Introducing Switzerland
If you could travel through only one European country, which might you choose? Italy? France? Germany? How about a taste of three in one? That can only mean Switzerland!
Advertisement
Known as a summer and winter sports paradise (just look at those glistening white 4000m-plus Alpine peaks and glittering lakes), Switzerland is where people first skied for fun. Illustrious names evoke all the romance and glamorous drama of the mountain high life: Zermatt, St Moritz, Interlaken, Gstaad, the Jungfrau, Verbier and more. Cities like Geneva (the most cosmopolitan), Zürich (the most outrageous), Basel and Lausanne heave with heady artistic activity and sometimes incendiary nightlife.
Beyond the après-ski chic, edelweiss and Heidi lies a complex country of cohabiting cultures. It not only has four languages (Swiss German, French, Italian and Romansch), but the cultural variety to match. You could be chomping on sausages over beer in an oom-pah-pah Stübli one day and pasta over a glass of merlot in a granite grotto the next. And if over-indulgence becomes a problem try one of the country's thermal baths, from Yverdon-les-Bains to Scuol.
The grandeur of the finest churches, such as the cathedrals in Lausanne and Bern, contrasts with sparkling but lesser-known treasures like the frescoes of Müstair or the abbey complex of St Gallen (both World Heritage sites).
The list of enchanting towns is endless: from Lucerne with its covered bridge to Neuchâtel and its fountains; from Gruyères with its cheese, and Grimentz with its traditional timber houses to the sgraffito-blazoned buildings of Engadine towns like Scuol and Zuoz.
Whether visiting the remotest Ticino villages or sampling the finest of Valais wines, you'll find Switzerland a chocolate box bursting with unexpected flavours.
Last updated: Jul 16, 2010
Tips & articles
-
Top 10 glamorous A-list destinations
19 July 2010
For celeb spotters, glamourpusses or rich-list wannabes, there’s our pick of ‘Lifestyles...
-
Best adventure travel ideas
22 June 2010
If you’re after an outdoor adventure, look no further. In this excerpt from Lonely Planet’s...
-
The 5 most livable cities in the world
4 June 2010
Mercer has released its annual Quality of Living survey, which ranks the world’s most livable cities...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
What does a travel insurance cover??
by rajvr 0 replies, last post 01 August 2010
Hi, I live in Portugal.I went to switzerland for holidays and I was injured in a train crash.I broke my thumb, have many stitches in my…
-
hidden danger in Graz
by annmak 2 replies, last post 29 July 2010
Last Friday, I had had a wonderful holiday in Switzerland, Salzburg, Hallstatt and then stopping over Graz intending to move to Budapest…
-
How best to get Asti to Vevey - drop car off Mlan or Como??
by island_dreaming 1 reply, last post 31 July 2010
Hi, We (family of 2A, 2 kids aged 6,7) are spending our final night in Italy in Asti before heading up to Switzerland for 8 nights. We…
Advertisement
Switzerland
Our Top Picks For Switzerland
-
1 Basel
Modern art and contemporary buildings by likes of Frank Gehry and Herzog & de Meuron
-
2 Lucerne
Iconic timber bridges, a stroll through the old town and cruises on the mountain-ringed lake
-
3 Bern
Bear pits, a dip in the Aare, Paul Klee in the Kunstmuseum and Einstein's house
-
4 Lac De Neuchâtel
The château of Neuchâtel, colourful historic fountains, the Gothic Église Collégiale and lake cruises
-
5 Lausanne
The Art Brut gallery, hilly medieval centre, Olympic museum and lakefront Lavaux vineyard hikes
Fast Facts about Switzerland
- Average life expectancy
77.9 (men), 83.7 (women)
- GDP per capita
Sfr65,830 (2007)
- GDP
Sfr480 billion (2007)
- Highest point
Dufourspitze at 4634m
- Area
41,285 sq km
- Unemployment rate
2.4% (2007)
- Inflation
2%
- Population
7.59 million
- GDP growth
1.9%
- Non-Swiss nationals
20.7% of population
- You Fondue?
Most of the world left fondue back in the 70s, but in Switzerland it's always in style. The classic fondue is bread dunked in Emmental and Gruyère cheeses mixed with white wine, potato flour and a dash of nutmeg - consumed, of course, on shag-pile carpet.
Our favourite Switzerland Blogs (beta)
-
In my backyard (Part 2)
Blog: Chickstravelflicks - 31 July 2010
Do you have a picture of your “backyard” that you would like to share on Chickstravelflicks? If so, send a picture, with a short caption, to the following address: chickstravelflicks@hotmail.com Related posts:In my backyard (Part 1) Do you have a picture of your “backyard” that you...
-
Gruyères
Blog: Let's Do something Different - 30 July 2010
Yesterday was a rest day at ‘home’ due to a combination of children who were feeling unwell and bad weather. But today we more than made up for it with a trip to Gruyères and some fantastic sightseeing. First stop … Continue reading →
-
Pictures take you places – At the Zurich Main Station
Blog: Travel with Den Den - 30 July 2010
It’s late afternoon and I’m heading to my evening class. I step out of the train, hop on one escalator, then another one, and as I emerge distractedly into the main hall of the Zurich main station, I pick up an annoying sound, distinct amongst a see of human ones. An orange blob in the corner of [...]
