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Country Info

Zwitzerland is the federal republic in west central Europe, bounded on the north by France and Germany, on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, on the south by Italy, and on the west by France and Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland.

Language: German (dialects), French, Italian & Romansch. Official (written) languages are German, French and Italian.

Capital City: Bern

Religion: 49% Roman Catholic & 48% Protestant

Government: Federal republic

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Transportation
The Swiss Travel System is the most comfortable way to discover Switzerland. With the Swiss Pass, the Swiss Flexi Pass, the Swiss Card and the Swiss Transfer Ticket, Swiss Travel System offers advantageous flat-rate tickets for combined journeys with train, postal bus and boat.

Swiss Pass
The Swiss Pass gives unlimited travel on the whole rail, bus and boat network of the Swiss Travel System, including trams and buses of urban transport systems in 36 towns. It is valid for either 4, 8, 15 and 21 days or 1 month. It entitles also to discounts on many mountain railways.

Swiss Flexi Pass
Within a 1-month period, the guest can freely travel on any of 3 to 9 days of his choice on the whole Swiss Travel System network, enjoying the same facilities as with the Swiss Pass.

Swiss Transfer Ticket
The Swiss Transfer Ticket is good for a journey from the Swiss border or from an airport station to the holiday resort and return, within a period of 1 month.

Swiss Card
The Swiss Card offers the same services as the Swiss Transfer Ticket, but during 1 month the guest can additionally enjoy a 50% discount on all trips by train, postal bus and boat on the whole Swiss Travel System network.

Swiss Travel System Family Card
With the Swiss Travel System Family Card, children up to 16 years can accompany their parents free of charge, on the whole Swiss Travel System network. The Swiss Travel System Family Card is available free of charge in combination with the Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass, Swiss Transfer Ticket and Swiss Card. Children up to 16 years travelling on their own, have a 50 % discount on all the offers of the Swiss Travel System.

The Swiss Travel System offers are specially reserved for you
The offers are reserved to all persons with permanent residence outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Legitimation with passport or identity card. A photo is not required.

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Important Numbers
Important Numbers in Switzerland:

AMBULANCE    144
FIRE              118
POLICE          117

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Attractions
SCENIC DRIVES

The Road over the Great St. Bernard Pass - The most famousof the many mountain passes of alpine Europe. Most motorists use the pass road as a slow but scenic midsummer diversion on long drives that begin near Basel or Zurich and end in the Italian cities of Aosta or Milan.

The Road over the Furka Pass - En route you'll see the frozen mass of the glacier that feeds the Rhône and scenery that's absolutely magnificent. Any number of scenic highlights radiate out from here.

St. Gotthard Pass Road - One of the most vital roads in Europe stretches for 40 miles (64km) between German-speaking Andermatt and the Italian-speaking village of Biasca. Traffic on the high road, however, remains clogged with summer vacationers who come for the stunning views.

The Road over the Bernina Pass - Today cars can navigate the pass as part of a 2-hour, 34-mile (55km) drive between St. Moritz and Tirano. Snow usually closes the pass completely between mid-October and late April, although trains can usually get through except during the worst midwinter blizzards.

The Simplon Pass Road - Gracefully conforms to the natural topography of some of the most scenic mountainsides in Europe. The road is often closed between December and early May, with automobiles diverted onto flatbed trains instead. These are rather awkwardly carried through one of the longest railway tunnels in the world, the Simplon Tunnel.

ROMANTIC HIDEAWAYS

Mürren - Set on a rocky, high-altitude ledge hundreds of feet above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mürren has a handful of chalet-style hotels, excellent ski and hiking trails, and sweeping views over the mountains of the Bernese Oberland.

Gstaad - Lying at the junction of four alpine valleys midway between the Bernese Oberland and the Vaud Alps, Gstaad is a winter capital of the European glitterati.

Verbier - It lies at the bottom of an enormous alpine bowl ringed with spectacular ski slopes. The language and atmosphere of the resort is unpretentious and very, very French.

Bürgenstock - The town, set on a densely forested limestone ridge high above Lake Lucerne, shelters some of the most luxurious hotels in Switzerland.

Arosa - One of the highest (6,000 ft./2,000m) ski resorts in Switzerland, it is less expensive and less forbiddingly elegant than its nearest competitor, St. Moritz. Cable cars can carry you and your companion to alpine heights and sublime vistas. A romantic getaway in midsummer, when a network of hiking trails leads to lush forests and small lakes.

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Credit Cards
MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit, or debit, card company for details of merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Pounds Sterling, US Dollar or Swiss Franc cheques are accepted at airports, railway stations and banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency exchange: Personal cheques within the Eurocheque system are accepted. ATMs provide a convenient means of obtaining Euros.

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Visas
Required by all except the following for a stay of up to 3 months:
(1.) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(2.) nationals of countries in North, South and Central America (except nationals of Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru who do need a visa);
(3.) nationals of Caribbean island states (except nationals of Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti who do need a visa);
(4.) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tuvalu and Vatican City;
(5.) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and United Arab Emirates if in possession of valid multiple-entry Schengen visa (valid for all Schengen states);
(6.) holders of a travel document issued to refugees by the EU with a blue cover and two golden stripes in the top left hand corner and mentioning the agreement of July 28 1951.

Note: If staying for longer than 3 months, or if total length of time spent in Switzerland exceeds 6 months within a 12-month period, a residence permit is required. Visitors holding visas or residence permits must register with the police within 8 days of arrival in Switzerland.

Validity: 3 months. Transit visas are issued to nationals wishing to pass through Switzerland or continuing on a connecting flight to another country. Holders of transit visas must continue their journey within 48 hours.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist; Visitor; Business; Transit; Airport Transit. All visas cost £17 for passengers over 18 years of age (children aged under 18 included in a parent's passport are not required to pay a separate visa fee); £8.50 for unmarried passengers aged under 18. Fees can vary due to exchange rates.

Note: Nationals of Iraq, Somalia, and stateless persons require a transit visa at all times. Nationals of the following countries do not require a transit visa if they hold a visa or residence permit for an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Canada or the USA: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Temporary residence: Nationals of most European and some other countries do not require a visa if they intend to take up employment or residence in Switzerland; however, before entry they must obtain an Assurance of a Residence Permit from their employer in Switzerland. Students who wish to attend school, college or university for more than 3 months must apply for a Residence Permit well in advance through their local Embassy or Consulate.

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STANDARD TIME
GMT/UTC plus one hour.

CLIMATE
On the plateau and lower valleys of Switzerland a temperate climate prevails, with a mean annual temperature of about 10° C (about 50° F). The temperature decreases about 2° C (about 3° F) for every additional 300 m (about 1,000 ft) of elevation. Precipitation on the plateau and in the lower valleys is about 910 mm (about 36 in) annually; the higher regions generally receive more precipitation. Much of the precipitation occurs during the winter in the form of snow; the peaks of most mountains about 2,700 m (about 9,000 ft) or higher are snow-covered throughout the year.

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BRIEF HISTORY
Switzerland was inhabited by the Helvetii in the west and the Rhaetians, a people believed to have been related to the Etruscans, in pre-Roman times in the east . Julius Caesar and the Romans conquered the region, which they named Helvetia, in the 1st century BC, and it became thoroughly Romanized. During the Germanic invasions that swept over the Western Roman Empire in the 4th century AD, the Bourguignons and the Alamanni conquered Helvetia. The Franks in turn conquered the Alamanni in the 5th century AD, and the Bourguignons in the early 6th century. The Franks introduced a new civilization based largely on Christianity.

In 1276 Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf I of the Habsburg dynasty attempted to assert feudal rights in Switzerland, making his power a threat to the traditional liberties of the Swiss. To resist Rudolf's aggression, the three so-called forest cantons—Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden—around the Lake of Lucerne, entered a league for mutual defense in 1291.

The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland started in 1518, when a country pastor named Huldreich Zwingli began to denounce the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic church. Subsequently, under Zwingli's leadership, the city of Zürich revolted against church dogma by burning relics, banning the adoration of saints, and releasing clerics from their vows of celibacy.

Because of the traditional neutrality of the country, Switzerland became the favored site of international conferences and the headquarters of many organizations. The main office of the International Red Cross was established there in 1863, as was that of the League of Nations following World War I (1914-1918).

It became a member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), an international trade organization that was replaced in 1995 by the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO headquarters are in Geneva.

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POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
The Swiss political system combines direct and indirect democracy with the principles of sovereignty of the people, separation of powers, and proportional representation. In federal elections, all citizens age 18 or older are eligible to vote; women gained suffrage in national elections in 1971 through a referendum. In Switzerland, executive power is vested in the Bundesrat, or Federal Council, composed of seven members who are elected to four-year terms by a joint session of the bicameral parliament. The Federal Tribunal at Lausanne is composed of 30 judges who are appointed for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly. The court has final jurisdiction in suits between the cantonal and federal governments, corporations and individuals, and between cantons. Service in the Swiss militia is compulsory for all males between the ages of 20 and 42. Switzerland does not maintain a standing army, however, so service consists of relatively short periods of training. If mobilized, the Swiss armed forces would include about 357,500 troops.

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CURRENCY & ECONOMICS

CURRENCY
SCHWEIZERFRANKEN - Swiss Currency in short "FRANKEN" and "FÜNFLIBER" is a five Franken coins.

ECONOMY
Farming is an important part of the economy of Switzerland. Since Switzerland has no mineral resources, it must import, process and resell them as products. "Services" are the most important part of the economy. This includes banking, assurances and tourism. Their economy is divided into three sectors the Landwirtschaft ("agriculture"), Industri ("industry") and Dienstleistungen ("services"). One US dollar cost approximately CHF 1.70 and one German Mark costs approximately CHF 0.85.

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MUSEUMS

The Swiss National Museum is located in the Zurich which is the capital of the Switzerland. It is part of the Federal Office of Culture and in addition to its main branch, this group of museums also includes a local branch in French-speaking Switzerland as well as six other exhibition sites distributed in various regions of Switzerland.

The Swiss National Museum encompasses a collection of objects either manufactured in Switzerland or which are proven to have been used within Swiss territory as well as cultural items forming part of Switzerland's foreign history: prehistoric or protohistoric objects discovered during archaeological excavations, relics such as weapons, flags, uniforms, gold and silver crafts and ornaments, pewterware, ceramics and glassware, textiles, costumes, coins, seals, enamels, sculptures, paintings, prints, photographs, furniture and interior design, watches and clocks, musical instruments, toys, rustic goods and tools, crafts and early industrial antiquities as well as everyday objects of the 20th century.

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FOOD & DRINK
Zürich boasts some 1,300 eating and drinking establishments, offering a wide variety of culinary specialities from all over the world. Alongside typical Zürich fare such as "Züri-Gschnätzlets" and "Röschti", there are restaurants offering French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, kosher and Greek cuisine, to name but a few. Some years ago, dining experiences caught on in a big way: a meal in a typical wooden Swiss chalet atmosphere, or accompanied by an infectious rock beat, turns a dinner into an unforgettable event.

The wine lists in Zürich's restaurants are diverse and international. The local wines include white Riesling x Sylvaner, white Räuschling and light red Clevner made from Burgundy grapes.

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FESTIVALS & EVENTS

March
Fribourg International Film Festival - (second - thirdweek of March) Fribourg features films from Asia, Africa and Latin America, including shorts, features, documentaries, and a selection of films in competition.

Cully Jazz Festival - (third - last week of March)In the first days of the spring, the Cully Jazz Festival opens the festival's season. In a wonderful little village, in the middle of the vineyard, at the edge of the lake of Geneva, discover the jazz sounds from all around the world.

In the tent, the best musicians of the moment present their music. In the Next Step, our twenty-first century jazz club, discover the new and innovative sounds of the DJ's or some special events like Youssou N'Dour singing Jazz in a 250 places hall!

April
International Film Festival of Nyon (Visions du Reel Festival International du Cinema de Nyon) - (last week of April) Visions du Reel is the festival for states of reality. It is also a market for professionals, who will find one of the very convenient place to meet. In 2000, there were about 1,000 accreditation issued and 80 filmmakers.

Golden Rose of Montreux - (last week of April) The Golden Rose was set up in 1961 to meet the need for national broadcasters to bolster up their summer schedules with inexpensive, but high quality, programmes. The concept was to put together a good international variety programme in Switzerland, then swap it for productions from other countries within the framework of a contest.

June
Art 33 Basel: International Art Fair - (third week of June) Each year, hundreds of selected galleries from Europe, America, Asia and Australia present the art of the 20th and 21st century at Art Basel. On show will be paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs and editions as well as video and digital art by more than 1000 artists. The full spectrum of modern and contemporary art will be represented: from the great masters of modern art - for example Picasso, Miró and Matisse - through contemporary classics such as Warhol, Beuys and Christo, to the latest generation of artists.

Caribana Festival - (third week of June). The first summer festival in Switzerland hosts great music including pop, rock, Irish folk, disco, afro-music, jazz, and more. Don’t miss a chance to hear what all the fuss is about in Caribana!

July
Lugano Estival Jazz - (second week of July) This open-air event is free and is held in incredible locations in the heart of the Cities of Lugano and Mendisio in Southern Switzerland. There are some 17 groups slated for this year's event.

August/September
Anniversary of the Confederation - This holiday celebrates the 1291 Founding of the Swiss Confederation. The expansion and power of the Habsburg family in Dynastic Switzerland led smaller communities to meet on August 1, 1291 and sign a pact of eternal mutual assistance against their enemies that was the basis of the Confederation. The celebration includes countless music and cultural performances, bonfires, parades, and fireworks. A number of other great events coincide with anniversary celebrations, including the Fete Nationale du Val-de-Travers in Boveresse, Zurich's Open Air Cinema and the incomparable Verbier Festival.

Lucerne Festival - Sommer - (third week of August - second week of September) The Summer celebration has a topic of Creation and completes a trilogy that began in 1999 with Myths and continued in 2000 with Metamorphoses. Guests in Lucerne will be composers-in-residence Elliott Carter from the US and Hanspeter Kyburz of Switzerland, and artiste étoile violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter. The programme includes 28 symphony concerts and seven first performances as well as a symposium on the Festival topic.

Zucher Theater Spectacle - (third week of August - first week of September) More than twenty theatre and dance troupes perform during this legendary theater festival in various location.

Settimane Musicali di Ascona - (third week of August - third week of October) This is a music celebration of the musical form called the concerto.

Trottinette Festival for Kids - (last week of August - last week of September) Trottinette offers a palette of spectacles privileging diversity throughout. Clowns, theatre, songs, mimes, puppets, music, dance, all the forms artistic expression could be represented. Artists come from nearby countries, Africa and even from the other end of the world. The festival is designed for an audience of children from pre-school through adolescence. Individuals and groups (classes, schools, associations of young people) are welcome.

La Batie Festival de Geneve - (last week of August - third week of September) This is Geneva's most important cultural event. It hosts or produces performances from around the world in fields as diverse as rock, jazz, poésie sonore, theatre and dance.

World Inline Downhill Championships - The World Downhill Championships will be under the patronage of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and it will take place in connection with the Urban Contest of Lausanne. The event is organized by the "Ligue Urbaine" association and Jerome Perakis will supervise the development of the organization for the Federation International of Roller Sports (FIRS). The race will finish at the IOC Olympic Museum. Following this, the award ceremonies will take place also at the Olympic Museum. IOC and FIRS anti doping rules will apply.

Jungfrau Marathon - (first week of September) This event is considered one of the more beautiful race course in the world and as such, has a cap on the number of entrants that can participate. This year the number has been raised from 3200 to 3500 so give it a shot.

Knabenschiessen - (second week of September) At one of Switzerland's oldest festivals you'll find competitions of marksmanship for younger boys and girls aged 12 to 17 years. There's also a three-day market that's one of the largest in the country and lots of fun rides for all to enjoy.

FIM World Championship Sidecar - (third week of September) The best sidecar racers come to Switzerland for this championship competition.

Freestyle.ch - (third week of September) The Freestyle.ch competition is the beginning of the ISF Snowboarding World Tour. That is not all that goes on though. Other events include BMX, Inline Skate, and Freeski. The weekend's activities also include music, film premieres, bars, and a trade fair.

October
Settimane Musicali di Ascona - (third week of August - third week of September) This is a music celebration of the musical form called the concerto.

Out of Tune Rock Festival - (first week of October) Music and Sound presents the Out of Tune Rock Festival with rock groups, disco music and live theater presentations.

Swisscom Tennis Challenge - (second week of October) Women rule during this week of unforgettable and intense tennis competitions in Schluefweg Stadium.

VIPER International Festival for Film Video and New Media - (third week of October) VIPER breaks new ground for new forms of visual expression. It's the only festival of its kind in Switzerland showing the latest innovative and experimental work in film and video, as well as what's new in artistic expression in the new media. The main aim is the promotion of innovative art in the analogue and digital creation of pictures.

November
Wine Expo (Expovina) - (first week to third week of November) Come to Burliplatz Landing for a month of wine tastings from more than 20 countries and some 4,000 wines while your comfortably aboard 12 anchored ships a the wharf's edge.

AVO Session - (first week to second week of November) AVO brings some the best performers of world music, blues, gospel, pop and jazz to Basel. Cigarette maker AVO is the sponsor of the music festival AVO Session, one of the most important indoor music festival of German Switzerland.

Festival Vernier sur Rock - Festival Vernier sur Rock has been bringing people together since 1997 for the culture, the music and the atmosphere! Bring your friends, expect lots of fun, and enjoy the music that Switzerland has to offer!

Lucerne Festival - Piano - (third week of November) The broad range of music of this event Lucerne Culture and Convention Center KKL Luzern covers anything from classic music to jazz improvisations. This nine-day extravaganza features seven piano recitals from music legends ranging in style from classical to jazz and several events focusing on the construction of keyboard instruments from 15th-century to modern grand pianos.

December
Klausjagen - (first week of December) This spectacular nighttime procession travels through the town of Kussnacht on this night, the eve of St. Niklaus' Day. The parade begins with a cannon shot and at the front are the Geisselchlepfer, men skilled at cracking traditional wagon couch whips, following the whips are Iffelen, a candlelit, gothic-formed lantern carried on the head and shoulders of more men. After the Iffelen, come the musicians and after that comes the bishop Saint Claus accompanied by his Schmutzlis, black clothed chimney sweeps representing the darker side of life. Next come more than 700 Klausjager, men dressed in white farmer shirts with cowbells swinging from their hips. The Klausjager swing the bells in unison, making the 700 bells sound like one. More than 200 horn blowers follow up to end the parade.

New Year's Eve Race - More than 10,000 runners participate in this chilly race through the city's old section but the warmth of all the holiday lights and decorations make this a special one for all in Old City along Bahnhofstrasse.

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