Useful data for tourists about Switzerland, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Switzerland, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Switzerland.

Geography of Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation is a state in central Europe bordering Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein.

Almost all of Switzerland lies in the mountains of the Alps and Jura. The highest peak is Dufour Peak (4634 m) in the south of the country.

State

State structure

Federal republic (confederation), consisting of 23 cantons, each of which has its own constitution, parliament and government. The head of state is the president. Legislature- Bicameral Federal Assembly (National Council and Council of Cantons). Executive power is exercised by the Federal Council (Government) of 7 Federal Councilors (Ministers).

Language

Official language: German, French, Italian

In the northeast of the country, they speak Retroman. Most Swiss speak English.

Religion

About 48% are Catholics, 46% are Protestants, and 6% are other religions.

Currency

International name: CHF

The Swiss franc is equal to 100 centimes (rappen in German Switzerland). In circulation there are denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs, as well as coins of 5, 2, 1 franc, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Many stores accept convertible currency and accept all major credit cards and traveler's checks. You can change money at any bank branch, in the evening - at the exchange offices of large department stores, airports and some travel agencies. It is better to change money abroad, since in Switzerland itself the exchange rate of the national currency is too high.

History of Switzerland

The history of Switzerland dates back to the 12th millennium BC. It was then that the territory covered with eternal snows, under the onslaught of global warming, began to free itself from ice. Gradually, the white cover changed into green, and the "revived" earth found its first inhabitants from the human race.

In ancient times, Switzerland was inhabited by the Celtic tribes of the Helvetii, hence its ancient name - Helvetia. Around the 1st century BC, after the campaigns of Julius Caesar, the country was conquered by the Romans and gained worldwide fame. In the 5th century AD, during the era of the Great Migration of Peoples, it was captured by the Alemanni, Burgundians and Ostrogoths; in the VI century - the Franks. In the 11th century, Switzerland became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.

Initially, the Swiss were not a single nation, while Switzerland itself was a union of communities (cantons) that aspired to self-government. At the beginning of August 1291, the peasants of the forested cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, who lived on the shores of Lake Firwaldstet, entered into an alliance and swore an oath to help each other in the struggle against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty; in a stubborn struggle they defended their independence. The Swiss celebrate this joyful event to this day: August 1 - the National Day of Switzerland - salutes and fireworks illuminate the Swiss sky in memory of the events of more than seven centuries ago.

For two centuries, Swiss troops have been victorious over the feudal armies of dukes, kings and kaisers. Provinces and cities began to join the original union. The united allies sought to expel the Habsburgs, gradually expanding their borders. In 1499, after the victory over Kaiser Maximilian I of Habsburg, Switzerland freed itself from the domination of the empire. In 1513, there were already 13 cantons in the union. Each canton was absolutely sovereign - there was no common army, no common constitution, no capital, no central government.

In the 16th century, a severe crisis began in Switzerland. The reason for this was a split in the Christian church. Geneva and Zurich became centers of activity for the Protestant reformers Calvin and Zwingli. In 1529, a religious war broke out in Switzerland. Only a serious danger emanating from outside prevented the complete disintegration of the state. In 1798, the French invaded Switzerland and transformed it into a unitary Helvetic Republic. For fifteen years the country was under their rule. The situation changed only in 1815, when the Swiss introduced their own constitution with equal rights for 22 sovereign cantons. In the same year, the Peace Congress of Vienna recognized the "permanent neutrality" of Switzerland and determined its borders, which are still inviolable. However, the unity of the union of cantons was not reliably ensured by the organization of a sufficiently strong central authority. Only under the constitution of 1948, the fragile union turned into a single state - federal Switzerland.

The history of Switzerland dates back to the 12th millennium BC. It was then that the territory covered with eternal snows, under the onslaught of global warming, began to free itself from ice. Gradually changed the white cover turned into green, and the "revived" earth found its first inhabitants from the human race....

Popular Attractions

Tourism in Switzerland

Where to stay

Switzerland is a country with a high standard of living, which has not bypassed such an area as the tourism business. All hotels in this country have their own classification and are characterized by a high level of service.

The highest category - Swiss Deluxe - includes hotels located in old historical buildings, completely renovated and adapted to the needs of guests. The windows of such a room will offer a beautiful view, the interior will delight the eye with sophistication. The hotels of this category operate not only first-class restaurants, but also golf courses, SPA centers and much more.

The SWISS Quality standard includes five classes of hotels (similar to stars), which are located in large or resort cities. Five stars, or SWISS Quality Excellence, is given to hotels with a high level of service, meticulous interior design, upscale restaurants, etc.

Four stars, or SWISS Quality Superior, are hotels in which, in addition to special comfort, guests will be offered to use a restaurant, a modern conference room, a gym or spa services. Hotels that are awarded three stars also please with good service and are suitable for both tourist groups and businessmen.

The campsites in Switzerland, which are located in the picturesque corners of the country, also have a gradation from 1 to 5 stars. Please note that unauthorized placement outside the campsite is fraught with a police visit and a fine.

In small towns, you can rent a room in private hotels or live in a real peasant house. For those who prefer some extreme sports, there is an opportunity to spend the night in a real hayloft.

In winter, mountain chalets are very popular. However, keep in mind that they must be ordered in advance.

Office Hours

Banks are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (some until 6 p.m.) on weekdays, with a break from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. Once a week, banks are open longer than usual. Currency exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8 am to 10 pm, often around the clock.

Shops are open on weekdays from 8.30 to 18.30, some are open until 22. On Saturday, all shops are open from 8 to 12 and from 14 to 16. In large cities, some shops are open without a lunch break, but are closed on Monday morning .

Purchases

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Switzerland is 7.5%. In hotels and restaurants, all taxes are included in the bill. When buying in one store for more than 500 francs, you can get a VAT refund. To do this, you need to get a "Tax-free Shopping Check" check in the store (a passport is required), according to which, when leaving the country, you must pay VAT at the bank at the airport or stamp it. In this case, upon returning home, the stamped form must be mailed in order to receive a receipt with a VAT refund. In large stores, VAT is refunded on the spot upon presentation of a passport.

Security

The crime rate in Switzerland is very low. However, beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers.

Emergency Phones

Police - 117
Fire services - 118
Ambulance - 14

Questions and opinions about Switzerland

Question answer

is a mountainous country located in the southern part of Central Europe, in the heart of the Alps. It borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein.

The name comes from the name of the canton of Schwyz, derived from the ancient German "burn".

Official name: Swiss Confederation

Capital: Berne

The area of ​​the land: 41.3 thousand sq. km

Total population: 8.6 million people

Administrative division: Switzerland is a federation of 23 cantons (3 of them are divided into half-cantons).

Form of government: Federal parliamentary republic. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament and government.

Head of State: The president is elected by parliament for a year from among the members of the government.

Composition of the population: 65% German, 18% French, 10% Italian and 1% Romansh.

Official language: German, French, Italian and Romansh are the national and official languages ​​of the Swiss Confederation.

Religion: 50% - Catholics, 48% - Protestants.

Internet domain: .ch

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +41

Country barcode: 760-769

Climate

Switzerland belongs to the temperate continental climate region. But, speaking about the climate of this country, it should be borne in mind that about 60% of its territory is occupied by mountains, so here you can get from winter to summer in two hours. The Alps are a kind of barrier that prevents the flow of cold arctic masses to the south, and warm subtropical masses to the north.

In the northern cantons, winter is mild and lasts about 3 months: from December to February. At this time, the minimum temperature is -1...-4, the maximum +2...+5 degrees. In summer (from June to August) at night it is usually +11...+13 degrees, in the daytime the air warms up to +22...+25 degrees. There is quite a lot of precipitation throughout the year. Their maximum falls on the summer period (up to 140 mm per month), the minimum for the period from January to March (slightly more than 60 mm per month).

In the south, winter temperatures are almost the same, and summer temperatures are higher. The average minimum temperature is +13...+16, the average maximum temperature is +26...+28. There is more rainfall in this area. From March to November, more than 100 mm of precipitation per month falls here, and from June to August this amount approaches 200 mm. The least precipitation falls in January and February (about 60 mm).

The weather in the mountains depends on the altitude of the area. It is snowy in the highlands in winter. The temperature for most of the year (from October to May) is negative both at night and during the day. In the coldest months (January and February) at night the temperature drops to -10...-15, during the day - to -5...-10. It is warmest in July and August (2...7 degrees at night, 5...10 degrees in the daytime). The maximum snow height is observed, as a rule, in early April. At an altitude of 700 meters, it lasts 3 months, 1000 meters - 4.5 months, 2500 meters - 10.5 months.

Geography

Swiss Confederation, state in Central Europe. By state structure - 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. The northern border runs partly along Lake Constance and the Rhine, which starts 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.

The Jura mountain range, the Swiss plateau (the so-called "middle lane") and the Alps are the three main geographical regions of the country.

Most of the country is located in the Alps. The average height of the mountains is 1,700 m. The snow limit lies at an altitude of 2,500 m. The Swiss Alps have about 100 mountains with a height of 4,000 m or more, as well as about 1,800 glaciers. The second highest mountain in Switzerland is the Jura. These mountains became famous thanks to the excavations, which resulted in the discovery of numerous remains of dinosaurs. It was at the place of excavations in the limestone mountains of the Jura that the name of the geological period was given.

In Switzerland you can find everything that is found in Europe. It has collected within its borders all the captivating contrasts inherent in this continent, offering the attention and feelings of the traveler a rare combination of natural and man-made sights.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

About 1/4 of the country's territory is covered with forests. The composition of forests depends on the height above sea level. Broad-leaved forests of oak, beech, ash, elm, maple, and linden predominate in the region of the Swiss plateau up to a height of 800 m. Above 1000 m, broad-leaved species remain mainly beech; spruces, pines, firs appear. And starting from a height of 1800 m, the main place is occupied by coniferous forests of spruce, fir, pine and larch. At the highest altitudes (up to 2800 m) there are subalpine and alpine meadows, thickets of rhododendron, azaleas, juniper.

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 up the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transitional belt between broad-leaved forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). Crocuses and daffodils are typical for alpine flowers in spring, rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss are typical in summer.

Animal world

The animal world is severely depleted. 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 Swiss national park, located near the border with Austria, roe deer and chamois live, less often - alpine mountain goat and fox; there are also white partridge and several species of birds of prey. There are numerous reserves and sanctuaries.

In the mountains there are fox, hare, chamois, marten, alpine marmot, among birds - capercaillie, thrush, swift, snow finch. On the shores of the lakes you can meet gulls, and in the lakes - trout, char, whitefish, grayling.

Attractions

Switzerland is an example of a classic tourist country - elegant cities and famous resorts with cozy hotels, majestic mountains, pristine lakes and picturesque hillsides. Here, in a small space, all the beauties of nature and outstanding creations of human hands are concentrated.

Small towns with a unique flavor abound in the country, such as Biel - the "watch capital" with two official languages, the famous Solothurn - a city with Baroque buildings and many cultural monuments, Chur - the oldest city in Switzerland (2500 BC. ), Disentis with an interesting Benedictine monastery and museum (VIII century), Münster with a Benedictine convent (VIII century, UNESCO protected cultural monument), Guarda and Splügen - typical Alpine villages with many beautiful "chalets", the birthplace of Le Corbusier - La Chaux-de-Fonds with its International Watch Museum, Afoltern and Emmental, where famous cheese-making exhibitions are held, or Romont with its Swiss Museum of Glass Painting. Each such town has a unique charm and deserves special attention.

Banks and currency

Swiss franc (CHF), equal to 100 centimes (rappen in German Switzerland). In circulation there are denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs, as well as coins of 5, 2, 1 franc, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Banks and currency exchange are open from 8.00 to 16.00 (some until 17.00 - 18.00) on weekdays, a break from 12.00 to 14.00. Once a week banks are open longer than usual. Currency exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8.00 to 22.00, often around the clock.

Many stores accept convertible currency and accept all major credit cards and traveler's checks. You can change money at any bank branch, in the evening - at the exchange offices of large department stores, airports and some travel agencies. It is better to change money abroad, since in Switzerland itself the exchange rate of the national currency is too high.

Useful information for tourists

There are no endemic infectious diseases in Switzerland. Vaccinations against those are not required upon entry, except for those who have been in an epidemic area 14 days prior to arrival in Switzerland. Swiss medical facilities are among the best in the world. In the event of a doctor's visit or hospitalization, you must pay a deposit in cash or traveler's checks or present health insurance. After your hospitalization, you will be sent an invoice, but you may be asked to pay on the spot.

The most popular among buyers are jewelry, watches and chocolate. All major jewelry firms have a representative office in Geneva. For Switzerland, watches have become the epitome of precision, elegance, a kind of world standard.

Tipping is usually not customary, except in restaurants, where tipping is 10% of the order value. We advise you to carefully read the bill, not out of economy, but to comply with tradition - and never exceed 10% of the tip. They are handed over only after they bring change up to a centime.

(the latter is only for business communication with native speakers of Romansh).

President of the Council of Cantons (2012) - Hans Altherr. Chairman National Council(2012) - Hansjorg Walter. Chief Justice (2012) - Mayer Lorenz.

Each canton has its own constitution and legislation; legislative and executive power belongs to large councils (parliaments) and cantonal councils (governments) elected by citizens for a term of 1 to 5 years. In districts, which are headed by a prefect appointed by the cantonal council, and in communities, self-government bodies are elected - general meetings of citizens - Landsgemeinde (in German cantons) and community councils (in French cantons). The executive bodies in the communities are municipalities or small councils headed by mayors.

Switzerland has a long tradition of political and military neutrality, but takes an active part in international cooperation, its territory hosts the headquarters of many international organizations. There are several points of view regarding the time of the emergence of Swiss neutrality. According to some scholars, Switzerland began to adhere to the status of neutrality after the conclusion of a peace treaty with France on November 29, 1516, in which "perpetual peace" was proclaimed. Subsequently, the Swiss authorities made a number of decisions that moved the country towards the definition of its neutrality. In 1713, Switzerland's neutrality was recognized by France, Spain, the Netherlands and England, who concluded the Peace of Utrecht. However, in 1803, Switzerland concluded an agreement on a military alliance with Napoleonic France, according to which the country was obliged to provide its territory for military operations, as well as to provide a military contingent for the French army. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the “perpetual neutrality” of Switzerland was secured. Neutrality was finally confirmed and specified by the Guarantee Act signed in Paris on November 20, 1815 by Austria, Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia, Russia and France. On January 22, 1506, the Swiss Guard was founded, called upon to protect the head of the Roman Catholic Church and his palace. The total number of the first composition of the Swiss Guard was 150 people (currently 110).

Administrative division

Administrative divisions of Switzerland

Switzerland contains 6% of Europe's fresh water reserves. The largest rivers are Rhone, Rhine, Limmat, Are. Switzerland is rich and famous for its lakes, the most attractive of which are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva (582.4 km²), Vierwaldstet (113.8 km²), Thun (48.4 km²) in the south, Zurich (88.4 km²) in the east, Bilske (40 km²) and Neuchâtel (217.9 km²) in the north. Most of them are of glacial origin: they were formed at a time 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 Lago Maggiore (212.3 km²) and Lugano (48.8 km²).

About 25% of the territory of Switzerland is covered with forests - not only in the mountains, but also in the valleys, and on some plateaus. Wood is an important raw material and source of fuel.

Minerals

There are practically no minerals in Switzerland. There are only small reserves of coal, deposits of iron ore, small deposits of graphite and talc. The extraction of rock salt, carried out in the upper reaches of the Rhone and along the Rhine near the border with Germany, covers the needs of the country. There are raw materials for the construction industry: sand, clay, stone. 11.5% of energy is produced using water resources. 55% of the electricity consumed is from hydroelectric power plants.

Climate

Relief

Most of the country is located in the Alps. In the south are the Pennine Alps (height up to 4634 m - Peak Dufour, the highest point in Switzerland), the Lepontine Alps, the Rhaetian Alps and the Bernina massif.

By deep longitudinal valleys of the Upper Rhone and Anterior Rhine, the Pennine and Lepontine Alps are separated from the Bernese Alps (Finsteraarhorn, height 4274 m) and the Glarn Alps, forming a system of ridges stretched from southwest to northeast across the country. Dominated by peaked ridges, composed mainly of crystalline rocks and strongly dissected by erosion. The main passes (Great St. Bernard, Simplon, St. Gotthard, Bernina) are located above 2000 meters above sea level.

The landscape of mountainous Switzerland is characterized a large number of glaciers and glacial landforms, the total area of ​​glaciation is 1,950 km². In total, there are approximately 140 large valley glaciers in Switzerland (Aletsch Glacier and others), there are also cirque and hanging glaciers.

Economy

• Main import items: industrial and electronic equipment, foodstuffs, iron and steel, petroleum products.
• Main export items: machinery, watches, textiles, medicines, electrical equipment, organic chemicals.

Advantages: highly skilled workforce, reliable service sector. Developed branches of mechanical engineering and high-precision mechanics. Transnational concerns of the chemical industry, pharmacology and the banking sector. Banking secrecy attracts foreign capital. The banking sector accounts for 9% of GDP. Innovation in mass markets (Swatch watches, Smart car concept).

Weak sides: limited resources and small area.

Switzerland one of the most developed and wealthy countries in the world. Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with intensive, highly productive agriculture and an almost complete absence of any minerals. According to Western economists, it is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of economic competitiveness. The Swiss economy is closely connected with the outside world, primarily with the EU countries, with thousands of threads of industrial cooperation and foreign trade transactions. OK. 80-85% of Swiss trade is with EU countries. More than 50% of all cargoes from the northern part of Western Europe to the south and in the opposite direction pass through Switzerland in transit. After a noticeable increase in 1998-2000. The country's economy has entered a recession. In 2002, GDP grew by 0.5% to CHF 417 billion. fr. Inflation was at around 0.6%. The unemployment rate reached 3.3%. The economy employs approx. 4 million people (57% of the population), of which: in industry - 25.8%, including in mechanical engineering - 2.7%, in the chemical industry - 1.7%, in agriculture and forestry - 4.1% , in the service sector - 70.1%, including in trade - 16.4%, in banking and insurance - 5.5%, in the hotel and restaurant business - 6.0%. The policy of neutrality made it possible to avoid the devastation of two world wars.

Finance

Switzerland is an important world financial center (Zurich is the third world currency market after New York and London). For several decades, the Swiss Confederation was included in the list of offshore zones. About 4,000 financial institutions operate in the country, including many branches of foreign banks. Swiss banks account for 35-40% of the world's property and property management of individuals and legal entities. They enjoy a good reputation among customers due to the stable domestic political situation, the solid Swiss currency, and the observance of the principle of "bank secrecy". Switzerland, being a major exporter of capital, ranks fourth in the world after the USA, Japan, Germany. Direct investments abroad account for 29% of Swiss GDP (the world average is approx. 8%). 75% of all Swiss investments are directed to developed industries; among developing countries, Swiss capital is most attracted to Latin America and Southeast Asia. The share of Eastern Europe in the total volume of investments is insignificant.

On April 1, 1998, a federal law on combating money laundering in the financial sector came into force in Switzerland, which made it possible to somewhat lift the veil of banking secrecy in order to identify "dirty" money.

The argument in favor of the reliability of Swiss banks is simple - they cannot go bankrupt, because even if they are involved in risky financial transactions, these banks are located in a country with a stable legal, economic, financial, political system, offering first-class services and services. The first private banks originated in Switzerland. Today, there are more than 400 of them in the country. Swiss banks guarantee the confidentiality of information in accordance with the state law on bank secrecy of 1934. However, as part of the UBS bank's conflict with the US tax authorities, the bank had to issue 4,450 accounts of American citizens suspected of tax evasion. . However, the essence and core of banking secrecy (the absence of automatic issuance of information on non-residents' accounts in Swiss banks) remained intact.

After the G20 summit in London in April 2009, the situation calmed down somewhat. Switzerland has adopted the OECD standards in the field of legal assistance in cases related to tax crimes. However, the US Department of Justice continues to insist on its claims against the UBS bank, supporting the IRS in its demand to provide the US tax authorities with data on 52,000 American accounts at once. The court in Miami that is handling the case has already rejected the Swiss and the bank's arguments, pointing out that the case is fully consistent with US law, which provides the right to receive information from abroad, so this kind of requirement for UBS is not a "new legal concept" . “The bank must be held responsible for its actions,” the court believes.

UBS seeks to lead the course in this situation to "minimize damage", declaring its readiness to find a "mutually acceptable solution." At the same time, the bank once again emphasized that the IRS civil suit is a violation of Swiss law, and therefore this problem should be resolved not by the courts, but by the governments of both countries in a bilateral format. In addition, the bank requires the American side to clarify the number of accounts for which information is required to be provided, since at the moment many of their owners voluntarily transferred all information on their accounts to UBS to the IRS. At the same time, the Swiss financial giant is drastically limiting and reducing the volume of so-called "cross-border transactions" ("cross-border").

Since July 1, 2009, the bank's American customers who have not responded to UBS's plan to exit such transactions have been denied access to their own accounts. And this plan offered them either to transfer their fortunes to an account indicated by the client in an American financial institution, or to receive their money back in the form of a check. US customers had 45 days to make a decision. In both cases, customers had to assume that the information on these transactions would be passed on to the US tax authorities. Since, as a rule, we are talking about large, previously undeclared amounts, such clients risk, at best, getting a “juicy” tax surcharge bill, and at worst, a lawsuit. UBS recommends in this case to take a chance and go for "voluntary recognition". As for the IRS itself, until the end of September, it offers all "evaders" to take advantage of the penalty rate for tax evasion with a "discount".

The conflict also cast a shadow over the visit to the United States by Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard in July 2009, given that a full-fledged IRS v. UBS trial was due to begin on July 13 in Miami. In her speech to the members of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) on July 8, Doris Leuthard once again emphasized the importance of commercial and industrial contacts between the US and Switzerland. At the same time, “the financial crisis, which originated in the United States, has also affected Switzerland to a large extent.” In such a situation, it is necessary to "stick together in order to return to financial stability again." It was also about the just agreed Swiss-American Double Taxation Treaty. D. Leuthard said that the lack of a solution to the tax dispute between the IRS and UBS may lead to the fact that the chances of a positive vote of parliamentarians on this document may be significantly reduced. A new factor is Leuthard's hint that the Swiss Federal Council could - if necessary, on the basis of an emergency decree - simply ban UBS from issuing account information.

In mid-August 2009, a solution was found. The United States withdraws its lawsuit against UBS from the Miami court and pledges not to resort to such tools in the future. Formally, this claim remains, as it were, in force in order to avoid the expiration of the established statute of limitations in tax cases. However, no later than 370 days after the signing of the agreement reached, this claim will disappear from the face of the earth once and for all.

The American tax office IRS (Internal Revenue Service) will submit to the Swiss tax office (Eidg. Steuerverwaltung), based on the current Swiss-American Double Tax Treaty, an application for legal assistance.

At the same time, American tax authorities will proceed from a completely specific set of criteria that will allow, being within the framework of Swiss law, to identify the fact of committing "tax evasion". The owners of the accounts will have the opportunity to appeal to one of the Swiss courts.

Kaspar Villiger, a former federal adviser and now head of UBS - UBS in der Schweiz, is confident that the agreement will work towards a secure future for the bank. "It is working to solve one of the most difficult problems facing the bank UBS," - said on his behalf in a special communiqué. He also expressed satisfaction with the fact that the agreement will operate within the framework of Swiss law and the current Swiss-American Double Tax Treaty. Now, according to Villiger, the bank will be able to restore its reputation in the eyes of customers - through solid services and first-class service.

The corresponding agreement, therefore, was signed in Washington on the evening of August 19 and immediately entered into force.

According to the Swiss Banking Association (SwissBanking - Home), it may be quite satisfied with the details of the agreement. Most importantly, we managed to prevent a long process with an unobvious outcome. Now, having received legal certainty, the bank will be able to continue the process of overcoming the crisis. It is very important that the agreement is within the framework of Swiss law - this further strengthens the business reputation of Switzerland as a global financial center, as foreign clients can continue to rely on the predictability of the Swiss legal order.

Extractive industry

AT Switzerland few minerals. Rock salt and building materials are of industrial importance.

Industry

The industry is dominated by large transnational associations, which, as a rule, successfully compete in the world market and occupy leading positions on it: the Nestle concerns (food products, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, baby food), Novartis and Hoffmann-la- Roche" (chemical and pharmaceutical products), "Alusuiss" (aluminum), the Swedish-Swiss concern ABB - "Asea Brown Boveri" (electrical engineering and turbine building). Switzerland is often associated with the watch factory of the world. Relying on old traditions and high technical culture, watches and jewelry of the most prestigious brands are produced here: Rolex, Chopard, Breguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, etc.

Energy

Tourism

As a traditional country of tourism, Switzerland holds a strong position in this area in Europe. The presence of a developed tourist infrastructure, a network of railways and roads, combined with picturesque nature and advantageous geographic location provides an influx of a significant number of tourists into the country, primarily Germans, Americans, Japanese, and in recent years also Russians, Indians, and Chinese. 15% of the national income comes from tourism.

The Alps occupy 2/3 of the entire territory of Switzerland and annually attract thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to Switzerland. The highest point of the country is located in the Pennine Alps and is called Peak Dufour (4634 m). Also in Switzerland are the highest mountain railway station in Europe Jungfraujoch at an altitude of 3454 m above sea level and the highest mountain brewery in Europe in Monstein at an altitude of 1600 m.

The most famous ski and recreational resorts in Switzerland are Davos, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Interlaken, Leukerbad.

Education

Main article: Education system in Switzerland

Switzerland is world famous for its private schools, boarding houses and universities. Switzerland is the birthplace of reformist pedagogy, education here is still based on the principles of Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget and Rudolf Steiner. The level of education in the private sector is quite high, thanks to the excellent training of teachers and the tradition of quality. It is also worth mentioning such aspects that complement the ideal conditions for learning, such as stability, security and prestige. All of the above factors attract great amount students and learners from all over the world. In addition to specialized schools of hotel business, courses foreign languages. Programs designed for any period usually give excellent results and are conducted by native speakers using modern techniques. Private language schools usually offer a wide range of places of study and a variety of adapted language programs for adults, children and teenagers. Private educational institutions enjoy special prestige.

According to the international study of the quality of secondary education, Switzerland over the past 10 years (2000-2009) has consistently demonstrated high levels of preparation of graduates from its schools. So, for example, in 2000, according to the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) monitoring of the quality of education in the school, conducted by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), Switzerland ranked 13th among 32 countries, and in 2009 - 14th among 65. In all four studies (PISA 2000, PISA 2003, PISA 2006 and PISA 2009), Swiss schoolchildren were well above the OECD average.

Switzerland also shows good results in terms of higher education. In international rankings best universities In the world, Switzerland traditionally occupies 4-9 positions, behind only the USA, Canada and Great Britain.

Swiss education is considered expensive even by European standards.

Population

The total population according to 2008 estimates is 7,580,000 people.

Ethnic-linguistic composition

Historically, the Swiss Confederation was formed in the conditions of coexistence of various linguistic, cultural and religious groups. 94% of the population are Swiss. They don't have a common language. The largest language group: German Swiss (65%), followed by the number of Franco-Swiss (18%), Italo-Swiss (10%). Romansh and Ladins also live in the country, they make up about 1% of the population. German, French, Italian and Romansh are the national and official languages ​​of the Swiss Confederation.

The relationship between the "French" and "German" parts of Switzerland is the most important factor in the development of national history. However, they are far from ideal. Relations between the main cultural and linguistic areas of the country since the beginning of the 19th century, when densely populated French-speaking regions were annexed to the territory of Switzerland, are still characterized by a large number of conflicts and contradictions. There is even an imaginary border between these two cultural-linguistic communities - Röstigraben. Perhaps the most acute issue in these relations was the conflict over the formation of the new Jura canton.

Religion

In the era of the Reformation, Switzerland experienced a church split. Religious disagreements disturbed the country until the middle of the 19th century, affecting the formation of a single state. Cantons, depending on religion, created alliances and unions, waged wars among themselves. Peace finally reigned in 1848. Currently, Protestants make up about 48% of the population, Catholics - about 50%. 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.

Approximately 400,000 Muslims live in Switzerland, mostly Turks and Kosovars. On November 29, 2009, a constitutional amendment was passed in a popular referendum in Switzerland, banning the building of minarets in the country. In addition, kosher and halal slaughter of animals is prohibited in Switzerland due to their cruelty.

Swiss foreign policy

The foreign policy of Switzerland, in accordance with the constitution of this country, is based on the international legal status of permanent neutrality. The beginning of the Swiss policy of neutrality is difficult to link to any specific date. The Swiss historian Edgar Bonjour said on this occasion: "The concept of Swiss neutrality arose simultaneously with the concept of the Swiss nation." It is interesting to note that as far back as the 14th century, in the treaties of individual cantons, which later formed the Swiss Confederation, with their neighbors, the German term “stillsitzen” (literally “sit quietly”) is used, which roughly corresponds to the later concept of neutrality.

The permanent neutrality of Switzerland arose as a result of the signing of four international legal acts: the Act of the Congress of Vienna of March 8 (20), 1815, the Appendix to the Act of the Vienna Congress No. 90 of March 8 (20), 1815, the Declaration of the Powers on the Affairs of the Helvetic Union and the Act regarding the recognition and guarantee of the permanent neutrality of Switzerland and the inviolability of its territory. Unlike other countries that chose a similar path solely under the influence of external factors (for example, as a result of a defeat in a war), Switzerland’s neutrality was also formed for domestic political reasons: neutrality, becoming a nation-unifying idea, contributed to the evolution of its statehood from an amorphous confederation to a centralized federal structure .

During the years of the policy of permanent armed neutrality, the Alpine Republic managed to avoid participation in two devastating world wars and strengthen its international authority, including through the implementation of numerous mediation efforts. The principle of maintaining relations “between countries, not between governments” allowed for dialogue with everyone, regardless of political or ideological considerations.

Switzerland represents third states where their diplomatic relations are interrupted (for example, the interests of the USSR in Iraq in 1955, Great Britain in Argentina during the Anglo-Argentine conflict of 1982; Switzerland currently represents the interests of the United States in Cuba and Iran, the interests Cuba in the USA, interests Russian Federation in Georgia after the rupture of diplomatic relations between these countries in 2008). Switzerland provides "good offices" by providing its territory for direct negotiations between the parties to conflicts (the Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazian and South Ossetian problems, the Cyprus settlement, etc.).

Of all the existing modern world types of Swiss neutrality - the longest and most consistent. Today the Swiss Confederation is not part of any military alliance or the EU. In recent years, due to changes in Europe and the world, the government and public opinion are gaining momentum in favor of strengthening integration with the EU and a more flexible interpretation of the principle of neutrality.

In May 2004, the “second package” of EU-Switzerland sectoral agreements was signed, which, together with the “first package” (which entered into force on June 1, 2002), is a kind of alternative to Switzerland's accession to the EU.

Within the framework of national referendums held in 2005, the people of Switzerland positively resolved the issue of Switzerland's accession to the Schengen and Dublin agreements (the agreement with the EU is included in the "second package"), as well as the extension of the provisions of the Treaty on freedom of movement between Switzerland and the EU (included in the "first package" of sectoral agreements) for new EU members who joined the Union in 2004. At the same time, it was decided to consider the issue of Switzerland's accession to the European Union not as a "strategic goal", as before, but only as a "political option", that is, an opportunity.

In 1959, Switzerland became one of the founding countries of the EFTA, in 2002 it joined the UN.

Landmarks of Switzerland

natural attractions

Switzerland is primarily famous as the most mountainous country in Europe.

Celebrities associated with Switzerland

Roger Federer, the legendary tennis player, was born in Basel

Since 1912, the German writer Hermann Hesse lived in Switzerland, Nobel Laureate(1946). Hesse died in Montagnola (Switzerland) on August 9, 1962.

Swiss citizenship at one time was received by Alexander Ivanovich Herzen, who left Russia.

Swiss resorts are historically known in Russia.

Culture of Switzerland

The culture of Switzerland has developed, on the one hand, under the influence of German, French and Italian culture, and, on the other hand, on the basis of the special identity of each canton. Therefore, it is still very difficult to say exactly what "Swiss culture" actually is. In Switzerland itself, there is a distinction between "Swiss culture" (usually folklore) and "culture from Switzerland" - all available genres in which people with a Swiss passport work. So, for example, associations of musicians playing the alpenhorns are more of a "Swiss culture", and rock bands "Yello", "Gotthard", "Krokus" and "Samael" are a culture from Switzerland.

There are universities in Basel, Zurich, Bern, St. Gallen, Geneva, Lausanne, Fribourg and Neuchâtel (there is no single national university in Switzerland, its role is played to some extent by the Higher Technical School in Zurich). The HTS is also located in Lausanne, and the Higher School of Economics operates in St. Gallen. A network of professional educational institutions has been developed. Among the students, a significant part are foreigners. Along with general education schools, there are privileged private colleges that are highly rated throughout the world.

Probably the best known piece of Swiss literature is Heidi's short story. This story of an orphan girl living with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps is still one of the most popular children's books, it has become one of the symbols of Switzerland. Its creator, the writer Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), also wrote a number of other books for children.

The famous sculptor Hermann Haller, who is the founder of modern Swiss plastic arts, was born, lived and worked in Switzerland.

There are many literary stories associated with Switzerland. For example, thanks to " Notes on Sherlock Holmes" Reichenbach Falls is famous not only as a beautiful place, but also as the grave of Professor Moriarty. The history of Chillon Castle inspired Byron to compose The Prisoner of Chillon. The heroes of Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms arrived in Montreux. » Nikolai Stavrogin, a citizen of the canton of Uri, the hero of Dostoevsky's novel The Demons, is best known from Russian literature. It is not surprising that many of Nabokov's heroes, like the author himself, lived in Switzerland.

Holidays

• In Switzerland, Saint Berthold's Day is celebrated on 2 January.
• The Escalade is celebrated on December 12 in Geneva.
• August 1 is Confederation Day in Switzerland (Switzerland's national holiday). On this day, mass festivities are held in all cantons, magnificent fireworks are arranged.

National cuisine of Switzerland

Swiss cuisine deserves recognition from gourmets all over the world, despite the rather strong influence of neighboring countries (Germany, France and Italy), it has many of its own delicacies. One of Switzerland's main attractions is chocolate. Switzerland is known not only for cultural and national diversity, but also for a rich selection of French, Italian, German cuisine. Swiss traditional food is based on several fundamental components. The most common components of Swiss cuisine are: milk, butter, cheese, potatoes, corn, beets, onions, cabbage, a relatively small amount of meat and a moderately selected bouquet of aromatic spices and herbs. Despite the fact that animal husbandry in Switzerland is unspeakably developed, meat is still not a frequent guest on the table of the Swiss.

Typical dishes of Swiss cuisine:

• Tartiflette
• Basel Brunels (Cookies)
• Swiss sausage salad
• Swiss gingerbread
• Swiss soup with cheese
• swiss roll
• Cookies "Lotus petals"

Opening hours of establishments

Institutions in Switzerland are open on weekdays from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00. Saturday and Sunday are days off. Swiss banks are usually open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, except on weekends. Once a week, banks work longer than usual, you need to clarify this in each specific place. Post offices in large cities are open on weekdays from 8.30 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 18.30, on Saturday from 7.30 to 11.00, Sunday is a day off.

Military establishment

A young Swiss soldier returning to duty after a weekend at a railway station.

The personnel of the Swiss Armed Forces, on exercises.

Military budget $2.7 billion (2001).

The regular armed forces are about 5,000 people (only personnel).

The reserve is about 240,200 people.

Paramilitary forces: civil defense forces - 280,000 people. By tradition, the Swiss have the right to keep military weapons at home.

The development of the modern newspaper market in Switzerland begins under the influence of the Reformation. In 1610, the first regular Swiss newspaper, Ordinari-Zeitung, was published in Basel. In 1620, newspapers began to appear in Zurich, one of them, the Ordinari-Wohenzeitung, is considered the immediate predecessor of the unofficial "main" newspaper of the country, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. In 1827, 27 newspapers were published in Switzerland. When, after the revolutionary events of 1830, censorship was abolished, the number of publications began to grow rapidly, and by 1857 there were already 180 newspapers in the Confederation. The largest number newspapers in Switzerland came out in the 30s. XX century (more than 400). Then their number begins to decline, and this process continues to this day. The first all-Swiss supra-regional newspaper, the Schweitzer Zeitung, began publication in 1842 in St. Gallen. A feature of the Swiss press landscape at that time was the fact of a rigid ideological division of newspapers - newspapers of the Catholic-conservative direction were opposed by liberal-progressive publications. In 1893, the newspaper ["Tages-Anzeiger"], the first "non-partisan" (and in this sense "independent") newspaper, began to appear in Zurich.

In 1850, with the formation of the newspaper Der Bund, the first newspaper with a regular professional editorship appeared in Switzerland. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (it celebrated its 225th anniversary in January 2005) was the first newspaper to establish specialized departments within its editorial office dealing with specific topics (politics, economics, culture, etc.).

Today, Switzerland is one of the first places in the world in terms of the number of printed periodicals per capita. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the nearly 200 main Swiss daily newspapers (their total circulation is about 3.5 million copies) are characterized by a pronounced "provincialism" and a focus mainly on local events.

Of the German-language leading newspapers in Switzerland today, the tabloid newspaper Bleek (275 thousand copies), published in Zurich, the well-informed Tages Anzeiger (259 thousand copies, there is a correspondent in Moscow) and Neue Zürcher Zeitung ( 139 thousand copies). Among the French speakers, the boulevard Matin (187,000 copies), Le Tan (97,000 copies), Van Quatre-er (97,000 copies), Tribune de Geneve (65,000 copies) are in the lead. . copies), among the Italian-speaking - "Corriere del Ticino" (24 thousand copies).

A relatively significant segment of the market is occupied by tabloid free "transport newspapers" (distributed mainly at public transport stops) "20 minutes" (about 100 thousand copies) and "Metropol" (130 thousand copies), as well as advertising and corporate publications "COOP-Zeitung" (almost 1.5 million copies) and "Vir Brückenbauer" (1.3 million copies). There are no informational and analytical sections in these newspapers.

Most of the major Swiss federal newspapers are steadily reducing their official circulation. It should be noted that the circulation of Blick, the largest Swiss tabloid newspaper, has declined. In 2004, its circulation was approximately 275 thousand copies. The informed newspaper Der Bund, which is published in the Bernese agglomeration and in some neighboring cities, currently sells a little more than 60,000 copies a day. The situation on the market of Sunday newspapers looks similar. The circulation of the popular newspaper Sonntagszeitung has fallen by 8.6% over the past three years and currently stands at 202,000 copies, while the number of copies of the Sonntagsblick newspaper has decreased over the same time to 312,000 copies.

Only the popular Bernese newspaper Berner Zeitung (its circulation is 163,000 copies) and the illustrated tabloid magazine Schweitzer Illustrirte, which is in great demand (255,700 copies), were able to maintain their positions, and this against the background of the fact that that the main news magazine of Switzerland "Facts" reduced its circulation, dropping to the level of 80 thousand copies. These tendencies are connected, first of all, with the continuing decrease in the number of published advertisements and with the growing popularity of the “Internet press”. In July 2007, Facts magazine ceased to exist.

The Swiss television market is controlled by the Swiss Society for Broadcasting and Television (SHORT), founded in 1931. Radio and television broadcasts are conducted in German (in fact, almost 80% of "German-language" television is produced in dialects that are very different from the "literary" German language), French and Italian (in the canton of Graubünden - also in Romansh) languages. Being in the form of a joint-stock company, "SHORT", however, like many Swiss joint-stock formations in other sectors of the economy, in fact, is a state structure that receives subsidies from the state. This kind of subsidy is officially justified by the need to support the "obviously unprofitable system of" four-language "national television broadcasting", especially given the fact that TV channels from its neighboring countries, primarily Germany, as well as France and Italy, are freely received in Switzerland. If in 2000 SHORT earned a profit of 24.5 million Swiss francs on its own. francs, then already in 2002 its losses amounted to 4.4 million Swiss francs. francs. Both the unfavorable economic situation in the country and the lack of advertising, as well as the growth in the number of categories of television signal consumers exempted from the subscription fee, led to this result. In this regard, in 2004 the state was forced to allocate more than 30 million Swiss francs to support SHORT. francs.

The Swiss TV channels "SF-1" and "SF-2" (produced by the state broadcaster "SF-DRS", which is part of "SHORT") devote "prime time" mainly to programs of a sports and socio-political nature, therefore their "entertainment needs" the Swiss viewer satisfies, as a rule, with the help of foreign broadcasters. As for private television broadcasting, unlike private radio broadcasting, it has not yet been able to gain a foothold in Switzerland as a real alternative to state television. Private TV channels "TV-3" and "Tele-24", which won almost 3% of the Swiss TV audience, failed to reach the level of market self-sufficiency and their work was terminated in 2002. At the beginning of November 2003, another attempt was made in Switzerland to establish private television. The Federal Council (government of the country) issued an appropriate license to the U-1 TV channel. The license is issued for 10 years and gives the right to nationwide broadcasting of "German-language" programs. By the beginning of 2005, the channel had not succeeded in winning any noticeable niche in the Swiss electronic media market.

The reason why Switzerland is still a very difficult market for private broadcasters is primarily due to the unfavorable legal framework conditions. Another reason is the relatively small percentage of advertisements placed on television in Switzerland. If in Germany almost 45% of all advertising in the country is placed on TV, then in Switzerland this figure is only 18.1% (newspapers account for 43% of all advertising in the Confederation).

The Swiss Broadcasting Law of June 21, 1991 is currently being improved, its new version should give more opportunities for private activities in the field of television and radio, especially in terms of attracting additional advertising. The unfavorable conditions for the development of the media in Switzerland lead not only to a reduction in circulation, but also to the need for "structural reductions". So, in 2003, the Moscow office of the Swiss television company SF-DRS was closed (except for the correspondent of the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, only a representative of the Swiss "German-language" radio DRS remained in Moscow). The provision of information from Russia will now be carried out following the example of many Swiss newspapers, which engage Moscow correspondents of newspapers from other German-speaking countries, primarily the FRG, to write materials. As for the SF-1 TV channel itself, it will now receive the “Russian picture” with the help of the Austrian ORF TV channel.

Bibliography

• 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
• Dragunov G.P. Devil's bridge. In the footsteps of Suvorov in Switzerland. "Thought", 1995
• A 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
• Shishkin, Mikhail: Russian Switzerland. Moscow: Vagrius.

Switzerland - the most detailed information about the country with a photo. Landmarks, Swiss cities, climate, geography, population and culture.

Switzerland

Switzerland is a state in Central Europe. This is one of the most beautiful and richest countries in the world, most of the territory of which is occupied by mountains (Alps and Jura). Switzerland borders Italy in the south, Germany in the north, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east, and France in the west. This is a federal parliamentary republic, which is divided into 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons. The population speaks German, French, Italian and professes Christianity (while the proportion of Catholics and Protestants is approximately equal).

The name of the state comes from the canton of Schwyz, one of the three cantons that founded the Confederation. Switzerland is a country of amazing alpine landscapes and picturesque small towns, blue lakes that reflect mountains and glaciers, and green valleys. This is a country of banks and watches, cheese and chocolate, which has maintained its neutrality for many centuries. Switzerland is famous for its remarkable cultural heritage, stunning nature and world-class ski resorts.

Useful information about Switzerland

1. The official languages ​​are German, French, Italian and Romansh (or Swiss).
2. Currency - Swiss franc.
3. Visa - Schengen.
4. The standard of living is very high.
5. The population is more than 8 million people.
6. Area - 41,284 km².
7. The capital is Bern.
8. Time - UTC +1, summer +2.
9. Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world with very low level crime.
10. Tax Free - only possible with purchases worth more than 300 francs.
11. Holidays: January 1 - New Year, January 2 - St. Berthold's Day, Good Friday (April-May), Easter (April-May), Monday of Bright Week (the first after Easter), May 1 - Labor Day, Ascension of the Lord (in May -June), Pentecost and Spirits Day (May-June), Feast of the Body of the Lord (usually in June), August 1 - National holiday of Switzerland, August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary, November 1 - All Saints Day, December 8 - Immaculate Conception Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 25 - Christmas, December 26 - Boxing Day.

Geography and nature

Switzerland is located almost in the center of Europe and occupies an important strategic position between the North and South of the continent. Geographically, the country can be divided into:

• The Jura is a mountainous region in the northwestern part of Switzerland.
• The Swiss Plateau or Mittelland is the central part of the country, sandwiched between the Alps and the Jura. It is a hilly plain.
• The Alps are the largest mountain range in Switzerland, which occupies 61% of its territory. They are divided into the Pennine Alps, the Lepontine Alps, the Rhaetian Alps and the Bernina Massif.

In terms of relief, most of Switzerland is mountainous. The average height above sea level exceeds 500 meters. The highest point in Switzerland is Peak Dufour (4634 m), the lowest is Lake Maggiore - 193 m.

In the mountains of Switzerland are the sources of the largest rivers in Europe: the Rhone and the Rhine. Also, the country is known for a large number of picturesque lakes: Geneva, Firwaldstet, Thun, Zurich, Biel, Neuchâtel, Lago Maggiore. Most of them are of glacial origin. By the way, there are many glaciers in the mountains of Switzerland.

The nature of Switzerland is quite rich and varied. 1/4 of the country's territory is still covered with forests. Oak and beech predominate in the forests, spruce, pine, and fir in the mountains. Deer, roe deer, chamois, foxes, hares, partridges live in the mountains and forests of Switzerland.

Climate

The predominant type of climate is continental. The climate of mountainous regions is determined by altitudinal zonality. In the west of the country the climate is much milder, while in the east and south it is much more severe.

Best time to visit

Switzerland is open to tourists all year round and every season is good in its own way. If the main goal is its ski resorts, then you need to come in winter. The off-season is quite suitable for exploring the country's cultural heritage and attractions. For trips to the mountains and lakes, it is better to visit Switzerland in the summer.

Story

Switzerland has been inhabited since the Stone Age. During the existence and flourishing of the Roman Empire (from the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD), Celtic tribes (Helvetians) lived here. The east of Switzerland was inhabited by the Rhaetians, who were related to the Etruscans. In the 2nd century BC, local tribes raided the Roman Empire and even inflicted several defeats on the Romans. Switzerland was subjugated in 52 BC when the revolt of the Gauls against the power of Rome was put down. In the 3rd century AD, the Romans begin to lose their positions under the onslaught of the Germanic tribes. By the 5th century, the north of Switzerland was taken over by the Alemanni and the west by the Burgundians.

In the Middle Ages, Switzerland was fragmented into several kingdoms, which were subjugated by the Franks during the reign of Charlemagne in the 8th century. The Christianization of the population began in the 4th century. In 843 the territory of Switzerland was divided between Italy and Germany. At the beginning of the 10th century, the entire territory of the country was subordinated to the German kings and in 1032 became part of the Holy Roman Empire, under whose rule it remained for 3 centuries.

In the 11th-13th century, trade develops in Switzerland and new cities appear. This led to the emergence of new trade routes. One of the main trade arteries of Switzerland had great value and passed through the valleys of Uri, Schwyz, Grisons and the St. Gotthard Pass. During this period, the Habsburgs came to power in the Holy Roman Empire. Fearing their oppression, on August 1, 1291, a military treaty was concluded that united Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. This date is considered the foundation of the Swiss Union and Swiss statehood. In the 14th century, the Habsburgs repeatedly tried to take control of the cantons, but suffered several defeats.

In the 14th century, the composition of the Swiss Union was replenished with Zurich, Lucerne and Bern. This led to an increase in tension between the cantons, which resulted in the Zurich War. It is interesting that large cities within the confederation received the status of freemen, had broad autonomy and carried on a brisk trade with other cities of Europe. In the 15th century, new cantons joined the Swiss Union. In 1499, the Holy Roman Empire tried to regain control of the recalcitrant territories, but was defeated. By the way, around this period, the first principles of Swiss neutrality were laid down.

In the first half of the 16th century, the Reformation began in Switzerland. In 1648, the Treaty of Westphalia was signed, which secured the independence of Switzerland. In the 17-18 century, life in the state was peaceful. During this period, industry develops in Switzerland, and the country itself grows rich on loans, turning into one of the main financial centers in Europe.

At the end of the 18th century, a revolution broke out in the French-speaking cantons of Switzerland. The German-speaking cantons, led by Bern, tried to suppress it, but this led to the occupation by France and the formation of the Helvetic Republic. During this period, the first constitution was adopted on the model of the French. After the withdrawal of French troops in 1802, the restoration of the old order began. In 1803, Napoleon returned feudalism to Switzerland, gave a new constitution and increased the number of cantons. In 1814-1815, the Congress of Vienna and the Treaty of Paris secured the independence of Switzerland and its neutrality.

In 1848, a new constitution was adopted in Switzerland. Since 1850, the franc has become the single currency, and the capital is Bern. In 1844 the first railway was built from Basel to Strasbourg. In the First and Second World Wars, Switzerland took the side of military neutrality. Although during the Second World War she collaborated with the Nazis. In 1999 a new constitution was adopted. Switzerland is currently one of the richest countries in the world. One of the largest physical laboratories, CERN, operates on its territory. It was also in Switzerland that the Internet was born. Here the first website, browser and web server were developed.

Administrative division

In administrative-territorial terms, Switzerland is divided into 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. The cantons are divided into districts, which in turn are subdivided into cities and communities.

• obwalden
• Nidwalden
• Neuchâtel
• Ticino
• Thurgau
• Aargau
• Graubünden
• St. Gallen
• Glarus
• Friborg
• Solothurn
• Basel-Stadt
• Basel Land
• Schaffhausen
• Appenzell Ausserrhoden
• Appenzell-Innerrhoden

Regionally, the country can be divided into:

• Northwestern Switzerland - Basel, Aargau, Solothurn.
• Zurich region.
• Central Switzerland - Lake Lucerne and the cantons of Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Schwyz.
• Eastern Switzerland - the area between the sources of the Rhine and Lake Constance (Thurgau, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Appenzell-Innerrhoden, St. Gallen).
• The Lake Geneva region is the French-speaking part of Switzerland (the cantons of Geneva, Bern, Valais, Fribourg).
• Southern Switzerland is an Italian-speaking region (Canton of Ticino).

Population

Interestingly, 90% of the Swiss population consider themselves ethnic Swiss. At the same time, the country does not have a single language. Language composition: German Swiss (65%), French Swiss (18%), Italian Swiss (10%). Therefore, the most common language, nevertheless, is German. Religiously, the vast majority are Christians (half of which are Catholics and the other half are Protestants).

Transport

The largest airport in Switzerland is located in Zurich. Other international airports are located in Basel, Geneva, Lugano, Bern and St. Gallen. The country is connected by modern highways with Germany and Austria.

A vignette is required for driving on Swiss motorways. Its cost is 40 francs and it is valid for one year. The fine for not having a vignette is 200 francs.

Switzerland has one of the most developed rail networks in Europe, so getting around the country by train is very convenient. Also, many railways are very scenic. Regular rail links are available to almost all neighboring European countries. You can also get to Switzerland by bus from some countries of Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal.

Speed ​​limits: 50 km/h - built-up areas, 80 km/h - outside built-up areas, 120 km/h - motorways. Speeding fines are very high.

It is permissible to control the vehicle with a blood alcohol content of not more than 0.5‰.

Swiss cities and popular destinations

The capital of Switzerland is Bern. This is a picturesque old town with a beautiful medieval historical center, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The largest city and transport hub of Switzerland. It is one of the most dynamic Swiss cities with beautiful architecture, plenty of entertainment and leisure opportunities.

The capital of the canton of the same name, located on the shores of the picturesque Lake Geneva. It is a city of banks and museums, parks and galleries, where the headquarters of the UN in Europe is located.

The cultural capital of Switzerland with a beautiful old town and vibrant nightlife. This city is located on the river Rhine on the border with France and Germany.

Other popular cities:

• Lausanne is the capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud. This small town is the seat of the International Olympic Committee and a major university center.
• - one of the most beautiful and popular cities in Switzerland. It is located on the shore of the lake of the same name on the border of the Alps.
• Lugano is the capital of Southern Switzerland and the canton of Ticino. It is famous for its picturesque nature and cultural component of recreation.
• Interlaken is a small resort town located between the Thun and Brienz lakes.

Switzerland strikes with a whole scattering of picturesque small towns that seem to have come off a postcard.

Landmarks of Switzerland

Old cities and historical sights

The old town of Lucerne is located on the shores of a picturesque lake surrounded by mountains. It is a medieval core with old houses, bridges and sights. Lucerne's main symbols are the 14th-century bridge chapel and the famous "Dying Lion" sculpture.

For great scenery and views, visit the lookouts.

Chillon Castle in Montreux is a magnificent castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. It was built in the 12th century and for a long time remained the residence of the Savoy dynasty.

Saint-Pierre is a cathedral, the pearl of the old city of Geneva. It was built in the 12th century and contains a large number of Romanesque and Gothic elements.

Cathedral of St. Nicholas - a beautiful gothic church in the city of Friborg. Friborg itself is considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe.

The old town of Sion is one of the most picturesque in Europe. It is located on the river Rhone and has a charming medieval atmosphere. The most famous sights are the Cathedral, the Witches' Tower and the Bishops' Castle.

Oberhofen is a romantic medieval castle on the shores of Lake Thun, turned into a museum. A large and beautiful park adjoins the castle.

Notre Dame Cathedral is the most outstanding example of Swiss Gothic, a grandiose medieval cathedral located in Lausanne.

Bern's Old Town is a labyrinth of cobbled streets and old houses, the tallest cathedral in Switzerland and a medieval clock tower.

The charming old town of Zurich with beautiful architecture and interesting sights. Here you can find more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries. Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich is one of the best shopping streets in Europe with trendy designer shops.

Natural attractions of Switzerland

The Matterhorn is one of the most famous mountains in Europe. This legendary peak is located in the Pennine Alps and has a height of 4478 m.

Jungfraujoch is one of Switzerland's most popular natural attractions, located in the Bernese Alps. At an altitude of 3445 meters there is an observatory and an observation deck, as well as the largest glacier in Europe and the famous trail to Mount Eiger. At the foot of the mountains is the picturesque ski resort Grindelwald.

Interlaken is one of the most popular summer resorts in Switzerland, located between picturesque lakes. Offers over 45 scenic mountain railways, cable cars and lifts.

Lake Geneva is the largest alpine lake located on the border of Switzerland and Austria.

St. Moritz is one of the most famous ski resorts in Switzerland. Situated among beautiful alpine lakes, jagged peaks and forests.

Lake Lugano is the pearl of the canton of Ticino. Here, among the Alpine peaks, subtropical plants grow, and the surroundings are saturated with the flavor and atmosphere of Italy.

The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Central Europe. Located near the town of Schaffhausen.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Switzerland is not a problem. The country is a very popular tourist destination, so there are a large number of hotels, guest houses and even campsites of different price categories. On average, the cost of living in Switzerland is quite high. Although if you start looking for housing in advance or come in the off-season, you can find great options.

Kitchen

Swiss cuisine was formed under the influence of the culinary traditions of Italy, Germany, France. Switzerland is historically an agricultural country, so most traditional dishes are easy to prepare. Many cantons have regional cuisine.

Popular food:

• Fondue - melted cheese with slices of bread.
• Raclette is a dish similar to fondue.
• Rösti is a popular potato dish.
• Birchermuesli - muesli.
• Älplermagrone - casserole with onions and cheese.
• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes - veal with mushrooms in a creamy sauce.
• Malakoff - fried cheese balls or sticks.
• Apple Rösti is a sweet dish with apples.
• Tirggel - Christmas biscuits.
• Polenta, risotto and pizza in Southern Switzerland.

Traditional products: cheese, sausages, chocolate, meringue, wine.

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 has preserved a large number of architectural monuments of the 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 is 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 the administrative center can be seen in the central part. The local relief is uneven, and the historical part of 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. 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 frighten 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, Cathedral, the Clock Museum, as well as the Alpine, Postal and Historical Museums.