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| Brief History
: Switzerland was founded more than 700 years ago. Long years of
peace have left their mark on the heritage, history and culture. The
real history of Switzerland began in the 13th Century, with the
first alliances from the villages around Lake Lucerne (William Tell,
Rutlischwur) - victorious battles against the Habsburgs, new
alliances, and battles within Switzerland - Reformation (Calving and
Zwingli) and the counter - reformation. Conquest by Napoleon in 1798
put an end to the old confederation. |
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Capital |
Bern |
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Language |
German spoken
(North, Central and Eastern Switzerland) by 64%, French Spoken
(Western Switzerland by 20% and Italian spoken (Southern
Switzerland) by 7%. English is widely spoken too. |
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Religion |
Catholic 48%,
Protestant 44%, Others 8% |
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Time Zone |
Summer : GMT +2,
Winters GMT +1 |
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Currency |
Swiss Francs CHF |
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Electricity |
230V |
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| Getting There
: Switzerland shares common frontiers with five countries - Germany,
France, Italy, Austria and the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein.
Switzerland is therefore at the crossroads of the continent. It is a
focal point of international air, road and rail traffic and easily
accessible within hours from major European Cities and centers.
Numerous airlines serve Zurich, Geneva and Basel. The Flag carrier of
Switzerland is SWISS, successor of the famous Swissair. Zurich and
Geneva airports are fully integrated into the Swiss railroad network
and have their own railway stations. Trains to the two city centers
run every 10 to 20 minutes, with a traveling time of approximately
10 minutes. Hourly intercity and direct trains leave right from
either airport station and will connect you to many cities and
towns. |
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Regions in Brief |
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Zurich |
Close to the northern
border of Switzerland, it is the country's largest city. |
| The Bernese Oberland |
Switzerland's best
known alpine region is named after its largest city, Bern, the Swiss
Capital. Known for the beauty of its mountains, it includes many
famous resorts, the largest of which is Interlaken, and the ski
resorts of Gstaad, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Murren, and Wengen. |
| Northeastern
Switzerland |
This region is
separated from Germany and Austria by the Rhine and Lake Constance.
Its highlights include St Gallen, and the Rhile Falls |
| Basel & the Jura |
In northwestern
Switzerland, Basel, the capital of the region, in an ancient
university. The Jura lies between the Rhone and the Rhine. |
| The Valais |
This rugged valley
offers such geographic attractions as the Matterhorn and the Great
St Bernard Pass as well as the famous Ski resort of Zermatt. |
| Lausanne of the shores
of Lake Geneva |
Lake Geneva is the
largest freshwater body in central Europe, Lausanne, is on the
shores of this lake. |
| Geneva |
Built on the Rhone, it
is bordered on three sides by French territory |
| Lucerne & Central
Switzerland |
The heartland of
Switzerland, this region takes in four different cantons : Lucerne,
Uri, Unterwalden and Schwyz |
| The Grisons & the
Engadine |
Its capital is Chur,
the oldest town in Switzerland and the other key places are Klosters,
Davos and St. Moritz. |
| The Ticino |
The Italian speaking
part of Switzerland, the Ticino is the most southerly region of the
country and includes the major cities of Lugano and Locarno. |
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| Getting Around
: Discover Switzerland through the Swiss Travel System network,
which is a combination of several Swiss public transport companies.
The most popular transport ticket is the Swiss Pass, which gives
travellers access to the entire network of Swiss Trains, buses,
boats and urban transport systems. Tourists entering Switzerland
either through its neighbouring borders or its airports, will find a
seamless system of public transportation which includes comfortable
intercity trains, fast and regional trains, romantic mountain
trains, proud fleets of boats and joyous yellow postal buses which
connect cities, mountains, lakes and valleys. And with the Swiss
travel system, all it takes is a single ticket. The Swiss pass can
be purchased in India and at Swiss railway stations as well. |
Climate :
Switzerland enjoys 4 different climates throughout the year. Winter
months : November to March. Spring months : April to May, Summer
Months : June to September and Autumn from September to October.
From July to August the daytime temperatures range from 18 to 28
Degrees Centigrade and from January to February from -2 to +7. |
| Culture : The
Swiss are a friendly and hospitable people, through somewhat
reserved at times. Life in the towns and cities are secure. Swiss
people share an independent Spirit and respect traditions. The Swiss
love for partying isnt yet widely known. |
| Cuisine :
Swiss food truly presents a flavorful platter. Generally everywhere
: Crusty Bread, great cheese and fresh preserves are abundantly
available. Try famous local Swiss cuisine like fondue, raclette, or
cheese tartlets. It is common practice to enjoy glass of wine over a
leisurely meal. Regional cuisine is wide and varied. Zurich : Minced
veal in cream sauce with rosti (golden light hash brown potatoes).
Berne : Smoked pork, sausages and sauerkraut. Geneva : Filet of
perch and lake trout. Lausanne : Local sausage on a bed of leeks and
potatoes. Ticino : Polenta, risotto and pasta. |
Average Costs
: Cost of meals would vary from fine dining restaurants to small
restaurants at rail stations to cafeterias. However, minimum cost of
tea / coffee would be CHF 4, for a Sandwich / burger it would cost
minimum of CHF 8 to 10 and lunch would cost CHF 20 - 25 Per Person.
Taxis / Cabs : are expensive and the minimum face is CHF 12, a short
distance of 5 to 7 minutes would roughly cost CHF 20 to 25. It is
advisable to use Public transport such as trams and buses within the
city. For travelling from one city to another, train service is the
best. |
| Accommodation
: Swiss hotels are famous for their high standards of service,
hospitality and quality. A traveler to Switzerland has varied
choices, depending upon the budget. |
| Shopping Tips
: Swiss Army Knife, Chocolates, Cheese and Watches. |
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