Switzerland

General

Switzerland is a landlocked country of Western Europe and borders Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Liechtenstein. Main characteristic of the country is its demographic diversification. Particularly, Switzerland is divided administratively into 26 cantons that share four official languages namely, German, French, Italian and the less-known Romansh. Its capital is Berne and the largest city is Zurich, which has also been designated as the city with the best quality of life in the world for 2006 and 2007. As revealed, Switzerland is a very rich country. However, its real treasures stem from its splendid surroundings and unique nature. Especially, the magnificent mountains around the Swiss Alps have elevated Switzerland to one of Europe’s major winter destinations. Visitors can enjoy this unique country in some of the best hotels and holiday resorts in the world. Especially, the hotels in the Swiss Alps and the hotels in Zurich allure with their style and prestige.

History

Switzerland made its first stand in European history after the Battle of Morgarten in 1315, where its people defeated the army of Habsburg and secured the existence of a Swiss federation within the Holy Roman Empire. Switzerland remained under the control of the Holy Roman Empire, until 1499, a year that the Swiss achieved a great victory against the Swabian League and gained their independence. However, despite the independency of the country, the heterogenic nature of the Swiss population resulted to a number of chronic internal conflicts. Particularly, the following centuries were characterized by the persistent conflicts between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons, erupting in further violence at the Battles of Villmergen in 1656 and 1712. The first abolishment of the cantons took place in 1798, when France conquered Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution known as the Helvetic Republic. After France, Austria and successively Russia invaded the country, which regained its autonomy in 1803 under the form of a Swiss confederation of 19 cantos. However, the complete re-establishment of Swiss independence occurred in 1815. Switzerland preserved its independence in both World War I and World War II, as it was not invaded by any foreign power. In particular, during World War II, Switzerland managed to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence and economic concessions to Germany. From 2002, the country is a full member of the United Nations, but up today, it is not a member of the European Monetary Union.

Art and Culture

Swiss culture and art has greatly been influenced by its internal heterogeneity. Even the foreign elements, borrowed from its neighbor countries such as France and Germany, reveal the international sentiments of its people and depict its internal diversification. Hence, the French speaking regions are closer to French culture, the German speaking more oriented to Germany, the Italian-speaking to Italy and the linguistically isolated Romanic part strives to maintain its one traditions and culture. However, after many years of mutual influences, a cultural streak has led to the formation of a distinctive Swiss culture. There are more than 900 museums in Switzerland many of which are dedicated to the local history of each region. The Schweizerisches Landesmuseum or Switzerland’s National Museum in Zurich reveals this artistic amalgamation and immerses you to a more German oriented Swiss art and culture. The Museum of Fine Arts or Kunsthaus in Zurich in another art institution that hosts unique Germanic collections and depicts to a great extend the local multiculturalism. Some of the most important art museums are the Lucerne's Art Museum, which is the fourth largest Swiss museum of contemporary art and the Rosengart Collection that accommodates more than 200 paintings of Picasso, Klee, Léger, Miró Braque and other significant artists. Finally, the Picasso Museum hosts important works from the last 20 years of Picasso’s life and it is surely among the most important Swiss art galleries.

Gastronomy

As in culture and art, Swiss gastronomy varies greatly all over the country. Some common ingredients include a huge selection of bread and of course a significant variety of the world famous Swiss cheese. Beans, carrots, cauliflower and potatoes are the main vegetables and veal, beef, pork and chicken the main meats. A gastronomic commonality all around Switzerland is the abundant recipes of sweets, including the widely popular Swiss chocolate. However, the dairy meals may have a typical sequence but not a typified form. Breakfast usually includes bread with butter and marmalade, milk, some cheese and a cup of tea or coffee. Lunch could be either a simple sandwich or a proper hot meal depending on the regional norms and of course the personal preferences. Dinner can also be a full main course or just some light meal with cheese, bread or dried meat. Swiss delicacies start with the fantastic types of breads that comprise main part of Swiss cuisine. Most well known breads are Zopf and Bürli, which are typically been served during breakfast. Fondue is the most famous Swiss menu, made from molten cheese. There is also a great range of meat specialties with Rippli (pork rips) and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, comprising the most traditional ones. Sauerkraut is another traditional dish, usually including potatoes or meat. Finally, sweets and desserts include a great variety of cakes such as Nusstorte (nut cake); chocolate cookies such as Brunsli (Swiss brownies) and of course the incomparable diversities of Swiss chocolate.

Places to visit

Zurich is a Swiss city that you must visit. It is nestled between the Lake Zurich and the River Limmat, surrounded by the fantastic Swiss Alps and adorned by the diligent Old Town of Zurich, filled with traditional fountains, tall steeples, cobblestone alleys and medieval constructions. Zurich is a place of rich history and culture and accommodates some of the best museums and art sites of the country. Its most recognizable symbol is Grossmunster or the great church, with its twin towers facing the River Limmat. Once there you should also visit the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum that houses a great number of important art pieces and comprises Switzerland’s National Museum. The city is also a center for contemporary art, youth culture and energetic nightlife. However, what Zurich is most famous for, is its opulent lifestyle and luxurious shops. Everything seems to function in a rhythm of perfection and harmony. Of course, the hotels in Zurich could not be the exception, as the city hosts some of the most luxurious hotels and apartments in Europe.

 Another spectacular Swiss city is Geneva. Surrounded by the Lake Geneva and the fantastic Jura mountains, Geneva has a woderful landscape. More than that, it is a place of arts and culture, accommodating numerous museums and art galleries. Geneva is famous for its libraries, Opera and the Suisse Romande Orchestra. The splendid parks of the city are another symbol, as Geneva has an area of 310 hectares of parks. Most popular ones are La Grange and Les Eaux-Vives. Monuments that you can visit include the Halles de l’Ile, l’Usine and la Maison des Arts du Grütli. The Mansion House, the city hall of Geneva, in another site you should not miss. Book a hotel in Geneva and discover this fantastic destination between the Alps and the Jura mountains.

Do not leave Switzerland without visiting Bern. The capital of Switzerland is a place with high historical importance, as its medieval center has been designated UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. One of the most famous monuments of the city is the medieval clock of Zytglogge and the cathedral of Münster. If you plan to reserve a hotel in Bern, be also prepared for its great rhythm, as the city is famous for its cheerful atmosphere and vivid nightlife. Once in Switzerland, you should also stay in Basel. Reverse a hotel in Basel and meet one of Europe’s most important cultural cities (European Capital of Culture, 1997). Many festivals and cultural events take place all year long, with the EJCF choir festival to comprise unique local festivity. Moreover, hotels in Basel are famous for their luxury and prestige, as the city is known for its posh and elitist lifestyle. Other places you should visit in Switzerland are Lugano and Lausanne. Last but not least, it suggested that you reserve a hotel in Lucerne. The city is located on the shore of Lake Lucerne, surrounded by Mount Pilatus and Rigi. Luzern is a highly tourist destination that provokes with its spectacular surroundings.