Is there one in Switzerland? All about Switzerland: a description of the country and useful information for tourists

Switzerland is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. People here receive huge salaries, however, they also pay huge taxes. But the power of the people in this country is really strong, and in many Swiss cantons local government overrides some of the laws of the land. However, Switzerland is famous mainly not for this fact, but for its watches and banks.

1. Switzerland does not have an official capital, as state structure it is a confederation. In fact, this function is performed by Bern, although according to the documents it is just a federal city.
2. Residents of Switzerland are legally prohibited from keeping only one guinea pig at home, because, according to research by scientists, these animals yearn without the company of their own kind. To solve this problem, a service has been created in the country to provide guinea pigs for rent.
3. In Geneva, for the past two centuries, the arrival of spring has been announced by a special decree - it is issued when the first leaf blooms on a chestnut growing next to the cantonal government building. Most often, spring comes in March, however, for example, in 2002, the tree turned green on December 29th. In 2006, spring came twice at all - the leaves appeared on the chestnut tree in March, and then it suddenly bloomed again in October.
4. In Switzerland, the percentage of residents over 100 years old is higher than in other European countries. This figure here is 0.01%.
5. The national hero of Switzerland, Wilhelm Tell, never really existed.
6. Instead of assigning numbers to houses, entrances are numbered in Switzerland. The apartments also do not have numbers - they just write the names of the residents.
7. Switzerland is 2/3 covered with hills and is the most mountainous country in Europe. Yes, there are even more mountains here than in Montenegro (see facts about Montenegro).
8. In order to become a citizen of Switzerland, you need to live in the country for at least 12 years.
9. Children in Switzerland start school at the age of four. They study 4 days a week, since Wednesday is considered a day off along with Saturday and Sunday. Education is free for everyone, including foreigners.
10. In Switzerland, it is quite legal to avoid military service - all those who do not want to become soldiers pay the state 3% of their wages until they reach the age of 30.
11. The crime rate in Switzerland is one of the lowest in the world.
12. Women won the right to vote in Swiss federal elections only in 1971.
13. Alcoholic drinks in Switzerland are only sold until 21:00.
14. The first mention of the famous Swiss cheese dates back to the 1st century AD.
15. Every company registered in this country must have a Swiss national as director.
16. Switzerland is located in the very center of Europe, but, contrary to popular belief, it is not part of the European Union.
17. In the Swiss city of Zermatt, you can only travel by cars with electric motors.
18. throw away Christmas tree the Swiss can only for one day in early January, and violators face fines.
19. At one of the referendums, the inhabitants of Switzerland decided to ban the construction of minarets in the country.
20. Residents of Switzerland are required to throw away garbage in bags with a special sticker, otherwise you will also have to pay a large fine. Since garbage disposal is expensive, many Swiss get rid of packages of goods directly in stores.

Switzerland is a country in many ways unique, small even by European standards, but containing a lot of unusual and interesting things. One of the main assets of Switzerland is nature: mountain ranges, eternal glaciers, alpine meadows, waterfalls, blue lakes. There are about 600 lakes here. Many of them are of glacial origin, of unique transparency and beauty. Wherever you are in Switzerland, there will be a swimming pool within a maximum of 20 km of you. Mountains occupy 2/3 of the entire territory of the country, in connection with which Switzerland is recognized as the most mountainous country in Europe. Approximately 14% of the territory is occupied by natural parks with pristine nature.

Officially, Switzerland is called a confederation (Swiss Confederation). It has been so for a long time, when it actually had a confederate structure. Today Switzerland is federal republic. It is also interesting that officially Switzerland does not have a capital, since it is a confederation, but the actual capital is Bern.

Switzerland has 4 official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The rarest of them is Romansh, which is spoken by only 0.7% of the population.

The president in Switzerland is elected for a one-year term. The current president is a woman, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. The previous two presidents were also female.

Local law allows a referendum to be held every Sunday. Although in practice they are held several times a year. One of the referendums banned the construction of new minarets in the country. In total, there are 6 minarets in Switzerland, but they cannot perform their direct function (gathering for prayer) because of the law on silence. There are more mosques here and it is possible to build new ones.

Switzerland has built the world's tallest concrete dam - Grand Dixence. Also here is the longest tunnel in the world - the Gotthard base tunnel, 57 km and the highest mountain cable car in Europe - on the Klein Matterhorn (at a height of 3,820 meters).

Swiss children start school at the age of four, but study only four days a week. Higher education in Switzerland is free, including for foreigners. Private schools, which are considered among the best in the world, cost from 25,000 francs (800,000 rubles) a year. Medicine is paid, with compulsory insurance, while it is very high quality and modern. According to one Swiss who was not so long ago on a business trip to the United States, he was most struck by the local medicine. In his opinion - a purely stone age.

Shops in Switzerland are open until 7 pm and do not work at all on Sundays. The exception is Thursday, when shops are open until 9pm. Small shops work at the discretion of their owners. Alcohol is not sold in Swiss stores after 9pm.

Switzerland is landlocked but has a large navy. The Main Navigation Company of Lake Geneva is the owner of the largest inland water fleet in Western Europe.

Service in the Swiss army is compulsory for all male citizens under the age of 30 and is 260 days distributed over 10 years. You can officially "slope" from the service. To do this, you will have to pay 3% of all money earned for 30 years. Until recently, after serving in the army, weapons could be kept and kept at home until the next training camp. This year, this provision was canceled, citing a certain number of murders and suicides committed by means of service weapons. Although traditionally Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world with the lowest murder rate in Europe.

To cut down a tree in Switzerland, you must obtain special permission from the authorities, even if the tree grows on your own land.

Switzerland is two-thirds mountainous, but exports its own cheeses and milk. It is originally a peasant country, but produces the best watches on Earth. Some one and a half centuries ago, one of the poorest European countries is today the kingdom of the world's largest banks. The country receives 15% of its income from tourism.

Local drug addicts, under the state program, receive a free dose, food and a place to sleep. It is believed that this is cheaper for the state than counteracting crimes on their part.

According to a study commissioned by the Swiss government, a significant proportion of adolescents who had sexual experience did not use condoms because they were too large. Especially for them, the largest manufacturer of contraceptives in Switzerland has released a brand of condoms Hotshot in a reduced size. Such products have a diameter of 45 mm with a standard of 52 mm.

In Switzerland, for an address, not houses are numbered, like ours, but entrances (front doors). There are no apartment numbers - instead of them, there are signs with surnames. Apartment buildings usually have equipped laundry rooms in the basement. There are practically no homeless cats and dogs on the streets.

Yodel (singing without words) used to be used by Swiss shepherds as a means of communication.

Any firm registered in Switzerland must have a Swiss director. There is even such a profession - "nominal hired director". The holder of Swiss citizenship can earn good money without doing anything, but only as a nominee director in a company. To obtain Swiss citizenship, you need to have a residence permit for 12 years. Moreover, if a person was in Switzerland at the age of 10 to 20 years, then the year is considered two.

In the English Garden of Geneva, on the waterfront, there is the world's largest flower clock. The dial of this watch is 5 meters in diameter and consists of 6.5 thousand fresh flowers that bloom all summer, periodically changing the color palette of the watch.

Previously, every new house in the country had to have a bomb shelter. Then this provision was canceled, but numerous bomb shelters remained. In one of the local underground anti-nuclear bunkers there are servers of the well-known Rapidshare file hosting.

For 200 years now, there has been a tradition in Geneva to officially announce the onset of spring, when the first leaf blossoms on the “official chestnut tree” growing under the windows of the cantonal government building. According to statistics, most often spring was announced in March, although sometimes earlier, and in 2002 the chestnut blossomed at all on December 29th. The most paradoxical was 2006: spring was first announced in March, and then again in October, as the tree unexpectedly bloomed again.

The famous Swiss army knife, which is part of the equipment of Swiss soldiers, includes, in addition to a folding knife, a corkscrew, a bottle opener, a can opener, a screwdriver, scissors, an awl, a wood saw,

universal hook, key ring, tweezers, toothpick, file and pliers. Modern knife models can also have a USB flash memory, digital clock, electronic altimeter, LED, laser pointer and digital MP3 player.

Suvorov made his famous crossing of the Alps in Switzerland.

The average salary in Switzerland is 5000CHF ($3900) and the minimum is 3500CHF ($2700). Inflation, as a rule, does not exceed 1% per year.

The Swiss are the most inventive nation in the world. There are 2,286 patents per million inhabitants. The closest competitors are the Dutch (1427 patents per million population), South Koreans (1139) and Japanese (1118). The heightened ingenuity is thought to be due to Switzerland's lack of minerals and landlocked land, which prevented the development of either serious industry or trade. You have to lean on ingenuity.

In Russia, until the 19th century, the inhabitants of Switzerland were called porters, until the word “porter” began to be called doorkeepers and guards of entrances everywhere. To avoid constant confusion, a new word "Swiss" appeared.

Little Switzerland, a quiet oasis at the crossroads of Europe, is a clear example of how people who speak different languages can live quietly and peacefully, respecting themselves and each other. In Switzerland, traces of various civilizations can be found at every step. The ruins in Nyon and Avenches remind of the Romans. Romanesque and Gothic monuments of architecture can be seen in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne. The main baroque monuments are the famous cathedral and the monastery library in St. Gallen, which are under the protection of UNESCO. There are 600 museums in Switzerland, and every big city has its own theater and symphony orchestra. Multilingual Switzerland has the same “multilingual” cuisine: fondue and raclette in French cantons, sausages, roasts and rösti (grated baked potatoes) in German, thin slices of cured meat in Graubünden and Valais, polenta and risotto in Italian-speaking Ticino. And don't forget to order local wine with your meal.
The legend says: when God was distributing the wealth of the bowels of the earth, they were not enough for one small country in the heart of Europe. To correct this injustice, the Lord gave her mountains like castles, sparkling glaciers, roaring waterfalls, countless lakes and friendly fertile valleys. Thus, Switzerland became the perfect embodiment of divine wisdom. Switzerland is a real myth. Here you will find more contrasts than anywhere else. The amazing diversity of landscape, architecture, languages ​​and cultures makes this country a special small world, to Europe pocket size.
The Swiss Alps are the birthplace of mountaineering and skiing. In this blessed land of blue lakes and sparkling glaciers, in this fabulous country, which God generously rewarded with natural resources, and people nurtured with their work and care, you must definitely visit to understand what real rest and real comfort are...

Geography

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 largest lakes are Geneva and Constance. Three natural regions are distinguishable on the territory of Switzerland: the Jura mountain range in the northwest, the Swiss plateau (plateau) in the center and the Alps in the southeast. The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Time

Time is 2 hours behind Moscow time.

Climate

The climate of Switzerland is temperate, in the west of the country the influence is great Atlantic Ocean, as you move to the east and in mountainous areas, the climate acquires the features of a continental one. The maximum air temperature, as well as the maximum precipitation, occurs in the summer months. The maximum temperature during the day, even in the winter months, rarely drops to negative values. In the spring months, there are the fewest days with precipitation. And the maximum rainy days are in the summer. In the summer months, the maximum air temperature exceeds 25°С; at night, the temperature, as a rule, does not fall below +13...+15°С. The Grindelwald resort is located in the center of the vast, world-famous Jungfrau highland region of Switzerland, in a deep picturesque valley. All over the world, Grindelwald is called the "Glacier Village". In the resort area, descending winds, the so-called hair dryer, are often observed. Hairdryer is often accompanied by squally gusts of wind. Hair dryer is observed more often in March and April, referred to as "snow eater". There is a high probability of a hair dryer in September-October.

Language

The official languages ​​are French, German and Italian; English is ubiquitous.

Religion

48% of believers - Catholics, 46% - Protestants, 6% - profess other religions.

Population

The indigenous population of Switzerland is approximately seven million people. The entire population is divided into four ethnic forms: German-Swiss, Italian-Swiss, Franco-Swiss, and Romansh.

Electricity

Mains voltage 220 V, current frequency 50 Hz.

Emergency Phones

Ambulance: 111, Police: 117, Fire: 118, Roadside Assistance: 140.

Connection

Telephone boxes are everywhere installed in post offices, bars, cafes, shops and on the streets (calling from post offices is cheaper). Calls on weekdays from 18.00 to 8.00 are cheaper, significant discounts also apply on weekends and holidays. All vending machines can use special phone cards, which are purchased at the post office, tobacco shops, railway stations, gas stations, etc. Major Russian operators have GPRS roaming. Swisscom recently purchased 800 Wi-Fi hotspots. There are almost no free points. Paid ones are quite expensive. Payment can be made by plastic cards or provider cards. Regular access can be obtained from special Swisscom telephone kiosks and internet cafes.

Currency exchange

The national currency is the Swiss franc. One franc is equal to 100 centimes. Banks are open from 8:00 to 16:00 (some until 17:00-18:00) on weekdays, a break from 12:00 to 14:00. You can change money at any bank branch, and in the evening - at the exchange offices of large department stores, airports and some travel agencies. Currency exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8:00 to 22:00, sometimes around the clock. Most prices are quoted in both EUR and Swiss CHF. In some large stores, EUR is even accepted for payment, but the change is given out in Swiss CHF. Therefore, it is most convenient to pay with plastic cards.

Visa

Citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa to enter Switzerland. Since December 12, 2008, Switzerland has been a member of the Schengen Agreement. From that moment on, all valid Schengen visas are valid for entry into Switzerland by any means of transport (air, car, train, etc.), even if they were issued earlier than the specified date by another Schengen member state. From December 15, 2008, the consular section of the Swiss Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General of Switzerland in St. Petersburg will start issuing Schengen visas. Visas issued before December 12 are valid only for entry into the territory of Switzerland and do not give the right to enter the Schengen countries.

Customs regulations

Import and export of currency is not limited. It is allowed to import duty-free items for personal use - clothes, photo and movie cameras, sports equipment, musical instruments and food products at the rate of 1 day. Tourists arriving from EU countries can import duty-free up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 gr. pipe tobacco (by persons not younger than 17 years old), spirits - 1 liter. and up to 2 liters. wine (not stronger than 15°). It is forbidden to import drugs, meat and meat products, skins of wild cats, crocodile, lizards and products from them, flower plants with soil.

Holidays and non-working days

Transport

The main form of urban transport is bus and train. In large cities, there are also trolleybuses that run on the same routes as buses. There is a small subway in Lausanne. Intercity transport is mainly by rail; in some places, as a rule, distant from the railway network, there are special intercity buses. Trains are urban (such as our metro or electric train) and long-distance (between cities). In city trains there is a self-control zone, that is, if you did not buy a ticket and you got a controller, then you will pay a fine. On long-distance trains, inspectors always check tickets, but if you do not have a ticket, then you buy it from the inspector with a small surcharge. A decision has now been made to ban smoking on all trains. Until recently, smoking was allowed only on long-distance trains (regardless of class). Usually the car is divided into two parts: smoking and non-smoking. Transport in Switzerland is expensive. In large cities, one trip costs at least two francs, in small ones - about one and a half francs.

The "Switzerland Travel System" is a system of universal travel cards valid for all types of regular transport (trains, suburban buses, lake boats, urban transport) and giving a discount on many types of tourist transport. These passes are justified if you intend to make at least two long trips in Switzerland. At the same time, on a number of mountain tourist lines, including those that lead to the main peaks of Switzerland, the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau, these tickets at best give only a 25% discount on the rather high fares of these trains - about 100-150 francs per trip. All these tickets are sold by a number of Russian travel agencies, but most of them are also available in Switzerland.

Tips

Despite the fact that in the restaurant a percentage of the service is included in the bill, if you want to thank for the good service, you can leave a few coins for the waiter or round up the amount of payment. It is customary to leave 1-2 francs for porters in hotels.

The shops

Shops are open on weekdays from 8:30 to 18:30, some large ones are open on Thursday until 21:00-22:00. On Saturday, all shops are open from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. Watches, chocolates, the famous penknives and music boxes are considered traditional "Swiss shopping".

National cuisine

Swiss cuisine has emerged as a result of a complex, long and contradictory development under the influence of many peoples living in the country. The influence of French, Italian and German culinary traditions is especially great. A distinctive feature of the local cuisine is the abundance of cheese and dairy products, as well as meat with a variety of seasonings. Be sure to try the traditional "foie gras" or "cheese fondue" - Gruyere or Emmental cheese melted in boiling white wine, seasoned with spices. This dish should be eaten hot, dipping slices of white bread in cheese and always drinking white wine. Another popular cheese dish is "raclette", which is a specially fried cheese with crispy pickled cucumbers and jacket potatoes.

Extremely popular are "Bernes Platter" - fried pieces of beef and pork with green beans or sauerkraut, as well as "lurich leschnetzeltes" - thin pieces of veal in sauce. Delicious sausages of all kinds are consumed everywhere, especially sausages from the cantons of St. Gallen and Bern, as well as huge two-meter sausages from Zurich, excellent bacons and specially prepared Reshti potatoes, which are best served with Munich's white Bratwurst sausage. It is also worth trying the famous Zurich minced veal with traditional Swiss Rosti potatoes. In the area of ​​Lake Geneva, you will be offered a traditional perch fillet fried in oil. The fillet is served with lemon slices, and garnished with boiled potatoes or roasted almonds. Minestrone thick vegetable soup is very unusual and tasty, which includes tomatoes, beans, rice, potatoes, carrots, peas, cauliflower, leeks and grated Sbrinz cheese - the Swiss analogue of parmesan. Minestrone soup - a traditional dish in Ticino. Another famous first course is Graubünden Barley Soup, made from smoked beef, cabbage, and, of course, barley. Alpine pasta is a somewhat unusual combination of pasta and potatoes, seasoned with sour cream and grated cheese, and topped with crispy fried onions.

In the southern cantons, almost exclusively Italian cuisine is used with its "pasta", "pizza", "carpaccio", "scampi" and "risotto", with an abundance of herbs and olive oil.

For dessert, try the Zuger Kirstort cherry cake. It is made of puff pastry and soft butter cream, soaked in cherry liqueur and sprinkled with nuts. Swiss chocolate and desserts "hühli" and "krepfli" are also known all over the world. It is worth trying the specially prepared very strong coffee "ristretto".

Swiss wines and beers are great. Among the white wines stand out "Johannioberg", "Ferdan", "Lavu", among the reds - "Lamey", "Koron" and "Dol". Good liqueurs "Kirsh", "Pflumli" and "Williamin", but they are very strong.

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.

Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud, lies on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. The city is famous for the majestic Gothic Cathedral of St. Francis (1145-1275), towering over the old part of the city with its original houses and old bridges over the rivers Flon and Louvet. From the north side of the tower of the cathedral offers a unique view of the city and the lake. You should definitely visit the Olympic Museum with an extensive sports exhibition, the Champs Elysees, the castles of St. Mary (currently the cantonal government sits here) and Beaulieu, the Palais de Villiers fair center, the Mon Repos park and the university. The city has many theaters and various museums, the richest Cinematheque in Switzerland is good and rich. The large trading house "Bel-Air-Metropol" with a tower 67 meters high, wonderful "folklore" restaurants, the old ports of the Oukhi region and the beautiful shore of the lake stretching for several kilometers enjoy the constant attention of tourists.

Geneva, founded in 500 BC. e. on the right bank of the Rhone still by the Celts, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is famous for its elegance and magnificent parks located along the lake. On the left bank of the Rhone, the city center rises with St. Peter's Cathedral (1160-1232), the Town Hall, the Arsenal, Opera House(1879), the Conservatory (1856) and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain (1891), located on a picturesque lake surrounded by magnificent gardens and parks. One of the curious and unique sights of Geneva is the clock made of flowers on the Promenade du Lac with the largest second hand in the world (its length reaches 2.5 m, diameter is 5 m, 6.5 thousand live clocks are used to create the watch). colors). On the right bank of the Rhone is "international Geneva" with the UN Palace, the international work center, the International Red Cross and other organizations. The UN Palace (1936), located in a large beautiful park and surpassing Versailles in size, is a real small “state within a state” (it even has its own post office and issues its own stamps) and the largest exhibition center in Europe - up to 5 thousand .various conferences and congresses.

Zurich is the most important commercial and financial center of Switzerland, as well as the largest banking center in Europe, the focus of commercial and industrial institutions, a shopping paradise and the "cultural Mecca" of the country. The city center stretches on both banks of the Limmat River, which flows into Lake Zurich (length - 39 km., Depth up to 143 m.). It is best to start your acquaintance with the city from the historical center of Niederdorf, with its pedestrian zone and picturesque narrow streets paved with cobblestones and built-up houses in the Gothic style. In the evenings, the area turns into an entertainment center - street musicians play, beer and wine “flow like a river”, people sing and dance here until midnight.
The financial center of the city and one of the most famous shopping streets in Europe - Bahnhofstrasse. Numerous shops and the best supermarkets of the city are concentrated here - Globus and Gelmoli, as well as divisions of Gnomen von Zurich, one of the largest banks in Switzerland and the world. Parade Square adjoins Bahnhofstrasse, where the pompous buildings of the Swiss Credit Bank (1876) and the Savoy Bor-en-Ville Hotel (1838), as well as the famous Sprüngli confectionery, are located.

Basel- the second largest city in Switzerland, located on the border of the "German" and "French" parts of the country on both sides of the Rhine. The city was founded by the Romans in 44 BC. e. on the site of a Celtic settlement, and in written sources "Fort Basilea" is mentioned already in 374. Today it is a major industrial, commercial and banking center of the country. Here is concentrated a large number of educational institutions, including the oldest university in Switzerland, large shopping centers and banks, and at the same time - the first national musical theater, many art galleries, secondhand bookshops, a huge number of bars and pubs. The center of old Basel is the Marktplatz (“Market Square”), which to this day strikes with a riot of colors and an abundance of goods sold. One of the symbols of the city is also located here - the beautiful Town Hall (1507-1513) with a bright red painted brick facade, a gilded bell tower, a glazed tile roof and a statue of Minatius Plancus. The Historical Museum is currently open in the building of the former Franciscan church Barfüssenkirche (XIV century), and on the nearby Fischmarkt square there is the most beautiful fountain in Basel, decorated with a statue of Our Lady (1390). Another symbol of the city is the Münster Cathedral (1019) with two spiers and a gallery with a colonnade surrounded by huge chestnut trees. The square in front of the beautiful wrought-iron temple gates is lined with paving stones, and a powerful spotting scope is installed in the courtyard, with which you can admire the beautiful panorama of the city. Another attraction of Basel is the Spalentor gate (1400) made of red sandstone, to which two round battlements adjoin on both sides.

The capital of the country - Berne, founded in a steep bend of the Aar River in 1191 by order of Duke Berthold V. The historical center of the city is a chain of streets Spitalgasse, Marktgasse and Kramgasse, resting on the Niederbrücke bridge. The main attractions of the city are concentrated here, in the old center - the Prison Tower (1256) with a bell tower (1643), the famous street fountains (XVI century), the Clock Tower (1191, chimes with moving figures - 1527- 1530), a Gothic Cathedral (1421-1573) with the highest bell tower in Switzerland (about 100 m), stained-glass windows of the 15th century, statues of the 16th century. and the main portal by Küng (1457). It is impossible not to visit the City Hall (1406) with a large reception hall with wooden ceilings from the 15th century, as well as the “Bear Crypt” that gave the city its name.

Lugano- the largest and most significant city of the Italian-speaking canton of Tessin, located on the shores of the lake of the same name in the southeastern part of the country. The city is surrounded by mountains Monte Bre (923 m) and Monte San Salvatore (912 m), forming a magnificent panorama around the city and its mild climate. In the old part of the city are architectural monuments of great historical value - the Palazzo Civico Palace in the magnificent park of Parco Civico, where open-air concerts are constantly held, Villa Malpensata, the Church of Santa Maria del Angioli (XVI century) with frescoes "The Crucifixion of Christ" and "The Last Supper" the work of Bernardo Luini, located near the station, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo (1517), the Church of San Rocco (1349) with the famous altar and frescoes by Discopoli, and many other unique buildings. Arches, blood-red geraniums in public gardens and orange roof tiles are hallmarks of this hospitable Swiss city. There is an extensive pedestrian zone in the center. From Piazza Ciocarno you can take the funicular up to the mountains.

Resorts

Zermatt- skiing and climatic resort, one of the most prestigious resorts in Switzerland, is located in the upper reaches of the Visp Valley, at an altitude of 1620 m at the foot of the Matterhorn, and is surrounded by 36 "four-thousanders" of the Main Alpine Range. This is a great place for skiers of all levels, having the longest winter season in the country, car traffic is prohibited here, so the air is unusually clean. Instead of cars, horse-drawn carriages are used in summer, and sledge teams are used in winter, plying between the old village houses of Walliser and 117 elegant hotels. By all international standards, Zermatt is in the top ten resorts.

Saas Fee- one of the highest mountain resorts in Switzerland. Considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, Saas-Fee is located among the 13 highest Alpine peaks over 4000 m surrounding this picturesque valley. The height of the resort is 1800 m, 120 km are laid here. trails at altitudes of 1800-3500 m., 30 km. flat trails of all levels of difficulty, the grandiose Mittelallalin ski resort, an outdoor skating rink, a sports center with a lot of amenities, special tracks for sledding, flat skiing, snowboarding, outdoor skating rinks, restaurants and bars, discos, a cinema, etc. At an altitude of 3500 m. is the "highest" revolving restaurant in the world, and a few steps from the restaurant is the world's largest museum "Ice Pavilion" and a chapel where wedding ceremonies are held.

Grindelwald located 15 minutes drive from Interlaken. This is one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in the country. Mountain glaciers here descend almost to the resort itself, which creates excellent conditions for winter sports - here is one of the longest skiing seasons in the country. Glaciers brought Grindelwald other fame - here you can visit the "grotto blue ice”and the exotic Glacier Gorge, a meteorological station and an observation deck from which you can admire the endless panorama of the Alps and the nearby peaks of the Eiger (3970 m.), Munch (4099 m.) and Jungfrau (4158 m.), standing one after another. 213 km have been laid on their slopes. slopes with heights of 1034-2971 m., 47 lifts, among which is the longest gondola lift in Europe to Manlichen (2230 m.), 25 km. flat ski tracks, an 8-kilometer toboggan run from Bussalp (1800 m.) and high-mountain hiking trails with a total length of more than 300 km. On the other side of the valley lies an interesting ski area Föst (1050-2500 m).

To the valley of skiing Porte du Soleil includes 12 French and Swiss stations: Champery, Le Crozet, Champoussant, Morzhan, Torzhon, Avoriaz, Châtel, Morzine, Les Gets, Montrion, St. Jean d'Alpe, Abondance, La Chapelle d'Abondance. Champery located 10 km. from Val d'Ies at an altitude of 1580 m., famous for its colossal length of slopes - 650 km., serviced by 228 lifts, there is also an indoor ice rink (60 × 30 m.), a heated outdoor pool, a fitness center with a solarium, sauna and modern physiotherapy complex.

Le Diableret, often called the "alpine paradise", is located at an altitude of 1300 m on a mountain platform, from where a grandiose panorama opens, covering a vast territory from Lake Geneva to the French Alps. At altitudes from 1200 to 3000 m, 120 km are broken. slopes, there are 50 lifts, a well-planned public transport system (included in the price of the ski pass) allows you to continue skiing on the slopes of Gstaad, Leysin, Château d'Eau, Saanen and Villars. There is a sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool and a skating rink, a sports club (badminton, squash), bowling and billiards halls, tennis and golf fields, as well as a riding school. One of the advantages of the resort is its proximity to Geneva, as well as to the most important cultural centers such as Lausanne, Montreux, Vevey, Le Mausse (1450 m., black slopes), Château d'Eau and Gstaad. Mountain resorts such as Falera, Leizen with its famous revolving restaurant "Kuklos", "family paradise" - Villar, "virgin" Anzer, cozy Pontresina, located in a wind-protected valley with its own microclimate Arosa and balneological resorts are also known all over the world. Schwefelberg-Bad and Yverdon.

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation- a small state in Central Europe, bordering Germany in the north, Italy in the south, France in the west, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east. The area of ​​the territory is 41,284 km².

Switzerland's northern border partly runs 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 country's territory is divided into three natural regions: the Jura mountains in the north, the Swiss plateau in the center, and the Alps, occupying 61% of the entire territory of Switzerland, in the south. The highest point of the country is Peak Dufort (4634 m) in the Pennine Alps, and the lowest point is Lake Maggiore (193 m).

The country is rich in rivers and lakes (most of them are of glacial origin). The Rhine, Rhone, Limmat, Aare flowing from the mountains are the largest rivers in the country.

Ten largest lakes in Switzerland:

Lake Geneva (582.4 km²)

Lake Constance (539 km²)

Lake Neuchâtel (217.9 km²)

Lago Maggiore (212.3 km²)

Lake Vierwaldstet (113.8 km²)

Lake Zurich (88.4 km²)

Lugano (48.8 km²)

Lake Thun (48.4 km²)

Lake Biel (40 km²)

Lake Zug (38 km²)

About 25% of the territory of Switzerland is covered with forests, they extend not only in the mountains, but also in the valleys, and on some plateaus.

Climate

Switzerland has a continental climate typical of Central Europe, but due to the complexity of the relief, the climatic conditions of individual regions are varied.

In the Alps, winter is relatively cold (temperatures drop to -10°C -12°C, sometimes lower), but almost always sunny. On peaks from 2500-3000 m snow lies throughout the year. About 65% of the annual precipitation here falls in the form of snow, so in winter, due to the accumulation of snow on the slopes, snowfalls occur. In summer, rains and fogs are frequent, and the weather can change very quickly from sunny to rainy.

On the Swiss plateau, winters are mild. The average temperature in January is about -2°C, if snow falls, it usually lasts only a few days. In December and January, strong winds blow from the Atlantic, bringing frequent rains and fogs, but the summer is warm (the average temperature in July is +18°C), and the autumn is long and sunny.

The mildest and warmest climate is in the inner mountain valleys and hollows, protected from the cold northern winds by mountains. For example, in the canton of Ticino, on the coast of lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore, there are many sunny days (in summer the temperature can reach + 30 ° C), there are no large temperature drops and strong seasonal weather fluctuations. Here in open ground palm trees, magnolias and other plants grow southern countries, - essentially like on the Mediterranean coast.

Last changes: 05/09/2010

Population

The total population was estimated in 2008 to be 7,580,000, among them 65% German, 18% French, 10% Italian and 7% other nationalities. More than 1 million foreigners live in Switzerland, which is 1/7 of the total population, in large cities the proportion of foreigners among residents rises to 1/5 - 1/3.

The population is mainly concentrated in the plateau area. Largest cities have the highest population density industrial centers- Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

Swiss citizens are very peaceful, friendly, polite and law-abiding people. They are traditionally conflict-free, reasonable and rationalistic. It is also worth noting the amazing punctuality of the Swiss. The standard of living in Switzerland is very high.

Language

Switzerland has 4 national languages: German (its local dialect is Schwitzerduch), French, Italian and Romansh.

Similarly, the Constitution determines that the official languages, i.e. the languages ​​in which legislation is drawn up and in which the public communicates with the federal authorities and the courts are German, French and Italian. Romansh is not an official language due to the small number of speakers. However, it is widely used in official meetings with Romansh, who in turn may address authorities in their own language.

For the protection of linguistic minorities, the so-called “principle of territoriality” applies, i.e. respect for traditional linguistic boundaries and the exclusive use of the native language of a certain area in institutions, courts and schools.

The German language (the most common) is used by the inhabitants of the northern and northeastern parts of Switzerland (Zurich, Bern, etc.).

French consumed mainly in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Friborg and Valais.

Italian is spoken mainly in the canton of Ticino, while Romansh is spoken only in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.

The local dialect of the German language - "Schwitzerduch" is very similar to classical German, so if you speak German, you will be perfectly understood.

Religion

Currently, Catholics make up about 50% of the population, Protestants - about 48%. Confessional differences in Switzerland do not always coincide with linguistic boundaries. Among the Protestants there are 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.

In Switzerland, there are also adherents of the Orthodox faith, one of the Orthodox parishes, founded in 1936 by Metropolitan Evlogii, is located in Zurich, and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin at the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches.

Switzerland also has small Jewish communities in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

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

The Swiss can take pride in knowing several foreign languages and can communicate freely with people from different countries. However, knowledge of their own state languages, unfortunately, is deteriorating due to their preference for English. As a result, the four-lingual Switzerland is gradually turning into a "two and a half-lingual" country. In other words, many Swiss people speak their native language and English but often understand only one of the four official languages.

Currency

The official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc (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 1, 2 and 5 francs, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Almost all shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes accept all major credit cards for payment. Finding an ATM in the "country of banks" is also not difficult.

You can change money at any bank branch. Swiss banks are usually open from 8.30 to 16.30, except weekends. Once a week, banks work longer than usual, to clarify on which day it is necessary in each particular place.

You can also change money at the exchange offices of large department stores, airports, railway stations and stations. Currency exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8:00 to 22:00, sometimes around the clock.
However, it is better to change money before leaving, as in Switzerland itself the national currency is overpriced.

Most prices are quoted in both EUR and Swiss CHF. In some large stores, EUR is even accepted for payment, but the change is given out in Swiss CHF. Therefore, it is most convenient to pay with plastic cards.

Last changes: 05/09/2010

Communication and communications

Phone code: 41

Swiss internet domain: .ch

Ambulance - 144, police - 117, firefighters - 118, roadside assistance - 140 (round the clock), traffic jams, condition of roads and passes - 163.

How to call

In order to call from Russia to Switzerland, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 41 - area code - subscriber number.

In order to call from Switzerland to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

While in Switzerland, you can call abroad from any telephone booth using coins or using a phone card, which can be purchased at any post office.

To call from one Swiss city to another, you need to dial the phone year of the city, starting with 0, and then the subscriber's number.

mobile connection

The Swisscom mobile network covers about 99% of the populated areas of the country. When entering Switzerland, the mobile phone usually searches for a suitable network on its own. For example, SWISS GSM appears on the display.

For information on the mobile network coverage of Swisscom Mobile, Switzerland's leading mobile operator, please visit www.swisscom-mobile.ch

Last changes: 05/24/2010

shopping

In small towns and villages, shops are open from 8.30 to 12.00 and again from 14.00 to 18.30 - on weekdays, on Saturday - from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. In large cities, shops do not close for lunch, but are closed on Monday in the morning, and on one of the weekdays (most often on Thursdays) they are open until 20:00.

Shops are closed on Sundays, except at the airport, some train stations and rest stops along major highways.

In terms of shopping, Switzerland attracts, first of all, with the excellent quality of goods produced in it. There are many different shops here, ranging from small shops with a cozy atmosphere to chic boutiques of famous and not so brands, as well as large department stores.

Chocolate, cheeses, coffee, local wines, famous penknives and music boxes, bed linen and tablecloths, embroidered towels, precision instruments, various souvenirs with Swiss symbols, as well as antiques are considered traditional "Swiss shopping". A shopping trip would be incomplete without buying the famous Swiss watches, which are much cheaper here than in other countries.

It is worth noting that in Switzerland there is a large selection of quality clothing and accessories, depending on the brands, at quite reasonable prices.

In most shops and supermarkets, the salespeople speak English.

VAT and tax-free:

Purchases over 400 francs in a single store can receive a VAT refund. Value Added Tax (VAT) in Switzerland is 7.6%. To receive a refund in the store, you need to receive a "Tax-free Shopping Check" (Global Refund Check) check, according to which, when leaving the country, you, as a foreign citizen, will be refunded the amount of VAT. Goods must be taken out of the country within 30 days.

In order to receive your money, you must:

1. In the shop

• After making a purchase at a store that is part of the Global Refund system (as evidenced by the presence of a brand name at the entrance to the store), ask for a Global Refund check for you, directly from the cashier, customer service department or the store's central accounting department.

Upon receipt of the check, make sure that your details (first name, last name, country of residence, home address and passport number) are filled in in the appropriate field on the check, and that the cashier's check is attached to the Global Refund check.

2. At customs

Immediately before you leave the domestic market of the host country, you must present the purchased items and the Global Refund receipt at the border customs, on which the customs officers will put a mark confirming the export of the goods. Therefore, before leaving the country, the goods cannot be used (the goods must be labeled). Without a customs seal, a refund is not possible. At airports, customs clearance must be done before baggage check-in.

3. You can receive money, according to the return option you have chosen:

• to a card (or bank account), which, in this case, must be indicated in the Global Refund check, while the check is sent by you to the address indicated on the envelope attached to the Global Refund check;
• in cash at the points of payment of the Global Refund company directly in the host country, after affixing the customs stamp;
• in cash in the country of arrival at the bank.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Where to stay

Most of the hotels in the country are members of the Swiss Hotel Association. They have good and spacious rooms with all the services required for an institution of this category. However, hotels that are not members of the Association are usually also cozy and tidy. In general, Swiss hotels are better than the "middle European" ones. The price of breakfast (buffet) is usually included in the price of the room. For an additional fee, most hotels offer two or three meals a day.

Also throughout Switzerland there are about 80 hostels (youth hotels of economy class), the cost of living in such hotels is about 15 - 20 francs per day. It can accommodate both individual tourists and families, tourist groups and even groups of schoolchildren of various ages. To stay in such a youth hotel, a national or international Youth Hotel Card is required. There is no age limit, however, during the high season, persons under the age of 25 years have benefits.

There are also a large number of campsites in Switzerland, but it is important to note that camping is only allowed in specially designated areas. In the summer, when this type of vacation is very popular, it is recommended to book campsites in advance.

Another alternative to accommodation in the country during the holidays can be renting an apartment. This is especially practiced in the Swiss Alps. For example, a four-room apartment can accommodate 8-10 people. The cost of rent depends on such factors as: the prestige of the resort, the area of ​​​​the apartment, the cost of furniture and even kitchen utensils. It is also worth remembering that the price announced to you may not include a fee for bed linen, a deposit (on average 400 euros) in case you break or break something, and an accommodation fee (1 euro per person per day ). After you rent out your apartment, the so-called final cleaning is carried out in it, which you also have to pay: it will cost from 20 to 50 euros, depending on the size of the room.

Sea and beaches

A beach holiday in Switzerland is a holiday on the numerous lakes of the country.

Last changes: 01.09.2010

History

The history of Switzerland is due to its special geographic location which had a significant impact on the development of the state and society as a whole.

The Swiss Confederation in its modern form has existed only since 1848. Until that time, there was no Swiss history as such. We can only talk about the historical development of individual regions, later united into a single Swiss state.

The settlement of the territory of modern Switzerland began from time immemorial. Scientists believe that the first settlements arose here in the 12th millennium BC. At first, people lived in caves, and later - along the shores of lakes. Starting from 500 BC on the Swiss plateau lived mainly Celtic tribes, among which were the Helvetians. In 58 B.C. e. these lands, as a result of Caesar's campaign, were captured. In the next three centuries, Roman influence contributed to the development of the culture of the population and its Romanization.

In the 4th-5th centuries. AD The territory of present-day Switzerland was captured by the Germanic tribes of the Alemanni and Burgundians.

In the 6th-7th centuries. it became part of the kingdom of the Franks and in the 8th-9th centuries. was ruled by Charlemagne and his successors. Under Charlemagne, Switzerland was divided into ten counties (Gaue).

In 843, the Treaty of Verdun led to the division of Switzerland into parts: the western, together with Burgundy, and the southern, together with Italy, went to Emperor Lothair, the eastern, along with all of Alemannia, to King Louis the German. The subsequent fate of these lands is closely connected with the history of the Holy Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Carolingian empire, they were captured by the Swabian dukes in the 10th century, but they could not keep them under their rule, and the region broke up into separate fiefs. In the 12th-13th centuries. attempts were made to unite them under the rule of large feudal lords, such as the Zähringens, the founders of Bern and Friborg, and the Habsburgs. In 1264 the Habsburgs won a dominant position in eastern Switzerland. The Counts of Savoy were entrenched in the west.

Having tried to cancel the privileges of some local communities in order to unite their possessions, the Habsburgs encountered strong resistance. At the center of this resistance were the peasants who lived in the mountain valleys of Schwyz (hence the name of the country Switzerland), Uri and Unterwalden. On August 1, 1291, these "forest" cantons enter into an "Eternal Alliance", the meaning of which was reduced to mutual support in the fight against external enemies, and primarily with the Habsburgs. Thus the Swiss Confederation was founded. Traditionally, 1291 is considered the year of the formation of the Swiss Confederation.

The proof of the strength of the confederation was confirmed already in 1315, when the highlanders of the forest cantons faced the superior forces of the Habsburgs and their allies. At the Battle of Morgarten they won what is considered one of the most important victories in Swiss history. This victory encouraged other communities to join the confederation as well. In 1332-1353 the cities of Lucerne, Zurich and Bern, the rural communities of Glarus and Zug entered into separate agreements with the three united cantons, forming a number of confederations. Although these agreements did not have a common basis, they were able to ensure the main thing - the independence of each of the participants. Having been defeated in the battles of Sempach in 1386 and Nefels in 1388, the Habsburgs were finally forced to recognize the independence of the cantons, united in a confederation.

At the beginning of the 15th century the members of the confederation felt strong enough to go on the offensive. In the course of numerous wars and campaigns against the Austrian Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire, the Dukes of Savoy, Burgundy, as well as Milan and the French King Francis I, the Swiss secured a reputation for magnificent warriors. During the period of the "heroic age" of Swiss history (1415-1513), the territory of the confederation expanded by adding new lands in Aargau, Thurgau, Vaud, as well as south of the Alps, as a result of which 5 new cantons were created.

By 1798 Switzerland had become a confederation of 13 cantons. In addition to them, the confederation included lands that entered into an alliance with one or more cantons. There was no permanent central body: All-Union Diets were periodically convened, where only full-fledged cantons had the right to vote. There was no all-union administration, army and finance, and this situation remained until the French Revolution.

Religious reform, which began with an open challenge to the Roman Catholic Church by Huldrych Zwingli, split the country into two camps. The Zwinglian current of Protestantism subsequently merged with the current of John Calvin from Geneva into the Swiss Reformed Church. The cantons of central Switzerland remained Catholic. After short religious clashes, an approximate balance was established between the two religions.

In 1648 Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire was officially recognized by the Treaty of Westphalia.

In 1798 French troops invaded the country and occupied it. A single and indivisible Helvetian Republic is formed, which falls under the complete subordination of France.

After the defeat of the French, Switzerland regains its independence and retains its territorial borders. It already includes 22 cantons. After lengthy negotiations, a Union Treaty was drawn up, signed in September 1814. It proclaimed the union of 22 sovereign cantons, but did not indicate that they constituted one state. In the Declaration of the Congress of Vienna (March 1815) and the Treaty of Paris (November 1815), the Great Powers recognized the eternal neutrality of Switzerland.

In subsequent years, internal divisions between "conservative" and "radical" districts become more and more noticeable. The conflict came to a head when the radicals organized a military expansion against the canton of Lucerne, in response, Lucerne entered into an alliance with Schwyz, Uri, Unterwalden, Zug, Friborg and Valais, called the Sonderbund. Civil War lasted only 26 days and led to the defeat of the Sonderbund. The war proved once again that the country is in deep crisis and needs radical reforms.

On September 12, 1848, the basic law of the Swiss Confederation was signed, which turned the country from a weak union of individual cantons into a union state with a strong political system. A new era begins in the history of Switzerland. A permanent body of executive power was created in the form of a federal council of seven members elected by legislature from two chambers - the national council and the council of cantons. The federal government was empowered to issue money, regulate customs regulations and, most importantly, determine foreign policy. Bern was chosen as the federal capital.

The revised constitution of 1874, with subsequent amendments, further strengthened the power of the federal government without compromising the federal basis of the Swiss state. Starting from the second half of the 19th century. a dense network of railroads is being built, industry is developing, especially mechanical engineering, the chemical industry and the manufacture of watches.

With the outbreak of the First World War, there was a threat to the national unity of Switzerland: the French-speaking Swiss were mainly sympathetic to France, and the German-speaking people to Germany. The role of Switzerland in World War II is ambiguous. Formally maintaining neutrality, the country bought peace at the cost of political and economic collaborationism. Switzerland opened huge loans to Germany, and also supplied the latest technology needed to strengthen the military potential.

With the end of World War II, Switzerland decided not to join the newly formed United Nations (UN) and acquired observer status, which allowed the European headquarters and several UN specialized organizations, including the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to be located in Geneva. This decision strengthened the position of Switzerland in international politics. This country is a member of several UN organizations: the International Court of Justice, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Switzerland provides significant assistance to developing countries.

In 1979, a new canton was formed in Switzerland, called the Jura.

In 1983, Switzerland became a full member of the Group of Ten, an association of the largest contributors to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On December 12, 2008, Switzerland officially entered the Schengen visa-free area. On the borders of the country, passport control has been canceled at all ground checkpoints. At international airports, Switzerland has prepared its air terminals for servicing intra-Schengen flights where passport control is not required, and has separated these flights from other international terminals.

Last changes: 05/09/2010

For the Swiss, talking about salary or source of income is considered a closed topic. Even close friends do not dedicate each other to these issues.

Switzerland is considered to be a wealthy country, and the majority of the population live in abundance. Naturally, there are very rich people, but you don't see them on the streets. They live modestly and do not advertise their millions.

The list of 500 richest people in the world, compiled in 2007 by the American magazine Forbes, includes 8 representatives of Switzerland. Ernesto Bertarelli is recognized as the wealthiest Swiss. His fortune is 8.8 billion dollars.

Switzerland attracts wealthy foreigners. According to the Swiss magazine Bilanz, of the ten richest people in Switzerland, five have foreign citizenship. Them general state is CHF 103 billion. fr. (78 billion dollars). The richest foreigner living in Switzerland is the head of the Swedish company IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, whose fortune is $33 billion. He also ranks 4th on the Forbes list of the 500 richest people in the world.

In Switzerland the most popular alcoholic drink is wine. According to the results of 2005, the share of grape wines was 50% in total sales. Beer accounted for only one-third. The biggest beer drinkers, contrary to popular belief, are Italian-speaking, not German-speaking Swiss.

A characteristic feature of Swiss society, as well as European society as a whole, is late marriages. First they get a professional education, make a career and, having reached a certain position in society, decide to start a family. Average age entry into the first marriage is about 29 years for women, 31 years for men.

Most often, young people formalize their family relationships just before the birth of the first joint child.

As for the number of children in a family, large families - a rare thing. On average, a family does not have more than one or two children, as living expenses increase and large apartments become very expensive.

Only 1/3 of the Swiss population owns a home. Compared to other European countries, this is a very low figure.

The modern rules for obtaining citizenship in Switzerland are among the most complex in Western Europe, so the number of foreigners obtaining Swiss citizenship is much less than in any single European country. At the same time, the share of foreigners in the total population of Switzerland is very high, so in 2008. it amounted to 21.7%. It should be noted that the distribution of foreigners in Switzerland is very uneven.

Especially high percentage of foreigners among children. A census conducted in 2000 showed that 25.8% of children under the age of 6 did not have Swiss citizenship, and in five large cities of the country this number exceeded 45%. Approximately one in five children born in Switzerland has at least one parent with a foreign nationality.

Almost all pharmacies in Switzerland are closed on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there are pharmacies on duty only in large cities, in this situation it does not hurt to take a standard set of medicines with you, which can be useful for minor ailments.

If you decide to travel around the country by car, you should remember that some sections of Swiss highways are tolled, so you will have to pay a fee when entering them.

Also, do not forget that for non-compliance with even elementary traffic rules in Switzerland, impressive fines are levied, and you will practically not see police officers on the roads, all violations are recorded by video cameras installed on the roads of the whole country.

Last changes: 20.01.2013

How to get there

Daily regular direct flights to Geneva and Zurich from Moscow are operated by Aeroflot (from Sheremetyevo-2) and Swiss (from Domodedovo). The duration of the flight to Geneva and Zurich is about three hours.

Also weekly Rossiya flights from St. Petersburg make flights to Geneva. In addition to direct regular flights, transit flights through Paris, Prague, Vienna, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam and other European cities are possible. You can also fly to Switzerland from airports such Russian cities like Samara, Yekaterinburg, Rostov, but all of them with transit in European cities.

During the ski season and New Year holidays, operators usually increase the number of flights and raise charters from Moscow to Geneva, Basel or Sion (which is located in close proximity to Zermatt, Verbier, Saas-Fee and Crans-Montana).

The airports of Geneva and Zurich are combined with railway stations, so any destination can be reached at maximum speed on the day of arrival.

You can also get from Moscow to Switzerland by train, which departs from the Belorussky railway station and arrives in the city of Basel. Travel time 1 day 15 hours.

Road from the CIS countries

Daily regular flights from Ukraine are operated by Ukrainian International Airlines and Swiss on the route Kyiv - Zurich. Austrian Airlines (via Vienna) and Malev (via Budapest) fly from Odessa to Geneva.

From the Belarusian capital, daily flights to Geneva are jointly carried out by Belavia and Austrian Airlines (via Vienna), Lufthansa planes fly twice a week via Frankfurt. On the route Minsk - Zurich, the national carrier of Belarus operates the following codeshare flights: once a week with LOT (via Warsaw), three times a week - with Czech Airlines (via Prague) and daily - with Austrian Airlines (via Vienna).

Regular flights of Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) and KLM (via Amsterdam) fly from Almaty to Geneva four times a week, British Airways planes (via London) fly three times a week.

Last changes: 07.02.2013

If we look at this issue in more detail, an interesting detail will become clear - the very formulation of the question of the "capital" is wrong: Switzerland simply does not have a capital! However, there is a city that performs the corresponding functions. However, first things first.

In 1848, when Switzerland transformed from a weak union of cantons into a stronger and more stable federal state and adopted a new constitution for the country, the question arose - does Switzerland need a capital, and if so, which city is worthy of performing this honorary function? The decision was peculiar: on November 28, 1848, the Swiss Parliament, consisting of two chambers - the Council of Cantons and the Council of Nationalities - chose Bern as the seat of residence by voting. However, no official document refers to Bern as the capital (Hauptstadt). The name of the status of Bern sounds like "Bundesstadt", which can be translated as "city of federal significance". That is, Bern is actually the capital of Switzerland, but this status is not legally fixed. Even in the Swiss constitution there is no concept of "capital of Switzerland". Article 108 only confirms that the federal government, as well as departments and institutions at the federal level, are located in the "Federal City of Bern".

At the same time, the parliamentarians chose from 3 cities: Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. More precisely, there were significantly more candidate cities, but these three advanced to the last round of voting. Zurich had the best infrastructure at that time, but was already the unofficial center of Switzerland, and the parliamentarians did not want to further strengthen its position. Lucerne is located in the center of Switzerland, but the population of the city had a negative attitude towards the new constitution, in Lucerne it was adopted only by a minimal majority. Bern lagged behind in terms of infrastructure, but was strategically located - very close to the French-speaking part of Switzerland. In addition, the city government has promised to provide workspace for the federal government and parliament at no cost.

On election day, 11/28/1848, Berne won already in the 1st round of voting. 58 members of the Council of Nationalities (lower house of parliament) and 21 members of the Council of Cantons (upper house) voted for him. Zurich finished 2nd and Lucerne 3rd.

In the 1990s, the so-called "decentralization program" began in Switzerland, the meaning of which is to reduce the concentration of government institutions in Bern. As a result, the Federal Office of Statistics BFS moved to the city of Neuenburg ( French name- Neufchatel), the BAKOM Federal Communications Office in Biel (Fr. Bienne), and the BWO Federal Office for Housing in the city of Grenchen. This decentralization also affected the judiciary: the Federal administrative court moved from Bern to eastern Switzerland, in.

Bern was founded in 1191. The city has 139,211 inhabitants (January 2015). This is a very modest amount by Russian standards. But in Switzerland, Bern, along with Lausanne, is one of the largest cities in the country.

The old town of Bern was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. And in September 2009, Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, who arrived on an official visit to Switzerland, presented Bern with two cubs, who were born and raised in the Ussuri taiga. This gift is very symbolic: the bear is depicted both on the coat of arms and the flag of the city of Bern, and on the coat of arms and flag of the canton of Bern.