main government bodies are in Bern. The federal court functions supreme court country, although it cannot declare federal laws unconstitutional. There are no lower federal courts, since the courts of the cantons are responsible for the application federal laws at the lower levels. The federal court is composed of 26-28 judges and 11-13 jurors, sitting in separate rooms, depending on the nature of the case. The members of the court are elected by the federal assembly for a term of six years. At the cantonal level, executive power is exercised by a state or government council, which consists of 5 to 11 members, headed by the president (Landmann). Council members are elected by the people of the cantons for a term of 4 years (except Friborg, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden) and in some smaller cantons work on a voluntary basis. Most cantons have a single legislature - great advice, the land council, or council of the canton, also elected for a term of four years. The legal bodies of the canton are represented by courts of two or three levels, depending on the size of the canton. Most of the local features of Swiss justice were eliminated with the introduction of a unified national code of civil, commercial and criminal law in 1942.
Political parties. Switzerland has a multi-party system. On the right wing is the Christian Democratic People's Party (formerly the Conservative Social Christian or Conservative Catholic). She sees her main task in protecting the teachings and institutions Roman Catholic Church and in upholding the rights of the cantons. The left flank is occupied by the Social Democratic (or Socialist) Party, which advocates broad social reforms including greater state involvement in economic life country, but subject to partnership between the state and private enterprise. At the center of the political spectrum is the Radical Democratic Party of Switzerland. She was truly radical by the standards of the 19th century when she set the policy of the country. In modern conditions, this party has become relatively conservative. Each of the three parties holds about a fifth of all seats in the national council. This balance of power is maintained from election to election, which provides Switzerland with political harmony and stability. Since 1959, each of these parties has had two of the seven seats in the Federal Council, and the remaining seat is occupied by a representative of the largest of the other parties, the Swiss People's Party (formerly the Party of Peasants, Craftsmen and Burghers). Other smaller parties include the Greens, the Union of Independents, the Liberal Party and the Freedom Party (formerly the Motorist Party). The latter, formed in 1985, defends the rights of car drivers and advocates for the restriction of immigration. The Swiss Armed Forces are based on the National Militia system. Military service is universal and compulsory for all men between the ages of 20 and 50, with periodic fees. In the mid-1990s, in the event of full mobilization, the Swiss army would have numbered 625 thousand people. The country's air force consists of 250 combat units. There are no soldiers among the professional military personnel: there are 1,600 officers and sergeants who serve as instructors.
Switzerland as an international center. Switzerland adheres to the traditional policy of neutrality and therefore does not join the UN. However, it takes part in the work of all specialized organizations of the UN; Geneva is home to the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, the World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Other organizations based in Switzerland are the World Council of Churches and the International Red Cross founded by the Swiss Henri Dunant.
ECONOMY
General characteristics. Switzerland is poor in natural resources, except for hydropower. Nevertheless, it is a prosperous country, in many respects the richest in Europe, primarily due to the high development of manufacturing and services (tourism is especially important). During the period 1950-1990, the economy developed steadily, unemployment was kept low, inflation was kept in check by the Swiss National Bank, and the downturns in business activity were short-lived. The economic recession that engulfed most of Europe in the early 1990s also affected Switzerland: unemployment reached its highest level since 1939, and inflation rose. Nevertheless, the standard of living in the country remained still very high. In 1997, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Switzerland was nominally estimated at 365 billion Swiss francs, in reality - at 316 billion. In per capita terms - 51.4 thousand Swiss francs (nominally) and 44.5 thousand (real).
Labor resources. In 1996, about 28% of the working population of Switzerland were employed in industry (in 1996 it was estimated at 3.8 million people), in agriculture and forestry - 5% and 6% - in the service sector. Of these last ca. 23% worked in hotels, restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, approx. 11% - in banking and credit, insurance and entrepreneurship, approx. 6% in the transport and communications system. The unemployment rate in Switzerland in 1997 was 5.2%. In the same year, there were 936 thousand foreign workers who had a temporary residence permit in the country, of which 30% were Italians and 15% were Yugoslavs. In the early 1960s, the share of foreigners in the labor force was as high as 30%, but at the end of the same decade it dropped to 15% as a result of restrictions imposed by the Swiss government. During the 1990s, foreign workers accounted for over 25% of all employed. They perform most of the work that does not require qualifications, many of them are employed in construction, metallurgy and engineering.
Industry. The high standard of living of the Swiss population was achieved thanks to the large-scale development of various industries. The Swiss watch industry has won world fame, concentrated mainly in the western part of the country (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Geneva) and Schaffhausen, Thun, Bern and Olten. In the 1970s, due to competition from East Asian countries, this sector of the Swiss economy experienced a severe crisis, but in the 1980s it was overcome by the production of inexpensive electronic watches. The textile industry, the oldest in the country, was for many years the most important industry. However, during the Second World War there was a shift in favor of metallurgy and the chemical industry, and throughout the 1980s the production of machinery and equipment developed rapidly. In the 1990s big role played the production of chemical products and medicines, scientific and measuring instruments, optical instruments, machine tools and foodstuffs, especially cheese and chocolate. Footwear, paper, leather and rubber products stood out among other industrial products.
International trade. highly developed international trade Switzerland is based on the export of industrial products such as machinery, watches, medicines, electronic equipment, chemicals and clothing. In 1991, the share of manufacturing products accounted for approx. 90% of the country's export earnings. Export structure in 1997: 20% - machinery and equipment; 9% - electrical machinery and equipment; 9% - products organic chemistry; 9% - pharmaceutical products; 6% - precision instruments and watches, 6% - precious metals, 4% - artificial materials. The Swiss foreign trade balance usually had a deficit, which was traditionally covered by the import of foreign capital, income from the export of capital, income from foreign tourism, insurance and transportation. In the mid-1990s, thanks to an improvement in imports, a small positive balance of foreign trade was achieved for the first time: in 1997, the value of exports amounted to 105.1 billion Swiss francs, and imports - 103.1 billion. Leading foreign trade partners of Switzerland are the Federal Republic of Germany, the USA, Italy, France and UK. Switzerland was one of the founding countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1959, in 1972 Swiss voters approved a free trade agreement with the European Economic Community (now the European Union, EU), in 1977 all duties on manufactured goods were abolished. In 1992, Switzerland applied for EU membership, but later that year Swiss voters voted against the country's accession to the European Economic Area (EEA). This project was aimed at facilitating the free movement of labor, goods, services and capital in 7 EFTA countries and 12 EU countries. After that, Switzerland concluded an agreement with the EU on limited participation in the EEA; as a result, Switzerland has reduced duties on goods transported through its territory by EU member states.
Agriculture. About 12% of the area of ​​Switzerland is used for arable land and another 28% for extensive cattle breeding and dairy production. Approximately one third of the country's territory is occupied by unproductive lands (at least unsuitable for agriculture), especially in the cantons of Uri, Valais and Grisons, and a quarter is covered with forests. Not surprisingly, 40% of food products have to be imported. At the same time, Switzerland provides itself with wheat, meat and dairy products are produced in excess. The main centers of agriculture are concentrated in the cantons of Bern, Vaud, Zurich, Friborg and Aargau. The main crops are wheat, potatoes and sugar beets. In 1996, there were 1,772,000 cattle in the country (of which about 40% were dairy cows), 1,580,000 pigs, 442,000 sheep, and 52,000 goats. A large timber processing industry works for the domestic and foreign markets. However, in last years Switzerland's forests have been hit hard by air pollution, forcing the government to impose strict controls on car exhaust emissions.
Energy. In 1996, 54% of energy in Switzerland was generated by hydroelectric power plants built on numerous mountain rivers. Five nuclear power plants meet most of the country's energy needs. Nevertheless, the use of nuclear energy remains in question: in 1990, Swiss voters approved a ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. Switzerland has long been a major oil importer, but natural gas imports beginning in 1974 and energy conservation measures have led to a reduction in oil imports. In 1991, crude oil came to Switzerland mainly from Libya and Great Britain, while refined products came from Germany, the Benelux countries and France. The main suppliers of natural gas are Germany and the Netherlands.
Transport and communication. Switzerland has a highly developed transport system. Rhine, the largest shipping line water artery, navigable within Switzerland only on the Basel-Rheinfelden section, 19 km long. A large river port was put into operation in Basel. In the 1990s, its annual cargo turnover was 9 million tons. The Rhine-Rhone Canal is also of great importance for the transportation of industrial goods. The length of the railway network in Switzerland in 1995 was 5719 km. The railways are almost completely nationalized and electrified and are among the best in Europe. Since they were laid in conditions of highly rugged terrain, the construction of numerous bridges and tunnels was required. In 1995 there were over 71,380 km of first-class highways. The car park in 1996 reached almost 3.3 million, i.e. There was one car for every two people in the country. In 1964, the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel was opened, the first road tunnel in the Alps. Built in 1980, the Gotthard Tunnel is currently the longest road tunnel in the world (16.4 km). Switzerland is the only landlocked country with a significant navy. In 1941, she purchased several ocean-going ships to carry important goods during World War II, and continued to expand her fleet after the war. In 1985, the cargo turnover of its merchant fleet was estimated at 225.4 million registered tons. The fleet includes many modern ships designed to carry from 6 thousand to 10 thousand tons of cargo, as well as several tankers. The federal government owns all telephone and telegraph lines, as well as a network of radio broadcasting and television. In the 1980s, a major modernization program for telecommunications systems was implemented.
Money circulation and banking activity. Switzerland is one of the most important financial centers in the world. Its banking system far exceeds the volume required for domestic transactions. There are two interconnected banking systems: the state system, including the Swiss National Bank and cantonal banks, and the private banking system. The Swiss National Bank, which began operations in 1907, is the only financial institution that issues national currency. Main currency unit- The Swiss franc is one of the most stable currencies in the world. The National Bank is controlled by the federal authorities and provides big influence on the economic policy of the confederation. The Swiss private banking system in the 1990s consisted of several large commercial banks that were part of the "big four": Schweizerischer Bankverein (SBF), Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft (SBG), Schweizerische Creditanstalt and Schweizerische Volskbank. In 1997, the "big four" became the "big three" after the merger of the SBG with the SBF. There are also 28 cantonal banks, hundreds of regional and savings banks, financial companies and other banks, 20 of which are owned by foreigners. The role of foreign banks is increasing: in the late 1990s, they owned more than 10% of Swiss bank holdings. Depositors have long been attracted to Swiss banks: in accordance with the Swiss banking law of 1934, banks are prohibited from providing information about their customers without their consent. Under pressure from other governments, especially the United States, regulations have been passed to allow disclosure of secrecy of deposits, especially when depositors are under investigation for currency crimes such as counterfeiting and trade in confidential information. After much debate, the Swiss government in the late 1990s also allowed the secrecy of deposits in connection with the search for funds belonging to the victims of the Nazi genocide. The Swiss Stock Exchange is one of the most active international stock and bond markets. The stock exchange in Zurich is the largest in continental Europe. Switzerland also plays an important role in the global insurance market, especially in the commercial insurance sector. Some of the leading Swiss insurance companies derive more than half of their income from operations on the foreign market.
Tourism. The tourism industry is one of Switzerland's vital sources of income. In 1996, more than 18 million people stayed in Switzerland for holidays, mainly from Germany, Great Britain, France, the USA, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia.
Public finances. The Swiss budget is usually more or less balanced, but in the early 1990s, due to the recession of the economy, the expenditure part of the budget increased. In 1997, expenditures were estimated at 44.1 billion Swiss francs and revenues at 38.9 billion. The main sources of income were income taxes, turnover taxes and import duties.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education. Universal primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the cantonal authorities, so the age limit compulsory education fluctuates. Most children attend school between the ages of 7 and 15 or 16. Almost all public schools are free. There are practically no illiterates in the country. Switzerland has many private schools that accept students from all over the world. There are 9 universities in the country - in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Friborg, Neuchâtel, Lugano and St. Gallen. All of them are under the control of the cantons. There are many foreign students studying at universities. There are several other higher education institutions. The total number of students in 1997/1998 was 93,000.
The development of culture. Switzerland is a country with a rich cultural heritage. She gave the world many outstanding artists, writers and scientists. These are Nikolaus Manuel (1484-1530), a talented Renaissance artist, and the physician Paracelsus (c. 1493-1541), who is considered the first natural scientist of the Modern Age. The theologian Nikolai Fluessky (1417-1487), who was canonized in 1947, received wide recognition. Switzerland is associated with the activities of the great religious reformers - Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) and John Calvin (1509-1564), as well as prominent psychologists Carl Gustav Jung (1895-1961) and Jean Piaget (1896-1980). Renowned Swiss artists include Heinrich Fussli (1742-1825), Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) and Paul Klee (1879-1940). Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965), educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) were also natives of Switzerland.
Music and dancing. Swiss musical folklore includes song and instrumental music. A specific song genre of the Alpine highlanders is yodel, characterized by rapid transitions from the chest low voice register to the high head register (falsetto) and vice versa. Famous Swiss composers are Otmar Scheck (1886-1957), Frank Martin (1890-1974) and Willy Burckhard (1900-1955). Arthur Honegger (1892-1955), who belonged to the modern French school, had Swiss parents and began his music studies in Zurich. In some cities of Switzerland, primarily in Zurich, Basel and Geneva, there are ballet troupes. In 1989 the innovative choreographer Maurice Béjart moved with his dance company from Brussels to Lausanne. Expressive traditional folk dances are shown at national and regional festivals held annually in Switzerland.
Literature. Swiss literature has a rich tradition. Johann Bodmer (1698-1783) and Johann Brettinger (1701-1776) influenced German literature. The famous writer Germaine de Stael (1766-1817) had Swiss parents. The writer and educator Johann Rudolf Wies (1781-1830) is best known as the publisher who published The Swiss Robinson, a book written by his father, Johann David Wies (1743-1818). Johanna Spiri (1827-1901) became famous as the author of the classic children's book Heidi.
Other famous Swiss writers include Jeremiah Gotthelf, Gottfried Keller, Konrad Ferdinand Meyer, Rodolphe Tepffer and Karl Spitteler. Swiss writers of the 20th century Albert Steffen and Charles Ferdinand Ramyu (1878-1947), Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt created many wonderful works. Peider Lancel, writing in Romansh, gained a reputation as an outstanding poet. The Swiss historian Jakob Burckhardt is known for his work The Culture of Italy in the Renaissance, and Johann von Müller (1752-1809, he earned the honorific nickname "Swiss Tacitus") for his work Swiss History.
STORY
Creation of the Swiss Confederation. Among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the territory of Switzerland in prehistoric times, the Helvetii stood out, who became allies of the Romans after they were defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Bibract in 58 BC. e. In 15 BC Rets were also conquered by Rome. In the next three centuries, Roman influence contributed to the development of the culture of the population and its Romanization. In the 4th-5th centuries. AD The territory of present-day Switzerland was captured by the Germanic tribes of the Alemanni and Burgundians. In the 6th-7th centuries. it became part of the kingdom of the Franks and in the 8th-9th centuries. was ruled by Charlemagne and his successors. The subsequent fate of these lands is closely connected with the history of the Holy Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Carolingian empire, they were captured by the Swabian dukes in the 10th century, but they could not keep them under their rule, and the region broke up into separate fiefs. In the 12th-13th centuries. attempts were made to unite them under the rule of large feudal lords, such as the Zähringens, the founders of Bern and Friborg, and the Habsburgs. In 1264 the Habsburgs won a dominant position in eastern Switzerland. The Counts of Savoy were entrenched in the west. The Habsburgs encountered strong opposition when they tried to consolidate their holdings by abolishing the privileges of some local communities. At the center of this resistance were the peasants who lived in the mountain valleys of Schwyz (hence the name of the country Switzerland), Uri and Unterwalden. These forested cantons, strategically located important road through the St. Gotthard Pass, benefited from the struggle between the Hohenstaufen emperors and the papacy. In 1231 Uri and in 1240 Schwyz received the rights of the imperial territories of the Holy Roman Empire, freeing themselves from dependence on petty feudal lords. After the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250, a period of decline began in the empire, marked by civil war during the Great Interregnum of 1250-1273. The Habsburgs, who did not recognize the rights of Uri and Schwyz, tried to conquer Schwyz in 1245-1252. Uri and Unterwalden, who entered into a temporary alliance, came to his aid. In August 1291, the Swiss communities entered into a permanent defensive alliance among themselves and signed a treaty known as the "Eternal Alliance" - the first documented evidence of cooperation between the forest cantons. This year begins the official history of the Swiss state. Part of the traditional legend about these events, associated with the name of William Tell, is not confirmed in historical documents.

Growth and expansion of the confederation. The first proof of the strength of the confederation was given in 1315, when the highlanders of the forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden faced the superior forces of the Habsburgs and their allies. At the Battle of Morgarten they won what is considered one of the most important victories in Swiss history. This victory encouraged other communities to join the confederation as well. In 1332-1353 the cities of Lucerne, Zurich and Bern, the rural communities of Glarus and Zug entered into separate agreements with the three united cantons, forming a number of confederations. Although these agreements did not have a common basis, they were able to ensure the main thing - the independence of each of the participants. Having been defeated in the battles of Sempach in 1386 and Nefels in 1388, the Habsburgs were finally forced to recognize the independence of the cantons, united in a confederation. At the beginning of the 15th century the members of the confederation felt strong enough to go on the offensive. During numerous wars and campaigns against Austrian Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire, the Dukes of Savoy, Burgundy and Milan and french king Francis I, the Swiss gained a reputation as excellent warriors. They were feared by enemies and respected by allies. During the "heroic age" of Swiss history (1415-1513), the territory of the confederation expanded by adding new lands in Aargau, Thurgau, Vaud, and also south of the Alps. 5 new cantons were created. In 1513-1798 Switzerland became a confederation of 13 cantons. In addition to them, the confederation included lands that entered into an alliance with one or more cantons. There was no permanent central body: All-Union Diets were periodically convened, where only full-fledged cantons had the right to vote. There was no all-union administration, army and finance, and this situation remained until the French Revolution.
From the Reformation to the French Revolution. In 1523 Huldrych Zwingli openly challenged the Roman Catholic Church and led a religious reform movement in Zurich. He was supported by the inhabitants of a number of other cities in northern Switzerland, but in rural areas he met resistance. In addition, there were differences with the radical Anabaptist wing of his followers in Zurich itself. The Zwinglian current of Protestantism subsequently merged with the current of John Calvin from Geneva into the Swiss Reformed Church. Since the cantons of central Switzerland remained Catholic, a split along religious lines was inevitable. After short religious clashes, an approximate balance was established between the two religions. In 1648 Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire was officially recognized by the Treaty of Westphalia. Political life of Switzerland in the 18th century. was calm. The Bernese naturalist and poet Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777), the historian I. von Müller, and also the philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, born in Geneva, and the great pedagogue and humanist from Zurich, I. G. Pestalozzi, became famous in the "age of Enlightenment". At this time, a stream of foreign guests rushed to Switzerland, among them - Voltaire, Gibbon and Goethe.
Revolution and restoration of the Confederation. The French Revolution had a profound effect on Switzerland, both politically and philosophically. In 1798 French troops invaded the country and occupied it. The French granted the conquered cantons a constitution that replaced the loose federation with the "one and indivisible Helvetic Republic". The revolutionary ideas of democracy, civil liberties and centralized power led to the creation of a strong central government for the first time in Swiss history. The constitution of 1798, created on the basis of the constitution of the first French Republic, granted all Swiss equal rights before the law and a code of civil liberties. However, it encroached on traditional federalism, and many Swiss did not want to recognize it. The struggle between the federalists, who opposed the new system, and the centralists, who supported it, subsided temporarily when Napoleon Bonaparte granted the Republic a constitution in 1802, known as the Mediation Act. She restored many of the former privileges of the cantons and expanded the number of cantons from 13 to 19. After the defeat of Napoleon, the cantons dissociated themselves from the regime imposed by the French and tried to revive the old confederation. After lengthy negotiations, a Union Treaty was drawn up, signed in September 1814. It proclaimed the union of 22 sovereign cantons, but did not indicate that they constituted one state. In the Declaration of the Congress of Vienna (March 1815) and the Treaty of Paris (November 1815), the Great Powers recognized the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland.
Civil war and new constitution. Over the next three decades, liberal sentiment grew in Switzerland. In response to the actions of the radicals in the Union Sejm and in some cantons (the closing of the monasteries in Aargau, the expulsion of the Jesuits), seven conservative Catholic cantons formed the defensive alliance of the Sonderbund. In 1847, the Sejm by a small majority announced the dissolution of this association. The federal army under the leadership of General Guillaume Dufour won the civil war before the European powers could intervene in the conflict. As a result of the victory over the Sonderbund, a new constitution was adopted (1848). A balance was struck between the aspirations of the radical centralists and the conservative federalists. From a fragile union of canton states, Switzerland has become a single union state. A permanent body of executive power was created in the form of a federal council of seven members, elected by the legislature from two chambers - the national council and the council of cantons. The federal government was empowered to issue money, regulate customs regulations and, most importantly, determine foreign policy. Bern was chosen as the federal capital. The revised constitution of 1874, with subsequent amendments, further strengthened the power of the federal government without jeopardizing the federal foundation of the Swiss state. In the last decades of the 19th century Swiss industry developed, and the construction of railways began. Imported raw materials were processed into high-quality products, which then entered the world market.
Switzerland in World Wars. With the outbreak of the First World War, there was a threat to the national unity of Switzerland: the French-speaking Swiss were mainly sympathetic to France, and the German-speaking people to Germany. The four-year mobilization laid a heavy burden on the country's economy, there was a shortage of industrial raw materials, unemployment was growing, and there was not enough food. General discontent culminated in mass strikes in November 1918. In 1919 Geneva was chosen as the headquarters of the League of Nations. Switzerland became a member of this organization only after heated internal debates and after receiving guarantees of respect for its neutrality. The outbreak of World War II found the population of the country more united: few people in Switzerland welcomed Nazism. However, strategically, the position of the confederation was much more vulnerable, since it was surrounded by totalitarian powers.
Foreign policy. With the end of World War II, the League of Nations ceased to exist. Switzerland decided not to join the newly created United Nations (UN) and acquired observer status, which allowed the European headquarters and several UN specialized organizations, including the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to be located in Geneva. Switzerland felt that not joining the UN was the best way to maintain its independent position as a neutral country in the ever-changing balance of power on the world stage. This decision strengthened the position of Switzerland in international politics. This country is a member of several UN organizations: the International Court of Justice, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Switzerland provides significant assistance to developing countries. Following a traditional policy of neutrality, Switzerland in the 1950s and early 1960s faced great difficulty in participating in various European integration plans. In 1948, she joined the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, but refrained from joining the European Economic Community (later the European Union, EU). The obvious political aims of this organization were unacceptable to Switzerland. However, it became one of the founding members of the European Free Trade Association in 1959, and in 1963 joined the Council of Europe, again demonstrating its interest in European cooperation. In 1972, a national referendum ratified a free trade agreement with the EU, according to which, by 1977, duties on all industrial products were gradually removed. In 1983, Switzerland became a full member of the Group of Ten, an association of the largest contributors to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Political and social changes. In the 1960s, Switzerland faced a severe internal problem. Several French-speaking districts located in the Jura mountains in the canton of Bern demanded the formation of a new canton. This met with resistance from the German-speaking population of the region. Federal troops were sent there to prevent clashes. In the early 1970s, voters in the canton of Bern approved a referendum in the French-speaking districts on secession. As a result of a series of plebiscites held over a number of years, three of the seven districts and several border communities voted in favor of the creation of a new canton. This new canton was named Jura. The decision was then approved in a national referendum in 1978, and the new canton joined the confederation in 1979. In the 1960s, there was marked tension over the issue of the large number of workers from countries Southern Europe who came to work in Switzerland. Despite the traditional international character of the country and the need for foreigners to participate in its economic life, many Swiss showed a hostile attitude towards migrants from southern Europe and considered them responsible for the country's internal problems, such as a lack of housing. Accordingly, the government introduced restrictions that drastically reduced the proportion of foreigners in the workforce. The political movement, which demanded a further reduction in the number of foreign workers, did not achieve much support in the elections, but was able to organize referendums in 1970, 1974 and 1977 on constitutional amendments to limit the proportion of foreigners in the Swiss population. These proposals were not approved, but attempts to limit the presence of foreigners in Switzerland continued into the 1980s and 1990s. In 1982 voters rejected the government's proposal to liberalize the rules governing the stay of foreign workers and their families, and in 1987 immigration was even more restricted. In 1994, referendum participants approved a tightening of the law on the stay of foreigners. Nevertheless, the contingent of foreign workers remains large - 25% of the total number of employees. At the same time, the number of foreign nationals living in Switzerland has risen to around 1.4 million. Many of them are refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and developing countries. In the mid-1980s, the Swiss government attempted to end the country's isolation and conclude a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements with EU countries. In a referendum in 1986, Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected the government's proposal to join the UN, but six years later they voted for Switzerland's participation in the IMF and the World Bank. In December 1992, seven months after the government announced its intention to join the EU, the population rejected the proposal to join the European Economic Area, which since January 1994 included the countries of the European Free Trade Association with the EU in a single free trade area. Switzerland's attitude towards the gradually strengthening EU remained a stumbling block for the country's foreign policy in the late 1990s. The 1995 elections revealed a growing polarization of voters on this issue. The greatest success was achieved, on the one hand, by the Social Democrats, who actively support integration, and on the other, by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which opposes not only EU accession, but also participation in the European Economic Area and Switzerland's cooperation with other trading and political alliances. The decision in 1996 to allow the Swiss military to participate in the maneuvers and technology programs of the Partnership for Peace organization provoked violent protests in the country. The controversy over the monetary contributions of the victims of the Nazi genocide. In the late 1990s, the Swiss government was involved in an international dispute over the return by private Swiss banks of gold and other valuable property confiscated by Nazi Germany during World War II from victims of the genocide. Also discussed were the deposits and valuables placed by European Jews in Swiss banks before and during the war to keep them from being captured by the Nazis. Immediately after the war, Switzerland agreed to return the stolen deposits to the victims and their heirs. However, in court cases that attracted much public attention in the mid-1990s, private plaintiffs and Jewish lawyer groups claimed that Switzerland had defaulted on its obligations and accused Swiss banks of preventing heirs from accessing "frozen" accounts. deceased contributors. Since 1996, US local and federal politicians and organizations launched a campaign for the return of the so-called. Nazi gold, and many US municipalities, including New York City, threatened to impose economic sanctions on Swiss banks if the latter refused to bail out the plaintiffs. In August 1998, the Schweizerische Creditanstalt banking group and the SBF agreed to pay $1.25 billion in compensation to the victims of the genocide and their heirs. After that, the threats of sanctions were stopped. The controversy damaged the international prestige of Switzerland and caused a wave of indignation in that country. Facilities mass media The United States and European states often presented Swiss bankers and diplomats as extremely unsympathetic people who showed indifference to the claims of genocide victims. Public attention was also drawn to the aid that came to Nazi Germany from Switzerland. Despite the country's neutrality, Swiss industrialists supplied Nazi Germany raw materials and industrial products. Many Swiss politicians felt they were being portrayed as villains by US officials; the Swiss were of the opinion that the agreement reached was a surrender to outside pressure, humiliating for the nation as a whole.
Fight for women's rights. The women's suffrage movement, first successful in the French-speaking cantons in the late 1950s, reached its main goal only in 1971, when women won the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. However, in a number of cantons, women were prevented for a long time from exercising their voting rights in local elections. In 1991, in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, the last territory in Switzerland to oppose the emancipation of women, they received the right to participate in the annual meetings of voters. next step was the adoption in 1981 of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights for women. In 1984, Elisabeth Kopp became the first woman to be elected to the federal council. In 1985, women were given equal rights in the family (before that, the husband was considered the head of the family, which allowed him to unilaterally manage family finances and not allow his wife to work). In 1991, the council of the city of Bern decided that its composition should not be more than 60% of the same sex.
Measures to protect the environment. The transit position of Switzerland in the system of meridional European transport carried out by heavy vehicles has complicated ecological situation on the mountain roads countries. In addition, exhaust fumes contributed to the destruction of forests that protect the mountain villages of Switzerland from avalanches and mudflows. To reduce exhaust emissions from motor vehicles, the Swiss government introduced road tolls in 1985, a weight limit for cars was set (28 tons), traffic was limited at night and on weekends. In a referendum in 1994 voters approved the decision that by 2004 foreign commercial goods would have to be transported through Switzerland only by rail.
Economic development. Until the end of the 1980s, Switzerland had a positive budget balance. Its economy was characterized by low inflation, low unemployment and low interest rates. In 1988 and 1989 the budgets were brought together with an excess of the revenue side of 900 million and 300 million dollars, respectively, unemployment in 1987 reached a record low of 0.7%. However, rising inflation (6% in 1991) prompted the Swiss National Bank to raise interest rates and limit the issue of money. In the early 1990s, there was a recession in the country's economy. Although the gross domestic product fell less than 1% between 1991 and 1993, the unemployment rate reached 3.6% in 1992 and 4.5% at the end of 1993, mainly due to a reduction in the number of jobs in construction and engineering. In 1994, there were signs of an economic recovery, especially in international financial services, but unemployment in manufacturing and other industries continued to rise. In 1997, the situation improved due to increased exports, demand revived, investment increased, but investment in construction continued to decline.
LITERATURE
Sabelnikov L.V. Switzerland. Economy and foreign trade. M., 1962 Mogutin V.B. Switzerland: big business in a small country. M., 1975 Dragunov G.P. Switzerland: history and modernity. M., 1978 Handbook on Democracy: The Functioning of a Democratic State on the Example of Switzerland. M., 1994 Schaffhauser R. Fundamentals of Swiss community law on the example of the community law of the canton of St. Gallen. St. Petersburg, 1996

Collier Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

According to an old legend, when the Lord was distributing the wealth of the earth's bowels, there was not enough of them for a country in the very heart of Europe, Switzerland. To correct this injustice, God gave her high mountains, shining glaciers, violent waterfalls, picturesque valleys, beautiful rivers and clear azure lakes. Unusually beautiful views of Switzerland attract thousands of tourists, it's like a special world - magical and bewitching, making you believe that paradise does exist. And it doesn’t matter what time of the year you travel, the landscapes of Switzerland will not disappoint in any season and in any weather.

The climate in Switzerland as a whole can be called temperate, however, this is very generalized, because each canton, depending on its geographical location, has its own landscape and its own climate. natural areas Switzerland is diverse - from the Arctic to the tropics: mosses and lichens grow high in the mountains, coniferous and deciduous forests cover the slopes, and in the south of the country, on the coast of lakes, the lush southern greenery of cypresses, magnolias and palms pleases the eye. Switzerland in winter attracts tourists with famous ski resorts, in summer, the mountains and passes of Switzerland meet with amazing landscapes, and crystal clear lakes - a beach holiday, comparable in level to the resorts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Holidays in the Swiss Alps

Switzerland and mountains are two inseparable concepts, because mountains occupy more than half of the country's territory. In Switzerland, three natural regions are distinguished: the Jura mountain range stretches in the northwest, the Swiss Plateau in the center and the Alps, which occupy the entire southeast of the country. According to scientific data, the Alps appeared as a result of a collision of tectonic plates in ancient times, but, amazingly, the researchers claim that the Swiss Alps are still in the process of formation - their height increases every year, however, only by one millimeter. Experts believe that a powerful earthquake can cause the mountains to grow faster, and they will reach a mark of 7 thousand meters, however, this can happen very, very soon, after about a couple of million years.

The Swiss Alps stretch for almost 200 kilometers, representing a unique landscape of beautiful mountain passes and valleys, sloping slopes and snow-capped peaks.

Holidays in the Swiss Alps in winter are, of course, ski resorts that are considered the best in the world. Plenty of snow, impeccable slopes, the best ski training, cozy hotels, cafes and restaurants with excellent cuisine, the highest level of service - everything here is created for a perfect vacation. Sports enthusiasts will find superb downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and airboarding, toboggan runs, speed skating and even ice diving. Fans of more relaxed leisure will be offered hiking, sledding, healing at thermal springs, winter fishing, acquaintance with the unique culture and traditions of Switzerland, so this is not just a vacation, but a real winter fairy tale come to life!

The Swiss Alps in summer attract, first of all, with their stunning mountain panoramas, but rest, of course, is not limited to simple contemplation of beauty. Bicycle tours and hiking trails are offered to tourists in almost any area of ​​the Alps. of varying complexity, moreover, in some of the most Beautiful places Switzerland can only be reached on foot, and beginners and experienced climbers will also try their hand in the Alps. In any case, all tourist routes run among peaks and valleys of unique beauty with picturesque villages, and in each, even the smallest one, accommodation with maximum comfort will be sure to be offered. By the way, all night halts take place only in special mountain shelters, you won’t be able to sit by the fire here - it’s allowed to make fire only in emergency cases to attract the attention of rescue services, and you can set up a tent camp only far from the shelters and only for an overnight stay from 8 pm to 8 a.m. The summer Alps will meet with their amazingly beautiful and clean lakes, some of which are suitable for diving, windsurfing or fishing.

Mount Matterhorn

The most famous of mountain peaks The Alps is the Matterhorn, located in the massif of the Pennine Alps on the very border of Switzerland and Italy. The peak, which has an almost regular pyramidal shape, rises far from other peaks, among plains and low hills, so nothing prevents you from admiring it from all sides, and perhaps it is this isolation that gives Mount Matterhorn so much charm. The Matterhorn is much more likely to fall into the lenses of travelers' cameras than other attractions. On this occasion, local residents even had a joke that for tourists on a trip to Switzerland, the main thing is that the Matterhorn flaunts in the background in the photo. However, the Swiss themselves could not help but appreciate the beauty of this mountain, and it was not for nothing that the manufacturers of the world-famous Swiss chocolate "Toblerone" placed its image on the packaging of their products, and in 2004 the Matterhorn took pride of place on a commemorative gold coin worth 50 francs. So this mountain can be safely considered a symbol of Switzerland!

The Matterhorn rises to 4478 meters above sea level, if you look closely, you can see that the mountain has two peaks located at a distance of about a hundred meters from each other. One of them, located in the east of the ridge, is called the Swiss peak, and the western one, which is only one meter lower than its “neighbor”, is Italian, but they are not called that at all by belonging to countries - both are located on the very border, just on the eastern the first ascent was made from the territory of Switzerland, to the west - from Italy. By the way, Matterhon with its sheer cliffs is one of the most extreme destinations for climbers, so the mountain remained impregnable for a long time, and only in 1865 a group of professional rock climbers managed to conquer the summit. But no matter how harsh and dangerous the Matterhorn is, it invariably attracts climbers in any season.

Often, to admire the Matterhorn in its full glory, climb the nearby mountain Gornergrat - a path of more than three thousand meters can be overcome on foot or on a panoramic train that can overcome steep climbs. It will take you to the very top, and along the way, amazing views of the forests and picturesque waterfalls will open up.

At the foot of the Matterhorn there are famous resorts: on the Italian side - Breuil-Cervinia, and on the Swiss side - Zermatt, which is one of the ten best resorts in the Alps in terms of the quality of snow cover and ski slopes. In the summer, Zermatt invites fans of hiking, climbers and just lovers of a relaxing holiday and landscapes of Switzerland. You can get to Zermatt by train from major cities Switzerland, Milan, Stuttgart and Munich. By car, you can drive to the Tash resort, and from there take an electric taxi to Zermatt or take an electric bus.

Mount Pilatus in Switzerland

In central Switzerland, southeast of the city of Lucerne, Mount Pilatus rises - no less famous than the Matterhorn, but if the latter became famous thanks to the image on chocolate, then Pilatus gained fame because of the legends associated with it. According to one version, the name of the mountain is translated as “wearing a hat” - its top is densely shrouded in clouds, it seems as if it really is wearing a snow-white headdress. But a more common version explains the name of the peak by the name of Pontius Pilate, the procurator who condemned Jesus Christ to death. Tradition says that Pilate, tormented by remorse, committed suicide, and then his body was thrown into the Tiber, but the river did not accept the sinner and carried the remains to the shore. The same thing happened when trying to drown the body of a suicide in the Rhone and Lake Geneva, after which he was taken to a remote corner of the Alps and thrown into a deep reservoir at the foot of a high mountain. After that, the peak began to be called Pilatus, and the locals believed that the restless soul of the procurator was wandering along the mountain paths, and woe to those who meet him. Yes, and so Pontius Pilate constantly brought trouble - the villages in the vicinity of the mountain suffered from rockfalls, mudflows, floods and hurricanes. This went on for a long time, until one theology student, who was fond of black magic, achieved that the soul of the procurator began to appear only once a year, but for several more centuries the authorities, believing the legend, forbade anyone to climb the mountain. And in the Middle Ages, it was believed that winged dragons lived here, guarding palaces with untold riches and kidnapping beautiful girls.

Fortunately, the days when people were afraid to visit Pilatus are long gone, because this mountain is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland, and tourists climb to its top with great pleasure to enjoy the majesty of mountain landscapes, wonderful clean air and breathtaking entertainment.

The height of Pilatus is 2128 meters above sea level. There are three ways to get to the top: on foot (it will take about four hours to climb), using the cable car from the town of Kriens, or by train from the town of Alpnachstadt. This train, by the way, is the steepest in the whole world - the angle of inclination railway in some places it reaches 48o, and only special gears and rails allow it to overcome such a rise.

At the top of Pilatus, tourists, in addition to breathtaking views, are waiting for a wide variety of leisure activities. Winter Pilatus and Snow&Fun Park will give you the most impressions - you can ride sleds, snow scooters, donuts and other snow-entertaining modes of transport along four tracks of different lengths. From a height of a little less than one and a half thousand meters, you can ride a toboggan - a useless sleigh of Indians North America or test your own courage with the help of the Powerfan attraction, where you have to “fall” from a height of about 20 meters and only at the very ground the daredevil will catch a thin rope. You should definitely go along the Dragon Pass route - the road will lie through caves and grottoes, where the walls are painted with illustrations of dragon legends - they were painted by local artist Hans Erni back in the early 20th century. And, of course, restaurants with traditional Swiss cuisine and souvenir shops with cute little things will complete the impression of staying on Mount Pilatus, one of the best and most mysterious places in Switzerland.

Lake Geneva

Switzerland is often called "the country of mountains and lakes", the mountains here really occupy a significant territory, and the lakes of Switzerland, of which there are more than one and a half thousand, are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty and crystal clear clean water. The largest lake in the Swiss Alps and the second largest freshwater reservoir in Central Europe is Lake Geneva, which lies in the floodplain of the Rhone River, often called Leman by the locals.

Lake Geneva, even in the photo, amazes with its splendor, what can we say when you see it with your own eyes! It simply fascinates with its pristine beauty and the unusually deep and pure color of the water, it is often compared to a mirror - the Alps shelter it from the wind so securely that the water surface is almost always unshakable, and, as if in a mirror, mountain peaks, vineyards, tall mountains are reflected in it. firs, houses and medieval castles on the slopes.

The crescent-shaped Swiss lake is located on the border with France, more precisely, the border runs just in the middle of the reservoir. Numerous resort towns stretch along the northern coast, which belongs to Switzerland, which are called the Swiss Riviera for their luxury and respectability. From the cold northern winds, Lake Geneva is protected by the mountain ranges of the Alps, so a pleasant mild climate reigns here, and the coast is buried in the greenery of subtropical plants. A beach holiday in Switzerland is truly unique - only here you can sunbathe on the beach, admiring the snow-capped mountain peaks. However, the swimming season here is quite short - the water warms up very slowly and becomes warm only in July-August. However, tourists have access to all sorts of water sports sports and cruises, as well as horseback riding, cycling and hiking, golf, mountain climbing, paragliding and hot air ballooning.

One of the most impressive natural attractions in Switzerland is the Rhine Falls, located in the canton of Schaffhausen near the small town of Neuhausen am Rheinfall. Despite the fact that the height of the Rhine Falls is only 23 meters (about the size of a seven-story building), it is considered the largest in Europe, because it has no equal in terms of the volume of water falling from the rocks - 250 cubic meters fall down every second in winter, while in summer, during the period of rapid melting of mountain glaciers, up to 700 cubic meters breaks off the cliff.

According to scientists, this waterfall is very ancient, it began to form about 500 thousand years ago during the Ice Age, when huge masses of ice easily changed the relief and sharply turned the riverbeds. Finally, the Rhine Falls acquired its appearance about 15 thousand years ago - this is how we can see it today.

The spectacle of the Rhine Falls is not just impressive, it shakes to the core - the width of the threshold reaches 150 meters, huge streams of water, with noise and roar, fall down, and, swirling with snow-white foam, break up into millions of sprays, shimmering like a rainbow in the sun.

It is best to enjoy an unusually beautiful and formidable spectacle from observation platforms. One of them moves away from the shore and is advanced above the river, very close to the place where the waterfall collapses, it seems that the water colossus is moving right at you and the wildly roaring stream is about to pick it up and take it away in an unknown direction. Another site is located on a high rock, towering as an island in the middle of the river, a small ship will deliver here, plying from both banks. From this site, the Rhine Falls can be seen from above, from here it will not seem so formidable, but it will fascinate for a long time with its stunning view.

It is easy to get to the Rhine Falls from Zurich through the cities of Winterthur, Schaffhausen, Neuhausen or Bulach, you can do this both by car and by public transport - train or bus, depending on the chosen route.

swiss national park

For those who want to see all the true Alpine landscapes at once, the Swiss National Park, located in the canton of Graubünden in the Engadine valley, will be an ideal place. An area of ​​​​172 square kilometers covers harsh bare rocks, slopes covered with dense pine forests and alpine and subalpine meadows dotted with fragrant flowers, where chamois, mountain goats, deer, elk, wolves, brown bears, foxes, lynxes, golden eagles and many other representatives of the animal live. peace.

The Swiss National Park is the oldest national park in Europe and the only one in Switzerland. The history of its creation is very interesting. By the beginning of the 20th century, this territory was completely mastered by man, and, as usual, in a very barbaric way - forests were mercilessly cut down, poor natural resources were thoughtlessly used. In 1914, it was decided to completely stop any economic activity here and see how nature is capable of self-healing. And the result was not long in coming - nature, freed from human intervention, came into its own - dense forests rustled again on the slopes, meadows were covered with flowers, and animals and birds found shelter.

Today, the Swiss National Park continues to develop in a natural way and live a quiet, peaceful life, violated only by tourists, while the rules for visiting are very strict. Only walking is allowed here, it is forbidden to leave the paved paths, kindle fires, make parking, leave any traces of your stay, fishing and hunting, picking herbs and flowers are prohibited, even loud sounds can be fined. If you want to spend more time in the national park (you still won’t be able to get around it in one day - the total length of the trails is 80 kilometers), then you can stay for the night at the Il Fuorn Hotel or the Chamana Kluozza hut, where guests will be provided with comfortable rooms and indulge in delicious national cuisine.

Entrance to the park is free, and there are also free parking lots nearby. The best time to visit the park is the warm season, in winter it is also open, but only short walks are provided along some snow-cleared trails. But just in winter, in the nearby village of Zernets, where the information office of the national park is located, winter sports competitions, festivals and marathons, farmers' markets are held, or you can go on an entertaining tour to the unusual village of the 17th century Guarda.

The easiest way to get to the Swiss National Park is from Zurich by train to Zernets, and then transfer to the bus to the park, or by car, the journey will take about 2.5-3 hours.

Verzasca River

Probably, the definition of “most” fits many places in Switzerland: the best ski resorts in Switzerland, the most picturesque lakes, the most beautiful mountains and the cleanest rivers are also located in Switzerland, and of them the most transparent in the world is Verzasca. It originates on the glaciers of a mountain 2864 meters high and carries its waters to Lake Maggiore, located between Italy and Switzerland. Verzasca's path lies through the picturesque valleys of the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, the length of the river is quite small - only 30 kilometers, but all this distance is simply replete with amazing landscapes - Verzasca runs between mountain slopes dressed in lush greenery of chestnut forests and vineyards, and along the banks there are ancient stone buildings Swiss villages, which only adds to the charm of amazing views. The depth of Verzaska in some places reaches 15 meters, the water in it changes color from bright blue to emerald green and is so transparent that the bottom strewn with multi-colored stones is visible to the smallest detail.

Many, having seen the purest Verzasca, feel like taking a dip, however, the water in it is icy even in the hottest weather, its temperature does not exceed 10 degrees, and due to strong undercurrents it is quite dangerous, as signs on its banks warn about. But still, there are extreme people who do not care about the cold, and even more heat-loving tourists have the opportunity to swim - there are natural depressions along the channel, where the water has time to warm up to an acceptable temperature. Verzasca is especially popular with divers who are certainly not stopped by icy water, because they take amazing pictures from the bottom, the most spectacular photos from the depths, where, through the crystal clear water column, you can see the coast and the sky with running clouds. The only thing that divers will not be able to see and capture is the underwater world of Verzasca, because there, despite the purest water, flora and fauna are completely absent. For a long time it was believed that the reason for this was the increased acidity of the water, but studies conducted in 2009 showed that the PH composition of the water is the most common, but why there are no flora and fauna in the river remains a mystery.

Of the land attractions of Verzaska, charming Swiss villages are noted, where the age of houses built from layered gneiss stone reaches several hundred years; stone arch bridge, built in the 17th century and called Roman, either for the authorship of the Italians, or because of the similarity of architecture, and a gigantic stone dam 220 meters high. She gained worldwide fame thanks to the filming of one of the parts of the Bond movie Goldeneye - it is from her that Pete Brosnan effectively jumps into the water from a great height. By the way, anyone can repeat Bond's mind-blowing trick - there is a platform for bungee jumping on the dam - if you have the courage, an unforgettable experience is guaranteed!

The most beautiful place on the Verzasca River is called the neighborhood of the city of Locarno, you can get to it by train from Zurich, Basel or Lucerne. By car, the path will lie along the A2 highway to Magadino airport, and then you need to turn onto the A13 highway.

Lauterbrunnen Valley

Experienced travelers call the Lauterbrunenn Valley one of the most beautiful and amazing in the whole world - in fact, it is a deep crevice, located between sheer kilometer-long cliffs, the valley stretches for eight kilometers in length, and it takes no more than a kilometer in width. From here, three majestic peaks open up to the eye - the Jungfrau, Mench and Eiger (in translation - the Virgin, the Monk and the Ogre), the landscapes of the mountain valley, but the main thing here is the numerous waterfalls. The name Lauterbrunnen itself is translated as “many springs”, there are 72 waterfalls in the valley, stunning in their beauty.

The journey to the waterfalls begins with a picturesque village that bears the same name as the valley - Lauterbrunnen, it is here that you can order excursion tours or walking tour with a guide.

The most famous and impressive waterfalls are Staubbach and Trummelbach. Staubbach impresses with its power and natural strength - streams of melt water fall from 300-meter cliffs, because of the great height, the water, reaching the ground, breaks against stones and turns into the smallest water dust, resembling fog or a cloud. The Trummelbach waterfalls are the only waterfalls in Europe that are located deep in the rocks and are accessible to the public. For thousands of years melt water descending from the peaks, washed spiral depressions in the stone, through which rumbling streams, overcoming a dozen cascades, descend into the valley. You can get to the waterfall by underground funicular, and then tourists, following the galleries and bridges, descend to the foot of the mountain, admiring the incredibly beautiful spectacle of running water.

The most beautiful places in Switzerland will open to the eye from the top of the Schilthorn, which can be reached with the help of a lift. Up there, in addition to the observation deck, which offers a panorama of eternal glaciers and mountain peaks, there is a revolving restaurant "Piz Gloria", where the movie about the famous 007 agent "On secret service Her Majesty."

Another attraction of Lauterbrunnen is the Jungfrauban railway - its terminal station is located at an altitude of 3545 meters above sea level and is the highest railway station in the world and is called the "Top of Europe".

You can get to Lauterbrunnen by car or train from Zurich to Interlaken, from where an electric train runs to the valley.

The last ten kilometers of the Jungfrauban railway go in a tunnel, from where the train emerges into the dazzling whiteness of another natural attraction in Switzerland - the largest glacier in the Alps called Aletsch. Its length is approximately 25 kilometers, the area is about 120 square kilometers. Glaciers are formed from compacted layers of snow, which turn into ice under the influence of their own weight. Aletsch consists of three glaciers with an average thickness of about a hundred meters, the arms of the glacier, converging in Concordia, reach a maximum thickness of about 1 thousand meters, here the glacier turns into a frozen river of one and a half kilometers wide. The seeming silence and silence of Aletsch are deceptive - he lives and moves, sliding at a speed of 200 meters per year to the southeast, and at an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level, Aletsch turns into the Massa River, which flows into the Rhone.

The locals always treated Alech with respect and even fear, if he was mentioned in the legends, they certainly called him the “white giant”, and this is not surprising - at night, sounds similar to groans and ringing are clearly heard from the side of the glacier. steel swords. It is not easy even for skeptics to believe that a huge mass of ice creates them with its movement, and therefore many tales of ghosts and human souls languishing under the thickness of ice are composed here.

Despite the outward coldness and inaccessibility of Aletsch, tourists go with great pleasure to look at the unique glacier, frozen in a bizarrely curved canyon-gorge, overgrown with relic forest, the Big Aletsch branch, resembling an ice-bound river or a man-made winter road, is especially interesting. Aletsch looks very unusual in summer, when the slopes of the canyon are covered with greenery of grass and flowers, and below, under the feet of icy silence lies a snowy river.

Since 2001, Aletsch has been under the protection of UNESCO, and is also included in the list of contenders for the title of "Seven Wonders of Nature".

Saint Beatus caves

In the canton of Bern, not far from the town of Interlaken on the northeastern shore of Lake Thun, tourists will find a fascinating journey into the depths of the rocks - to the caves of St. Beatus. As the legend says, a long time ago, wealthy parents sent their son Suetonius to study in Rome, but the apostle Peter met him astray from the path of science, and the young man went headlong into religion, replacing hot Italy with the mountains of Switzerland. Suetonius took a new name for himself - Beatus and settled in a cave on Lake Thun, but first he had to fight the terrible fire-breathing monsters that lived in mountain grottoes. For numerous good deeds, the locals began to revere him as a saint, and over time, the caves acquired the name of St. Beatus.

Since the legends are connected with dragons, everything here reminds of mythical creatures - right at the entrance and in the cave there are figurines of fire-breathing monsters, you can swim in the underground lakes on a boat in the form of a dragon, and nature itself seems to support the legend - in places the stone blocks are stacked like this in a bizarre way, which, in fact, resemble the terrible toothy mouth of a monster.

Caves and passages, located at a depth of 500 meters, merge into mysterious labyrinths overgrown with stalactites and stalagmites over 40 thousand years old, underground rivers flow here and even small waterfalls make noise. In one of the grottoes you can meet the "owner" - St. Beatus himself, and those who are interested in science can look into the Mineral Museum.

Not far from the caves, there is a restaurant serving delicious dishes prepared according to old recipes, and on its roof viewing platforms you can admire the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland.

Many people hesitate when answering the question of which is the capital in a country like Switzerland: Bern or Geneva. The first of the mentioned cities is the main administrative, political and diplomatic center of the state. In addition, based on the provisions of UNESCO, since the end of the twentieth century, its old part has been included in the list of the world's largest cultural heritage. Geneva is one of the largest centers of diplomatic international activity. Many conferences, meetings and meetings are held here all year round, in which leaders of almost all countries of the planet take part. This is where the confusion comes from. Be that as it may, the correct answer to the question of which capital is in Switzerland is only one - this is Bern.

Brief history of foundation

The city is one of the most beautiful and oldest in Europe. It retained a large number architectural monuments middle ages. Bern was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V. Ancient chronicles indicate that during the hunt he liked the picturesque view that opened onto steep slopes overgrown with mighty oaks, pines and firs. It was then that the duke came up with the idea to found a city here and name it after the beast that would become the first prey. The bear turned out to be such an animal, and the future capital of Switzerland (photos are below) was named Bern (translated from German, “baeren” means “bears”). Related to this is the fact that the sculptures of this beast are installed everywhere, and the central square is named after him. Moreover, his image is also on the city symbols.

big fire

Initially, during the construction of the city, mainly oak forest was used. In 1405, there was a strong fire that destroyed more than 550 houses. Moreover, the disaster claimed the lives of almost a hundred people. In this regard, in the future, the buildings were built of stone. In a short period of time, Bern became a major trading center and subjugated many territories. For a very long time it was the center of one of the cantons, a member of the Confederation and the residence of the local ruler. Since 1638, the local landscape has not changed much. After the formation of Switzerland as a single state in 1848, the city was proclaimed the administrative center of the country.

Flag and coat of arms

Like all other cities, the capital of Switzerland has its own symbolism. Its flag is a red square panel. From the shaft from top to bottom to the tip, it is intersected by a wide golden stripe. In the center is the image of a black bear, borrowed from the official coat of arms of Bern, which will be discussed later. This symbol made in the form of a heraldic shield of the Spanish traditional form. Its main field is red. The shield is crossed diagonally by a golden stripe, thus in general terms repeating the design of the flag mentioned above. Moreover, there is also a stylized black bearish profile on the coat of arms. The animal itself stands on all its paws, and its tongue and claws are red.

general description

The city of Bern (Switzerland) is located in the southern part of the Swiss plateau, on the banks of the Aare River. If you look at the map of the state, then administrative center can be seen in the center. The local terrain is uneven and historical part The city lies on a hill, at an altitude of 542 meters above sea level. The population of Bern is just over 134 thousand people. Its total area is 51.6 square kilometers. The city is very green, but the vegetation is mostly artificial origin. Indeed, local residents pay quite a lot of attention to street gardening, installing flower baskets, garlands and pots on balconies, in windows and next to houses.

Climate

The capital of Switzerland is located in the intermediate zone between the continental temperate and maritime humid climate. This explains the fact that there is neither debilitating heat nor severe frosts here. The most comfortable time to stay in Bern is the period that starts in mid-April and ends at the end of September. The fact is that at this time the air temperature is in the range from 18 to 27 degrees above zero. Moreover, during this period, the sun almost constantly shines brightly, and rains, if they happen, are of a short duration. In winter, the city is quite cold and overcast, and the air temperature ranges from 1 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Urban transport

Walking around the central part of the city is very pleasant on foot. At the same time, you can use the services of public transport. The capital of Switzerland has a fairly developed network of bus and tram routes. You can buy tickets from vending machines at bus stops. The fare for six stops is US$1.9. If you need to travel a lot, it is recommended to buy a ticket for the whole day, for which you need to pay twelve dollars. Night buses also run in Bern, the fare for which is five dollars. Bicycle rental has become quite popular in recent years. It should be noted that the first four hours of this service are free. After the expiration of this time, you will have to pay one dollar for each additional hour. The only caveat is that for rent you must leave a passport and twenty dollars as a deposit.

Accommodation

In Bern there are a large number of hotels, hotels and hostels of various levels of comfort. Along with this, it should be noted that the capital of Switzerland (like the whole country) is quite expensive in terms of living. Indeed, for an overnight stay in the simplest two-star hotel, you will have to pay at least fifty dollars. Such payment is considered very high even by European standards. In general, the city is dominated by hotels whose degree of comfort is rated at three or four stars. The cost of rooms in them ranges from 100 to 800 dollars per day.

Main attractions

The capital of Switzerland, Bern, is convenient for tourists because most of the local attractions are concentrated in its historical center. It, in turn, is located in close proximity to the railway station. One of the most popular places among tourists is the Bear Pit, which is an open enclosure with animal symbols of the city. In addition, there is also a park with these animals and a large number of their sculptures. Nearby is a baroque church, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. Directly on the Bear Square rises a massive tower called "Kefigturm".

Separate words deserve a fountain, which at the same time frightens and attracts with its original name - "Child Eater". Several centuries ago, it was built to intimidate little sinners in case of their bad behavior. The belfry of the Zytgloggeturm, which dates back to the twelfth century, has become an iconic place for Bern. It has a large clock that shows not only the time, but also the days of the week, the month and even the phases of the moon with the signs of the zodiac. One of the most beautiful streets in all of Switzerland is Kramgasse. There are many old houses here, in one of which Albert Einstein once lived. It should also be noted the building of the Federal Parliament, the Cathedral, the Clock Museum, as well as the Alpine, Postal and Historical Museums.

Switzerland is a country that attracts tourists all year round. It has elegant cities with a unique flavor and famous resorts with comfortable hotels. Nature generously gave Switzerland magnificent mountains, clear transparent lakes and amazing hillsides. Picturesque nature with beautiful landscapes and famous creations of mankind are concentrated on the territory of the country. Each visitor to the country will find what he likes due to the presence of a relaxing and active holiday. And every guest will remember the sights of wonderful Switzerland forever.

General information

• The official name of the country is the Swiss Confederation.
• The capital of the country is the city of Bern.
• Form of government - federal republic
• The state is located in Western Europe. Switzerland has borders with France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. The country has no access to the sea.
• The area of ​​the territory is 41.3 thousand square meters. km.
• The largest cities are Bern, Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Lausanne, Lugano.
• The population of the country is about 7 million people.
• The official languages ​​are French, German, Italian, Romansh.
• The main religions are Catholicism and Protestantism.
• The official currency is the Swiss franc.
• Time zone UTC+1.

Climate

It is as contrasting as nature. In Switzerland, both the tropics and the Arctic meet. The role of the climatic barrier is performed by the Alps, they also influence the climate. In the northern and central part, due to the influence of the Atlantic, winters are severe, while in the southern part the climate is sunny, mild and Mediterranean. Significant fluctuations differ in the weather in different parts of the Alps. Frequent rains are typical for high mountain areas. Sunny and relatively dry prevails in the Alpine valleys. In general, the climate of Switzerland moderate. This country is not characterized by extreme manifestations of cold, heat or humidity. The temperature in July-August is 18-27 °C, and in January-February it fluctuates between -1 and 5 °C. Location above sea level affects temperature.

Briefly about history

The name of the country received from one small canton Schwyz. In 1291 the leaders of the cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden met and formed an alliance against the House of Habsburg - this refers to the founding of the Swiss state. After that, other regions and cities joined, who wished to maintain their independence.

The excavations that were already carried out in modern Switzerland indicate that people also lived in this area during the cave period, even though the weather was then much harsher and colder. In 107 BC. e. Romanesque tribes appeared on this territory, but because of highlands did not completely conquer it. They were supplanted already in the 5th century by the German tribe of Atelmans. In 1032, the state area was connected to the Roman Empire. It was still far from centralized control and order. The situation changed when Habsburg family came to power. In the future, this dynasty became very powerful in Central Europe.

The local aristocracy in 1291 felt that the time had come for independence. They soon made progress: in 1499 the country gained independence from the Roman Empire, and won a victory over the forces of Venice and France in 1515. But the Swiss had to realize that the victory over major states, which are superior in armament and numbers, cannot be achieved. Therefore, they abandoned the expansion of lands and proclaimed neutrality.

The Reformation began in Europe in 1517. The mass discontent of different segments of the population of Europe was the main cause of the religious movement. Despite the fact that the central part of Switzerland was Catholic, Protestant teachings quickly spread throughout the country. When confrontations Christian movements escalated into the "Thirty Years' War" - a serious armed conflict that in one way or another affected all European countries, Switzerland took a neutral side and closed the borders. Nevertheless, she did not manage to avoid trouble: the army of Napoleon Bonaparte captured Switzerland in 1798. Only in 1815 the French were expelled from Swiss lands.

A federal constitution was adopted in Switzerland in 1848. To resolve state issues, they began to convene a federal assembly, the capital of the country became Berne. Switzerland, having gained stability, began to deal with economic and social problems. Access to the Alpine regions was opened by the massive construction of railways and roads, which attracted thousands of tourists to the state.

The global events of the 20th century bypassed Switzerland. In World War I, her participation was in the creation of Red Cross detachments. And the Second World War brought new financial flows to the country. The banks of Switzerland kept the capital of Germany. At a time when the countries of Europe were recovering from hostilities, Switzerland continued its industrial and economic development. International organizations have their headquarters in Geneva, and in Zurich, international insurance and banking centers.

Attractions

Ancient castles, cities, monuments and resorts in Switzerland will allow tourists to choose the best. Mountain, sightseeing, ecological, medical, winter and other types of tourism are widespread in the country.

AT Zurich with interesting Gothic architecture, it is recommended to visit the churches of Grüssmünster and Fraumünster, the Bahnhofstrasse street, and take a walk along the lake. AT Lucerne you need to walk along the streets with painted houses, walk along the wooden bridge with frescoes. Can be seen in Geneva 140-meter fountain that beats from Lake Geneva, Cathedral St. Peter's headquarters international organizations. AT Montreux you can visit Chillon Castle. It is recommended to get acquainted with the Swiss thermal springs, primarily the Leukerbard, Yverdon and Bad Ragaz. Each ski resort has its own advantages. Zermatt is a famous resort where the famous “falling” track from a height of 2627 m is located. St. Moritz there are more than 350 km of slopes and 60 lifts, in Saas Fee there is a glacier, which is also used in summer. Will not bring labor from Interlaken get to the top of the Jungfrau.

National cuisine

For gourmets, Switzerland is a real paradise. Swiss food, like the nation, is a symbiosis of German, Italian and French cuisines. With the external diversity of tastes in different parts of the Alpine country, the inhabitants have at least two symbols of the highest quality - this cheese and chocolate. Almost every canton has its own varieties.

Against the backdrop of a general obsession with diets delights of chefs in Switzerland may seem inappropriate. Fragrant potatoes, ruddy sausages, melted cheese, delicious sauces - it is simply impossible to resist these goodies.

Fondue and raclette These are Swiss melted cheese dishes. Fondue was first made in Neuchâtel. Raclette is served on a warm plate. During a tour to Switzerland, you must try Zurich-style chopped veal with traditional Swiss potatoes. In the vicinity of Lake Geneva, guests will be offered oil-fried perch fillets. It is served with lemon slices, and boiled potatoes will be a side dish.

Minestrone Soup- This is a thick vegetable soup that is unusual and very tasty. It includes potatoes, tomatoes, rice, beans, peas, carrots, leeks, cauliflower and grated cheese. This soup a traditional dish in Ticino. Graubünden barley soup is another famous first course. It is made from smoked beef, cabbage and, naturally, barley.

To try an amazing dessert, it is worth taking a vacation to Switzerland. "Zuger Kirshtort"- This is a cherry cake made of puff pastry and the most delicate butter cream. It is sprinkled with nuts and soaked in cherry liqueur.

Amazing in their diversity and swiss wines. This is the freshness of aromas and a rich palette of tastes. At present, Swiss wines win top prizes at international competitions and receive the highest marks. Merlot (Ticino), Dole (Valais), Fendan (Valais), Aminier (Valais) are original and expressive Swiss wines.

Fresh unfiltered beer loves the locals. In addition to it, the Swiss drink different drinks and the strongest schnapps. The culture of consumption and the tradition of schnapps production came from Germany. In cold weather, locals sip cafe-ferzig, the recipe of which consists of one-third schnapps and two-thirds coffee. It is served in a glass with a curved stem.

customs and practices

The old customs in Switzerland are treated very carefully. Many traditions are local in nature and exist only in individual cantons.

singing competitions in Zurich or Basel carnival are famous folklore holidays. In the spring, a trip to the Alps will be interesting, when the peasants drive their cattle to pasture. This ordinary event turns into a small holiday. Cow fighting in Nizhny Val is the main event of this holiday. The inhabitants of the Catholic cantons are distinguished by adherence to ancient customs.

The people in Switzerland are hospitable and friendly. Literally everywhere there is order and cleanliness. The Swiss respect punctuality and goodwill, so they demand the same from others. The country appreciates comfort and convenience.

Local residents value their personal lives, so they behave inconspicuously and quietly in crowded places. In a restaurant or train, loud conversation will be perceived negatively and considered bad manners. You can not be afraid to be in a sparsely populated area at night, because the country has a deep concern for order and security.

Purchases

Undoubtedly, Swiss goods are a symbol of quality. Shopping in Zurich can be described as stylish and expensive. Central Bahnhofstrasse in abundance with bright and expensive shop windows. One and a half kilometers of the street can be walked at a slow pace in about 30 minutes. During this time, you can get from the simplest shops to elite boutiques.

Traditionally sale seasons in Switzerland take place in the middle of summer and before Christmas. This is very beneficial for tourists, because in winter the country invites skiers to the steep slopes, and in summer it is a paradise for those who love hiking and cycling. During the sales season, you can purchase goods with a discount of more than 50%.

Swiss clock is a product that deserves special attention. Popular brands of watches can be bought in the country for a reasonable price. Switzerland offers a wide range of watches from famous companies.

Another well-known delicacy is swiss chocolate. A true sweet lover simply needs to try the creation of Swiss chocolatiers. Chocolate in the country is represented by different varieties and a variety of colorful packaging.

pocket knives- This is another popular Swiss-made product. Quality and functionality are the main features of a knife. More than twenty different tools and blades can fit in the handle. How much it is necessary to judge users.

The symbol of Switzerland is a cow that grazes in the Alpine meadows. The main souvenir is associated with this image - bells. Other Swiss souvenirs that tourists can bring home are wood crafts, music boxes, ceramics and other handicrafts, as well as books and antiques.

The credo of Swiss stores is friendly staff and excellent service. The buyer in any store will be served at the highest level.

Switzerland is a small country, but amazing. If there is a corner of reliability and tranquility in the world, then this is exactly it - a symbol of prosperity and prestige, a country with breathtaking ski resorts, the most stable banks, the most precise clock and the most delicious cheese in the world. Coming again and again to Switzerland, travelers will be able to discover something new every time.