ON LINE EUROPEAN TOURIST GUIDE

SWITZERLAND

EUROPE INDEX

BERNE

BASEL

GRAUBÜNDEN - GRISCHUN - GRIGIONI

Bivio

Convent of Saint John at Müstair (Clostra Son Jon Müstair)

Pontresina

St. Moritz

Vicosoprano

TICINO

Bellinzona

VALAIS-WALLIS

Zermatt: Matterhorn (Cervino)

Zermatt: Riffelsee

Zermatt: Grindjisee

ZURICH

SWISS CUISINE RECIPES

LINKS

Tourist Guide and Information about Switzerland

Switzerland (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft; Confédération Suisse; Confederazione Svizzera) is a Federal Republic divided in 26 states. The country is bordered to the north by Germany and France, to the east by Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy, to th south by Italian, to the west by France. The most important cities besides the capital Bern, are Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, St. Gallen and Winterthur. The main feature of Swiss territory are . Switzerland comprises three very different regions: to the south the Alpine region (60% of the country's total) inthe center a prealpine strip, known as Mittelland (27% of total), to the northwest a series of mountain chains that form the Jura. The mountains of Switzerland reach considerable heights especially in the Valais Alps with the peaks of the Grand Combin (4.314 m), Matterhorn (4.478 m), Weisshorn (4.505 m) and Monte Rosa (Punta Dufour, 4.637 m). In the Alps Grison, is more than 4.000 meters the Bernina (4.050 m). Bernese Alps, are dominated by the Group of Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m) around which rise the imposing granite peaks of the Jungfrau (4158 m) and Aletschhorn (4,195 m), with the great glacier of the Aletsch (101.7 sq km), the largest of the Alps and continental Europe. Among the rivers include the Rhine, the Rhone, the Inn and Ticino. There are numerous lakes, the largest are those of Geneva, Constance, Neuchatel, Zurich, Lucerne, Zug, Biel, Thun and Brienz.

Climate: Continental temperate climate with abundant rainfall. The climatic conditions vary from canton to canton and during seasons alternate frequent sunny days to days of rain. Frequent are in any season abrupt changes in weather. The winter period is characterized by frequent snowfalls.

Tourist attractions: Switzerland is par excellence the country of green pastures, lakes and mountains. But Switzerland has much more to offer to the tourists. The variety of landscapes, cultures, languages of Switzerland, focused on a small surface, are the strength of this country. Unesco has inscribed 7 Swiss sites in the World Heritage List: the Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (1983), the Convent of St Gall (1983), the Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (2007), the Old City of Berne (1983), the Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzone (2000), the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn (2001) , the Monte San Giorgio (2003). Among the properties submitted on the Tentative List are: Glarner Hauptüberschiebung (Chevauchement principal de WEF) (2002), Horlogerie et forms urbaine The Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle (2004), the urban and architectural work of Le Corbusier (2004) the vestige of prehistoric lake homes and marais: "Les lacustres" (2004), the railway Retica and cultural landscape of the line Albula-Bernina (2004), Jungfrau - Aletsch - Bietschhorn (Extension) (2005).

Documents: For EU citizen a valid national identity card is required. Every other traveler must have a valid passport. Visa are required for a continuous stay of more than three months and for nationals of some countries.

Health: The level of health service is excellent. Personal travel insurance is strongly recommended, including coverage of personal accident, sickness, loss or damage to luggage and personal effects and cancellation charges.

Shopping hours: Shops in smaller towns and villages are generally open from 8.30 am-12 noon and again from 2-6.30 pm. In larger cities they do not close for lunch. In larger cities, shops generally extend their hours till 8 pm on one evening of the week, usually on Thursdays.

Electricity: the current used throughout Switzerland is 230 Volts (AC), 50 cycles. Most power sockets are designed for three pin round plugs. The standard continental type plug with two round pins, applied for many electrical travel products, may be used without problemd.

Cuisine: Typical products known worldwide, are cheese and chocolate. The most characteristic Swiss dishes are "Kalbfilet" veal fillet; "Rindfilet" fillet of beef; "Schweinschnitzel" pork-chop; "Lederpiessli, grilled liver. Among the recipes cheese based, is "Fondue" cheese with pieces of bread and "raclette" slices of cheese accompanied by potatoes and pickles. Excellent braised beef, polenta, risotto and desserts. SWISS CUISINE RECIPES.

WHERE TO STAY:

Accomodations in Switzerland:

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Airports and Flights: Switzerland maintains regular connections with almost all the capital cities of Europe.

Area: 41,285 sqkm

Population: 7,500,000

State Capital: Berne

Languages: German (63%), French (19%), Italian (7,6%), Romansch (1%), others (8%). The national languages of Switzerland are German (North, Central and Eastern Switzerland), French (Western Switzerland), Italian (Southern Switzerland) and Romansh - a derive of Latin (South-Eastern Switzerland). English is widely spoken.

Religion: Catholic (46,2%), Protestant (40%), others (8%).

Currency: Swiss franc

Time: Central European time.

Switzerland Map

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