– Switzerland TRAVEL GUIDE –
Country: Switzerland
National capital: Bern
Population: 7,725,200 people
Area: 41,290 square kilometers
Currency: Swiss franc
Language: German, French, Italian, Rhaeto-Romanic
Switzerland – a small Alpine country, mainly associated with watches, chocolate, pocket knives and horrendous prices. Beautiful, fairy-tale landscapes, excellent tourist infrastructure or well-preserved monuments make Switzerland an ideal destination. When visiting the country, be sure to visit the mountainous areas around Zermatt, where you can admire the famous and very distinctive Matterhorn peak. If you want to visit cities, head to Zurich, Geneva or Basel.
-Switzerland travel guide –
Bern is the capital of the canton, as well as all of Switzerland. It is the seat of government, parliament, federal and cantonal offices and the headquarters of many international organizations. The city. founded in 1191 by Prince Bertold v.Zahringen, is beautifully situated on the Aare River. In Bern, the most noteworthy landmarks are the historic old town, the late Gothic Basilica of St. Vincent, built between 1421 and 1575, and the two old towers – a symbol of the city. Bern is full of old Gothic townhouses and distinctive decorative wells. One of the city’s greatest tourist attractions is its excellent museums.
Although Zurich is not the official capital of Switzerland, it is the country’s largest and most economically important city. The city is located between Lake Zurich and two rivers: Sihl and Limmat. Zurich is famous for its excellent universities and many scientific institutions, where prominent engineers, bankers and artists from around the world are educated. The city is home to as many as 50 museums and 100 diverse galleries. The city’s top attractions include Lake Zurich, the Old Town, St. Peter’s Church, the Rietberg Museum and FIFA World Football Museum.
Basel lies on both banks of the Rhine, on the border between France and Germany. In ancient times it was home to the Roman Basilia. Basel’s most valuable monuments include the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, the city hall from the early 16th century and beautifully preserved city buildings representing various architectural styles.
Lake Geneva is the largest alpine lake (area 582 km2, length 72 km, width 14 km, depth 310 m). Its northern shore belongs to the Vaud canton, which includes part of the Alps, the Swiss Highlands and the Jura mountains. Wine grapes have been grown on the southern slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake for centuries. Along almost the entire shoreline are scattered climatic spas, water and winter sports centers, medieval historic towns and numerous castles. Several cities are located on the lake, including Geneva, Lausanne and Nyon, as well as the numerous tourist and spa resorts of Montreux, Vevey, Thonon-les-Bains, and Morges.
The Swiss Alps are the most beautiful mountains in Europe, if not the world. The peaks and glaciers of the Alps have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for years. These include the Aletsch Glacier – the largest and longest glacier in the Alps. It covers an area of 87 square kilometers. The glacier is covered by a reserve located on along with the Bietschhorn and Jungfrau peaks. The Jungfrau summit is reached by the highest cable car in Europe.
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