Switzerland in the Schengen area. Neutral and open? History of Switzerland

SWITZERLAND
Swiss Confederation, state in Central Europe. According to the state structure - a federal republic. The area of ​​the country is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. 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 capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Switzerland. The capital is Bern. Population - 7100 thousand people (1997). Population density: 172 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 61%, rural - 39% (1996). Area - 41.3 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Dufour Peak (4634 m above sea level). The lowest point is 192 m above sea level. National languages ​​- German, French, Italian, Romansh. The main religions are Catholicism, Protestantism. Administrative-territorial division - 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons. Monetary unit: Swiss franc = 100 rappenam (centimes). National holiday: Founding Day of the Confederation ("Oath of Rütli") - 1 August. National Anthem: "Swiss Psalm"

NATURE
Surface structure. 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 Jura Mountains, separating Switzerland and France, stretch from Geneva to Basel and Schaffhausen. They alternate mountain folds with a predominance of limestone and valleys; folds in places cut through small rivers, forming valleys with steep slopes (clouses). Agriculture is possible only in the valleys; the gentle slopes of the mountains are covered with forests or used as pastures. The Swiss plateau was formed on the site of a trough between the Jura and the Alps, which was filled with loose glacial deposits in the Pleistocene and is currently cut by numerous rivers. The surface of the plateau is hilly, agriculture is developed in wide valleys, and the interfluves are covered with forests. Most of the country's population is concentrated here, large cities and industrial centers are located. The most fertile agricultural lands and pastures are concentrated in the same region. Almost the entire southern half of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps. These high, uneven, snow-covered mountains are dissected by deep gorges. In the ridge zone there are firn fields and glaciers (10% of the country's territory). The wide bottom of the main valleys is used for fields and arable land. The area is sparsely populated. The Alps serve as the main source of income, since the picturesque nature of the highlands attracts many tourists and climbers. The highest peaks are Dufour peak (4634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif on the border with Italy, Dom (4545 m), Weisshorn (4505 m), Matterhorn (4477 m), Grand Combin (4314 m), Finsterarhorn (4274 m ) and Jungfrau (4158 m).

Rivers and lakes. Most of Switzerland is irrigated by the Rhine and its tributary Aare (the most important of its tributaries are the Reuss and the Limmat). The southwestern regions belong to the drainage basin of the Rhone, the southern regions to the Ticino basin and the southeastern regions to the basin of the Inn River (a tributary of the Danube). The rivers of Switzerland have no navigable value. On the Rhine, navigation is supported only as far as Basel. Switzerland is famous for its lakes, the most picturesque of them are located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva, Thun in the south, Firwaldstet, Zurich in the east, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north. Most of these lakes are of glacial origin: they were formed during an era when large glaciers descended from the mountains to the Swiss plateau. South of the axis of the Alps in the canton of Ticino are the lakes of Lugano and Lago Maggiore.

Climate. In Switzerland, there are pronounced climatic differences due to altitude and exposure to the sun and winds. The climate is humid, on the plateau - moderately warm, in the mountains - cold. Daily temperatures in the lowlands fluctuate on average during the year from 10 to 16°C, in summer they rise to 27°C or more. The hottest month is July, the coldest month is January. The highest peaks of the Alps are covered with eternal snows. The snow line rises to 2700 m on the western slopes and up to 3200 m on the eastern slopes. In winter, the temperature drops below 0 ° C throughout the country, with the exception of the northern shore of Lake Geneva and the shores of lakes Lugano and Lago Maggiore, part of which belongs to Italy. The climate there is as mild as in northern Italy, because the mountains protect against the intrusion of cold northern winds (bizet). In January-February, under conditions of high pressure over the Alps, clear cold weather sets in, favorable for winter sports. The southern slopes at this time receive a lot of solar heat. In Switzerland, sharp strong winds are frequent, accompanied by rain and snowfalls. Foehns prevail in spring, summer and autumn - warm dry winds blowing from the east and southeast. Since the currents of moist air from the Mediterranean Sea rise up the slopes of the Alps, and then descend to the Swiss plateau, the southern slopes receive almost twice as much precipitation as the northern ones. The average annual precipitation in Basel (277 m above sea level) is 810 mm, in Lausanne (375 m) on the northern shore of Lake Geneva - 1040 mm, and in Davos (1580 m) in the southeast of the country - 970 mm.
Flora and fauna. The Swiss Plateau is located in the zone of European broadleaf forests. The predominant species are oak and beech, in some places pine is mixed with them. On the southern slope of the Alps, the chestnut tree is typical. Higher on the slopes of the mountains, coniferous forests grow, forming a transitional belt between broad-leaved forests and alpine meadows (at high altitudes). There are many bright colors in the mountains. In spring, crocuses and daffodils bloom, in summer - rhododendrons, saxifrage, gentian and edelweiss. The animal world has experienced a strong influence of human economic activity. While the snow partridge and mountain hare are still quite common, such characteristic animals of the upper tiers as roe deer, marmot and chamois are much less common. Great efforts are being made to protect wildlife. In the Swiss National Park, located near the border with Austria, roe deer and chamois live, less often - alpine ibex and fox; there are also white partridge and several species of birds of prey.
POPULATION
ethnic groups. The Swiss make up a close-knit national community, although the population consists of ethnic groups speaking different languages ​​(German, French, Italian and Romansh) and often differing in religion. However, mutual tolerance and goodwill allow them to live and work in one country. A typical national image of the Swiss was formed - a short, stocky brown-haired or blond with brown or gray eyes, having a reputation as an enterprising hardworking person with business acumen. Many Swiss hold key positions in the economy of other countries. There are many foreigners living in Switzerland. In 1997, foreign workers and other foreigners made up 19.4% of the country's population. Most of the unskilled work in Switzerland is done by foreign workers, who come mainly from Italy and other countries in southern and eastern Europe.
Languages. The official languages ​​of Switzerland are German, French and Italian. Romansh, which is derived from Latin and also has national status, is spoken by approximately 1% of the country's population. The most common German language: its local dialect - Alemannic (Schwitzerduch) - is used by 73% of Swiss citizens and 64% of the country's population. French is spoken approx. 19% of the population, predominantly in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Friborg and Valais. Italian is spoken by approx. 4% of Swiss citizens (mainly in the canton of Ticino), and taking into account foreign workers - 8% of the country's population. Romansh is spoken only in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.
Religion. In the late 1990s, 46% of the Swiss population were Catholics, 40% were Protestants. The proportion of Protestants declined after World War II due to the influx of foreign workers, predominantly Catholics. As a result of a national referendum in 1973, two articles of the constitution were repealed, which prohibited the activities of the Jesuit order and the formation of religious orders. Confessional differences in Switzerland do not always coincide with linguistic boundaries. Among the Protestants one can find 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. There are small Jewish communities in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.
Population. In 1997, the population of Switzerland was 7097 thousand people and was concentrated mainly in the lowland areas. Large industrial centers - Zurich, Basel and Geneva - are characterized by the highest population density. The largest cities in the country (population in thousands in 1997): Zurich (339), Geneva (173), Basel (171), Bern (124), Lausanne (114), Winterthur (87), St. Gallen (71) and Lucerne (58).


STATE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Federalism and Democracy. The basic principles of the Swiss constitution of 1874 are federalism and democracy. Article 3 of the constitution guarantees to the 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons into which Switzerland is divided all the rights of self-government, with the exception of those that are the prerogative of the federal government. These include the declaration of war and the conclusion of peace, the signing of international treaties and the entry into alliances, training, the material support of the armed forces and the management of them, the regulation of foreign trade. The federal government and the cantons have the right to impose taxes. In addition, the federal government exercises control over communications, higher education, and labor. The adoption of the principle of federalism played a significant role in uniting the very heterogeneous canton states into the first all-Swiss federal state in 1848. Over time, the federal government began to more actively influence all aspects of the country's life. Nevertheless, the Swiss still feel a strong attachment to their native cantons and their traditions. Until 1971, Switzerland was one of the few countries in the world where women did not have the right to vote at the national level. In February 1971, the male electorate approved a constitutional amendment that gave the country's women the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. At the cantonal level, the granting of voting rights to women was delayed: in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, women finally received the right to vote only in 1991. The Swiss constitution also includes mandatory referendums on all constitutional amendments, popular initiatives to put forward such amendments and legislative referendums on certain laws and treaties. The same rights, often in conjunction with legislative initiative, apply at the cantonal and local levels. In addition, in some cantons, direct democracy has been preserved in the form of a general assembly of residents (Landsgemeinde): this is a system of direct participation of all voters of the canton or locality in the approval of certain laws and the election of officials. Following a referendum held in March 1991, the voting age for federal elections was lowered from 20 to 18.
Political system. The main organs of the Swiss Confederation are the federal council, the federal assembly and the federal court. The executive body is the federal council of seven members elected by parliament for a term of four years. The only formal limitation on the composition of this body is that only one deputy can be elected from each canton. However, in fact, the composition of the council is strictly limited by tradition: for example, it must necessarily represent the main geographical regions of the country and two of the language groups (French and Italian). Since 1959, the composition of the council has, as far as possible, reflected the influence of the main political parties. Each year, one of the members of the council is elected President of Switzerland, but this position is not vested with special powers. The legislative body of Switzerland - the federal assembly - consists of two chambers: the council of cantons, to which two representatives are elected from each canton and one from each half-canton, and a national council of 200 deputies, elected in proportion to the population of the cantons. The Assembly is elected for a term of four years. It has the usual legislative powers, but some laws must be approved by popular referendum. The Federal Court of Switzerland is located in Lausanne, the other main government bodies are in Bern. The federal court functions as the country's supreme court, although it cannot declare federal laws unconstitutional. There are no lower federal courts, since the cantonal courts are responsible for the application of federal laws at the lower levels. The federal court is composed of 26-28 judges and 11-13 jurors, sitting in separate rooms, depending on the nature of the case. The members of the court are elected by the federal assembly for a term of six years. At the cantonal level, executive power is exercised by the state or government council, which consists of 5 to 11 members, headed by the president (Landmann). Council members are elected by the people of the cantons for a term of 4 years (except Friborg, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden) and in some smaller cantons work on a voluntary basis. Most cantons have a single legislature - a grand council, land council, or canton council, also elected for a four-year term. The legal bodies of the canton are represented by courts of two or three levels, depending on the size of the canton. Most of the local features of Swiss justice were eliminated with the introduction of a unified national code of civil, commercial and criminal law in 1942.
Political parties. Switzerland has a multi-party system. On the right wing stands the Christian Democratic People's Party (formerly the Conservative Social Christian or Conservative Catholic). She sees her main task in defending the teachings and institutions of the Roman Catholic Church and in upholding the rights of the cantons. On the left is the Social Democratic (or Socialist) Party, which advocates broad social reforms, including greater state participation in the country's economic life, but respecting the partnership between the state and private enterprise. At the center of the political spectrum is the Radical Democratic Party of Switzerland. She was truly radical by the standards of the 19th century when she set the policy of the country. In modern conditions, this party has become relatively conservative. Each of the three parties holds about a fifth of all seats in the national council. This balance of power is maintained from election to election, which provides Switzerland with political harmony and stability. Since 1959, each of these parties has had two of the seven seats in the Federal Council, and the remaining seat is occupied by a representative of the largest of the other parties, the Swiss People's Party (formerly the Party of Peasants, Craftsmen and Burghers). Other smaller parties include the Greens, the Union of Independents, the Liberal Party and the Freedom Party (formerly the Motorist Party). The latter, formed in 1985, defends the rights of car drivers and advocates for the restriction of immigration. The Swiss Armed Forces are based on the National Militia system. Military service is universal and compulsory for all men between the ages of 20 and 50, with periodic fees. In the mid-1990s, in the event of full mobilization, the Swiss army would have numbered 625 thousand people. The country's air force consists of 250 combat units. There are no soldiers among the professional military personnel: there are 1,600 officers and sergeants who serve as instructors.
Switzerland as an international center. Switzerland adheres to the traditional policy of neutrality and therefore does not join the UN. However, it takes part in the work of all specialized organizations of the UN; Geneva is home to the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, the World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Other organizations based in Switzerland are the World Council of Churches and the International Red Cross founded by the Swiss Henri Dunant.
ECONOMY
General characteristics. Switzerland is poor in natural resources, except for hydropower. Nevertheless, it is a prosperous country, in many respects the richest in Europe, primarily due to the high development of manufacturing and services (tourism is especially important). During the period 1950-1990, the economy developed steadily, unemployment was kept low, inflation was kept in check by the Swiss National Bank, and the downturns in business activity were short-lived. The economic recession that engulfed most of Europe in the early 1990s also affected Switzerland: unemployment reached its highest level since 1939, and inflation rose. Nevertheless, the standard of living in the country remained still very high. In 1997, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Switzerland was nominally estimated at 365 billion Swiss francs, in reality - at 316 billion. In per capita terms - 51.4 thousand Swiss francs (nominally) and 44.5 thousand (real).
Labor resources. In 1996, about 28% of the working population of Switzerland were employed in industry (in 1996 it was estimated at 3.8 million people), in agriculture and forestry - 5% and 6% - in the service sector. Of these last ca. 23% worked in hotels, restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, approx. 11% - in banking and credit, insurance and entrepreneurship, approx. 6% in the transport and communications system. The unemployment rate in Switzerland in 1997 was 5.2%. In the same year, there were 936 thousand foreign workers who had a temporary residence permit in the country, of which 30% were Italians and 15% were Yugoslavs. In the early 1960s, the share of foreigners in the labor force was as high as 30%, but at the end of the same decade it dropped to 15% as a result of restrictions imposed by the Swiss government. During the 1990s, foreign workers accounted for over 25% of all employed. They perform most of the work that does not require qualifications, many of them are employed in construction, metallurgy and engineering.
Industry. The high standard of living of the Swiss population was achieved thanks to the large-scale development of various industries. The Swiss watch industry has won world fame, concentrated mainly in the western part of the country (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Geneva) and Schaffhausen, Thun, Bern and Olten. In the 1970s, due to competition from East Asian countries, this sector of the Swiss economy experienced a severe crisis, but in the 1980s it was overcome by the production of inexpensive electronic watches. The textile industry, the oldest in the country, was for many years the most important industry. However, during the Second World War there was a shift in favor of metallurgy and the chemical industry, and throughout the 1980s the production of machinery and equipment developed rapidly. In the 1990s, the production of chemical products and medicines, scientific and measuring instruments, optical instruments, machine tools and foodstuffs, especially cheese and chocolate, played a large role. Footwear, paper, leather and rubber products stood out among other industrial products.
International trade. Switzerland's highly developed foreign trade is based on the export of industrial products such as machinery, watches, medicines, electronic equipment, chemicals and clothing. In 1991, the share of manufacturing products accounted for approx. 90% of the country's export earnings. Export structure in 1997: 20% - machinery and equipment; 9% - electrical machinery and equipment; 9% - products of organic chemistry; 9% - pharmaceutical products; 6% - precision instruments and watches, 6% - precious metals, 4% - artificial materials. The Swiss foreign trade balance usually had a deficit, which was traditionally covered by the import of foreign capital, income from the export of capital, income from foreign tourism, insurance and transportation. In the mid-1990s, thanks to an improvement in imports, a small positive balance of foreign trade was achieved for the first time: in 1997, the value of exports amounted to 105.1 billion Swiss francs, and imports - 103.1 billion. Leading foreign trade partners of Switzerland are the Federal Republic of Germany, the USA, Italy, France and UK. Switzerland was one of the founding countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1959, in 1972 Swiss voters approved a free trade agreement with the European Economic Community (now the European Union, EU), in 1977 all duties on manufactured goods were abolished. In 1992, Switzerland applied for EU membership, but later that year, Swiss voters voted against the country's accession to the European Economic Area (EEA). This project was aimed at facilitating the free movement of labor, goods, services and capital in 7 EFTA countries and 12 EU countries. After that, Switzerland concluded an agreement with the EU on limited participation in the EEA; as a result, Switzerland has reduced duties on goods transported through its territory by EU member states.
Agriculture. About 12% of the area of ​​Switzerland is used for arable land and another 28% for extensive cattle breeding and dairy production. About a third of the country's territory is occupied by unproductive land (at least unsuitable for agriculture), especially in the cantons of Uri, Valais and Grisons, and a quarter is covered with forests. Not surprisingly, 40% of food products have to be imported. At the same time, Switzerland provides itself with wheat, meat and dairy products are produced in excess. The main centers of agriculture are concentrated in the cantons of Bern, Vaud, Zurich, Friborg and Aargau. The main crops are wheat, potatoes and sugar beets. In 1996, there were 1,772,000 cattle in the country (of which about 40% were dairy cows), 1,580,000 pigs, 442,000 sheep, and 52,000 goats. A large timber processing industry works for the domestic and foreign markets. In recent years, however, Switzerland's forests have been hit hard by air pollution, forcing the government to impose strict controls on car exhaust emissions.
Energy. In 1996, 54% of energy in Switzerland was generated by hydroelectric power plants built on numerous mountain rivers. Five nuclear power plants meet most of the country's energy needs. Nevertheless, the use of nuclear energy remains in question: in 1990, Swiss voters approved a ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. Switzerland has long been a major oil importer, but natural gas imports beginning in 1974 and energy conservation measures have led to a reduction in oil imports. In 1991, crude oil came to Switzerland mainly from Libya and Great Britain, while refined products came from Germany, the Benelux countries and France. The main suppliers of natural gas are Germany and the Netherlands.
Transport and communication. Switzerland has a highly developed transport system. The Rhine, the largest navigable water artery, is navigable within Switzerland only on the Basel-Rheinfelden section, 19 km long. A large river port was put into operation in Basel. In the 1990s, its annual cargo turnover was 9 million tons. The Rhine-Rhone Canal is also of great importance for the transportation of industrial goods. The length of the railway network in Switzerland in 1995 was 5719 km. The railways are almost completely nationalized and electrified and are among the best in Europe. Since they were laid in conditions of highly rugged terrain, the construction of numerous bridges and tunnels was required. In 1995 there were over 71,380 km of first-class highways in Switzerland. The car park in 1996 reached almost 3.3 million, i.e. There was one car for every two people in the country. In 1964, the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel was opened, the first road tunnel in the Alps. Built in 1980, the Gotthard Tunnel is currently the longest road tunnel in the world (16.4 km). Switzerland is the only landlocked country with a significant navy. In 1941, she purchased several ocean-going ships to carry important goods during World War II, and continued to expand her fleet after the war. In 1985, the cargo turnover of its merchant fleet was estimated at 225.4 million registered tons. The fleet includes many modern ships designed to carry from 6 thousand to 10 thousand tons of cargo, as well as several tankers. The federal government owns all telephone and telegraph lines, as well as the radio and television network. In the 1980s, a major modernization program for telecommunications systems was implemented.
Money circulation and banking activity. Switzerland is one of the most important financial centers in the world. Its banking system far exceeds the volume required for domestic transactions. There are two interconnected banking systems: the state system, including the Swiss National Bank and cantonal banks, and the private banking system. The Swiss National Bank, which began operations in 1907, is the only financial institution that issues national currency. The main monetary unit - the Swiss franc - is one of the most stable currencies in the world. The National Bank is controlled by the federal authorities and has a great influence on the economic policy of the confederation. The Swiss private banking system in the 1990s consisted of several large commercial banks that were part of the "Big Four": Schweizerischer Bankverein (SBF), Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft (SBG), Schweizerische Creditanstalt and Schweizerische Volskbank. In 1997, the "big four" became the "big three" after the merger of the SBG with the SBF. There are also 28 cantonal banks, hundreds of regional and savings banks, financial companies and other banks, 20 of which are owned by foreigners. The role of foreign banks is increasing: in the late 1990s, they owned more than 10% of Swiss bank holdings. Depositors have long been attracted to Swiss banks: in accordance with the Swiss banking law of 1934, banks are prohibited from providing information about their customers without their consent. Under pressure from other governments, especially the United States, regulations have been passed to allow disclosure of secrecy of deposits, especially when depositors are under investigation for currency crimes such as counterfeiting and trade in confidential information. After much debate, the Swiss government in the late 1990s also allowed the secrecy of deposits in connection with the search for funds belonging to the victims of the Nazi genocide. The Swiss Stock Exchange is one of the most active international stock and bond markets. The stock exchange in Zurich is the largest in continental Europe. Switzerland also plays an important role in the global insurance market, especially in the commercial insurance sector. Some of the leading Swiss insurance companies derive more than half of their income from operations on the foreign market.
Tourism. The tourism industry is one of Switzerland's vital sources of income. In 1996, more than 18 million people stayed in Switzerland for holidays, mainly from Germany, Great Britain, France, the USA, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia.
Public finances. The Swiss budget is usually more or less balanced, but in the early 1990s, due to the recession of the economy, the expenditure part of the budget increased. In 1997, expenditures were estimated at 44.1 billion Swiss francs and revenues at 38.9 billion. The main sources of income were income taxes, turnover taxes and import duties.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education. Universal primary and secondary education is administered by the cantonal authorities, so the age limit for compulsory education fluctuates. Most children attend school between the ages of 7 and 15 or 16. Almost all public schools are free. There are practically no illiterates in the country. Switzerland has many private schools that accept students from all over the world. There are 9 universities in the country - in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Friborg, Neuchâtel, Lugano and St. Gallen. All of them are under the control of the cantons. There are many foreign students studying at universities. There are several other higher education institutions. The total number of students in 1997/1998 was 93,000.
The development of culture. Switzerland is a country with a rich cultural heritage. She gave the world many outstanding artists, writers and scientists. These are Nikolaus Manuel (1484-1530), a talented Renaissance artist, and the physician Paracelsus (c. 1493-1541), who is considered the first natural scientist of the Modern Age. The theologian Nikolai Fluessky (1417-1487), who was canonized in 1947, received wide recognition. Switzerland is associated with the activities of the great religious reformers - Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) and John Calvin (1509-1564), as well as prominent psychologists Carl Gustav Jung (1895-1961) and Jean Piaget (1896-1980). Renowned Swiss artists include Heinrich Fussli (1742-1825), Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) and Paul Klee (1879-1940). Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965), educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) were also natives of Switzerland.
Music and dancing. Swiss musical folklore includes song and instrumental music. A specific song genre of the Alpine highlanders is yodel, characterized by rapid transitions from the chest low voice register to the high head register (falsetto) and vice versa. Famous Swiss composers are Otmar Scheck (1886-1957), Frank Martin (1890-1974) and Willy Burckhard (1900-1955). Arthur Honegger (1892-1955), who belonged to the modern French school, had Swiss parents and began his music studies in Zurich. In some cities of Switzerland, primarily in Zurich, Basel and Geneva, there are ballet troupes. In 1989 the innovative choreographer Maurice Béjart moved with his dance company from Brussels to Lausanne. Expressive traditional folk dances are shown at national and regional festivals held annually in Switzerland.
Literature. Swiss literature has a rich tradition. Johann Bodmer (1698-1783) and Johann Brettinger (1701-1776) influenced German literature. The famous writer Germaine de Stael (1766-1817) had Swiss parents. The writer and educator Johann Rudolf Wies (1781-1830) is best known as the publisher who published The Swiss Robinson, a book written by his father, Johann David Wies (1743-1818). Johanna Spiri (1827-1901) became famous as the author of the classic children's book Heidi.
Other famous Swiss writers include Jeremiah Gotthelf, Gottfried Keller, Konrad Ferdinand Meyer, Rodolphe Tepffer and Karl Spitteler. Swiss writers of the 20th century Albert Steffen and Charles Ferdinand Ramyu (1878-1947), Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt created many wonderful works. Peider Lancel, writing in Romansh, gained a reputation as an outstanding poet. The Swiss historian Jakob Burckhardt is known for his work The Culture of Italy in the Renaissance, and Johann von Müller (1752-1809, he earned the honorific nickname "Swiss Tacitus") for his work Swiss History.
STORY
Creation of the Swiss Confederation. Among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the territory of Switzerland in prehistoric times, the Helvetians stood out, who became allies of the Romans after they were defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Bibractus in 58 BC. e. In 15 BC Rets were also conquered by Rome. 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. 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. The Habsburgs encountered strong opposition when they tried to consolidate their holdings by abolishing the privileges of some local communities. 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. These forested cantons, located along the strategically important road through the St. Gotthard Pass, benefited from the struggle between the Hohenstaufen emperors and the papacy. In 1231 Uri and in 1240 Schwyz received the rights of the imperial territories of the Holy Roman Empire, freeing themselves from dependence on petty feudal lords. After the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250, a period of decline began in the empire, marked by civil war during the Great Interregnum of 1250-1273. The Habsburgs, who did not recognize the rights of Uri and Schwyz, tried to conquer Schwyz in 1245-1252. Uri and Unterwalden, who entered into a temporary alliance, came to his aid. In August 1291, the Swiss communities entered into a permanent defensive alliance among themselves and signed an agreement known as the "Eternal Alliance" - the first documented evidence of cooperation between the forest cantons. This year begins the official history of the Swiss state. Part of the traditional legend about these events, associated with the name of William Tell, is not confirmed in historical documents.

Growth and expansion of the confederation. The first proof of the strength of the confederation was given in 1315, when the highlanders of the forested cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden 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 and Milan, and the French King Francis I, the Swiss gained a reputation as magnificent warriors. They were feared by enemies and respected by allies. During the "heroic age" of Swiss history (1415-1513), the territory of the confederation expanded by adding new lands in Aargau, Thurgau, Vaud, and also south of the Alps. 5 new cantons were created. In 1513-1798 Switzerland became 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.
From the Reformation to the French Revolution. In 1523 Huldrych Zwingli openly challenged the Roman Catholic Church and led a religious reform movement in Zurich. He was supported by the inhabitants of a number of other cities in northern Switzerland, but in rural areas he met with resistance. In addition, there were differences with the radical Anabaptist wing of his followers in Zurich itself. The Zwinglian current of Protestantism subsequently merged with the current of John Calvin from Geneva into the Swiss Reformed Church. Since the cantons of central Switzerland remained Catholic, a split along religious lines was inevitable. 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. Political life of Switzerland in the 18th century. was calm. The Bernese naturalist and poet Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777), the historian I. von Müller, and also the philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, born in Geneva, and the great pedagogue and humanist from Zurich, I. G. Pestalozzi, became famous in the "age of Enlightenment". At this time, a stream of foreign guests rushed to Switzerland, among them - Voltaire, Gibbon and Goethe.
Revolution and restoration of the Confederation. The French Revolution had a profound effect on Switzerland, both politically and philosophically. In 1798 French troops invaded the country and occupied it. The French granted the conquered cantons a constitution that replaced the loose federation with the "one and indivisible Helvetic Republic". The revolutionary ideas of democracy, civil liberties and centralized power led to the creation of a strong central government for the first time in Swiss history. The constitution of 1798, created on the basis of the constitution of the first French Republic, granted all Swiss equal rights before the law and a code of civil liberties. However, it encroached on traditional federalism, and many Swiss did not want to recognize it. The struggle between the federalists, who opposed the new system, and the centralists, who supported it, subsided temporarily when Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 granted the republic a constitution known as the Mediation Act. It restored many of the former privileges of the cantons and expanded the number of cantons from 13 to 19. After the defeat of Napoleon, the cantons dissociated themselves from the regime imposed by the French and tried to revive the old confederation. 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 perpetual neutrality of Switzerland.
Civil war and new constitution. Over the next three decades, liberal sentiment grew in Switzerland. In response to the actions of the radicals in the Union Sejm and in some cantons (the closing of the monasteries in Aargau, the expulsion of the Jesuits), seven conservative Catholic cantons formed the defensive alliance of the Sonderbund. In 1847, the Sejm by a small majority announced the dissolution of this association. The federal army under the leadership of General Guillaume Dufour won the civil war before the European powers could intervene in the conflict. As a result of the victory over the Sonderbund, a new constitution was adopted (1848). A balance was struck between the aspirations of the radical centralists and the conservative federalists. From a fragile union of canton states, Switzerland has become a single union state. A permanent body of executive power was created in the form of a federal council of seven members, elected by the 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 jeopardizing the federal foundation of the Swiss state. In the last decades of the 19th century Swiss industry developed, and the construction of railways began. Imported raw materials were processed into high-quality products, which then entered the world market.
Switzerland in World Wars. With the outbreak of the First World War, there was a threat to the national unity of Switzerland: French-speaking Swiss were mainly sympathetic to France, and German-speaking to Germany. The four-year mobilization laid a heavy burden on the country's economy, there was a shortage of industrial raw materials, unemployment was growing, and there was not enough food. General discontent culminated in mass strikes in November 1918. In 1919 Geneva was chosen as the headquarters of the League of Nations. Switzerland became a member of this organization only after heated internal debates and after receiving guarantees of respect for its neutrality. The outbreak of World War II found the population of the country more united: few people in Switzerland welcomed Nazism. However, strategically, the position of the confederation was much more vulnerable, since it was surrounded by totalitarian powers.
Foreign policy. With the end of World War II, the League of Nations ceased to exist. Switzerland decided not to join the newly created 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. Switzerland felt that not joining the UN was the best way to maintain its independent position as a neutral country in the ever-changing balance of power on the world stage. 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. Following a traditional policy of neutrality, Switzerland in the 1950s and early 1960s faced great difficulty in participating in various European integration plans. In 1948, she joined the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, but refrained from joining the European Economic Community (later the European Union, EU). The obvious political aims of this organization were unacceptable to Switzerland. However, it became one of the founding members of the European Free Trade Association in 1959, and in 1963 joined the Council of Europe, again demonstrating its interest in European cooperation. In 1972, a national referendum ratified a free trade agreement with the EU, according to which, by 1977, duties on all industrial products were gradually removed. In 1983, Switzerland became a full member of the Group of Ten, an association of the largest contributors to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Political and social changes. In the 1960s, Switzerland faced a severe internal problem. Several French-speaking districts located in the Jura mountains in the canton of Bern demanded the formation of a new canton. This met with resistance from the German-speaking population of the region. Federal troops were sent there to prevent clashes. In the early 1970s, voters in the canton of Bern approved a referendum in the French-speaking districts on secession. As a result of a series of plebiscites held over a number of years, three of the seven districts and several border communities voted in favor of the creation of a new canton. This new canton was named Jura. The decision was then approved in a national referendum in 1978, and the new canton joined the confederation in 1979. In the 1960s, there was marked tension over the large number of workers from southern European countries who came to work in Switzerland. Despite the traditional international character of the country and the need for foreigners to participate in its economic life, many Swiss showed a hostile attitude towards migrants from southern Europe and considered them responsible for the country's internal problems, such as a lack of housing. Accordingly, the government introduced restrictions that drastically reduced the proportion of foreigners in the work force. The political movement, which demanded a further reduction in the number of foreign workers, did not gain much support in the elections, but was able to organize referenda in 1970, 1974 and 1977 on constitutional amendments to limit the proportion of foreigners in the Swiss population. These proposals were not approved, but attempts to limit the presence of foreigners in Switzerland continued into the 1980s and 1990s. In 1982 voters rejected the government's proposal to liberalize the rules governing the stay of foreign workers and their families, and in 1987 immigration was even more restricted. In 1994, referendum participants approved a tightening of the law on the stay of foreigners. Nevertheless, the contingent of foreign workers remains large - 25% of the total number of employees. At the same time, the number of foreign nationals living in Switzerland has risen to around 1.4 million. Many of them are refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and developing countries. In the mid-1980s, the Swiss government attempted to end the country's isolation and conclude a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements with EU countries. In a referendum in 1986, Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected the government's proposal to join the UN, but six years later they voted for Switzerland's participation in the IMF and the World Bank. In December 1992, seven months after the government announced its intention to join the EU, the population rejected the proposal to join the European Economic Area, which since January 1994 included the countries of the European Free Trade Association with the EU in a single free trade area. Switzerland's attitude towards the gradually strengthening EU remained a stumbling block for the country's foreign policy in the late 1990s. The 1995 elections revealed a growing polarization of voters on this issue. The greatest success was achieved, on the one hand, by the Social Democrats, who actively support integration, and on the other, by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which opposes not only accession to the EU, but also against participation in the European Economic Area and Switzerland's cooperation with other trading and political alliances. The decision in 1996 to allow the Swiss military to participate in the maneuvers and technology programs of the Partnership for Peace organization provoked violent protests in the country. The controversy over the monetary contributions of the victims of the Nazi genocide. In the late 1990s, the Swiss government was involved in an international dispute over the return by private Swiss banks of gold and other valuable property confiscated by Nazi Germany during World War II from genocide victims. Also discussed were the deposits and valuables placed by European Jews in Swiss banks before and during the war to keep them from being captured by the Nazis. Immediately after the war, Switzerland agreed to return the stolen deposits to the victims and their heirs. However, in litigation that attracted a lot of public attention in the mid-1990s, private plaintiffs and Jewish lawyer groups argued that Switzerland had defaulted on its obligations and accused Swiss banks of preventing heirs from accessing "frozen" accounts. deceased contributors. Since 1996, American local and federal politicians and organizations have launched a campaign for the return of the so-called. Nazi gold, and many US municipalities, including New York City, threatened to impose economic sanctions on Swiss banks if the latter refused to bail out the plaintiffs. In August 1998, the Schweizerische Creditanstalt banking group and the SBF agreed to pay $1.25 billion in compensation to the victims of the genocide and their heirs. After that, the threats of sanctions were stopped. The controversy damaged the international prestige of Switzerland and caused a wave of indignation in that country. The US and European media often presented Swiss bankers and diplomats as extremely unsympathetic people who showed indifference to the claims of genocide victims. Public attention was also drawn to the aid that came to Nazi Germany from Switzerland. Despite the neutrality of the country, Swiss industrialists supplied raw materials and industrial products to Nazi Germany. Many Swiss politicians felt they were being portrayed as villains by US officials; the Swiss were of the opinion that the agreement reached was a surrender to outside pressure, humiliating for the nation as a whole.
Fight for women's rights. The women's suffrage movement, first successful in the French-speaking cantons in the late 1950s, reached its main goal only in 1971, when women won the right to vote and be elected in federal elections. However, in a number of cantons, women were prevented for a long time from exercising their voting rights in local elections. In 1991, in the German-speaking semi-canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, the last territory in Switzerland to oppose the emancipation of women, they received the right to participate in the annual meetings of voters. The next step was the adoption in 1981 of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights for women. In 1984, Elisabeth Kopp became the first woman to be elected to the federal council. In 1985, women were given equal rights in the family (before that, the husband was considered the head of the family, which allowed him to unilaterally manage family finances and not allow his wife to work). In 1991, the council of the city of Bern decided that its composition should not be more than 60% of the same sex.
Measures to protect the environment. The transit position of Switzerland in the system of meridional European transport carried out by heavy vehicles has complicated the environmental situation on the country's mountain roads. In addition, exhaust fumes contributed to the destruction of forests that protect the mountain villages of Switzerland from avalanches and mudflows. To reduce exhaust emissions from motor vehicles, the Swiss government introduced road tolls in 1985, a weight limit for cars (28 tons) was set, and traffic was limited at night and on weekends. In a referendum in 1994 voters approved the decision that by 2004 foreign commercial goods would have to be transported through Switzerland only by rail.
Economic development. Until the end of the 1980s, Switzerland had a positive budget balance. Its economy was characterized by low inflation, low unemployment and low interest rates. In 1988 and 1989 the budgets were reduced with an excess of the revenue side of 900 million and 300 million dollars, respectively, unemployment in 1987 reached a record low of 0.7%. However, rising inflation (6% in 1991) prompted the Swiss National Bank to raise interest rates and limit the issue of money. In the early 1990s, there was a recession in the country's economy. Although in 1991-1993 the gross domestic product declined by less than 1%, the unemployment rate reached 3.6% in 1992 and 4.5% at the end of 1993, mainly due to a reduction in the number of jobs in construction and engineering. In 1994, there were signs of an economic recovery, especially in international financial services, but unemployment in manufacturing and other industries continued to rise. In 1997, the situation improved due to increased exports, demand revived, investment increased, but investment in construction continued to decline.
LITERATURE
Sabelnikov L.V. Switzerland. Economy and foreign trade. M., 1962 Mogutin V.B. Switzerland: big business in a small country. M., 1975 Dragunov G.P. Switzerland: history and modernity. M., 1978 Handbook on Democracy: The Functioning of a Democratic State on the Example of Switzerland. M., 1994 Schaffhauser R. Fundamentals of Swiss community law on the example of the community law of the canton of St. Gallen. St. Petersburg, 1996

Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .

Travel forums are full of posts with a question that begins like this:

“I have Schengen open. Will they let me into Switzerland?

From France, Poland, Finland, Russia and Belarus... will they let you in? At the same time, even the answers of those who have checked everything in practice do not relieve anxiety about this issue. Involuntarily, I think: what if someone just got lucky, but they will definitely leave me at the border, and I won’t see Zurich (Lucerne, Bern, Geneva) forever? With regard to Switzerland, a truly Hamlet question is posed.

Will they or won't they?

We will not torment you with uncertainty and will answer right away - they will let you in! And now to clarify: with a valid standard Schengen visa today, you can freely enter the territory of the Swiss Confederation and just as freely leave it. This answer to the question that worries everyone has been the only correct one since 2008, when Switzerland officially became part of the Schengen visa-free area.

What do we know about Schengen:

• having a Schengen visa in your passport, you can freely move around all the countries that make up the Schengen area;
• a visa can be issued by any state of the Schengen area;
• a visa can be issued for any period;

You can enter the Schengen area with a valid visa through any country, but it is recommended to stay in the country that issued the visa most of the time.

Top 5 myths about Schengen in Switzerland that we want to dispel

If the Schengen is issued by another state, they won't even let me out of Zurich airport.

According to the Schengen agreement, the visa regime in the countries that have signed it operates in the same way. Therefore, Switzerland freely lets people into its territory who have a valid visa of the required sample, regardless of which state it was issued.

You can only visit Switzerland with a multiple-entry visa.

For some reason, Switzerland is confused with Andorra in this matter, to visit which you really need a multiple-entry Schengen visa. As for Switzerland, the visa can be any.

If I have a visa from a state that is not neighboring Switzerland, they will not let me into the country.

Why popular rumor prefers Switzerland's neighbors to the detriment of other countries in the visa-free zone is a mystery.

Another myth is dispelled, as people with Polish, Czech and even Finnish visas are freely allowed into Switzerland.

NB! It should also be remembered that EU countries and Schengen countries are not the same thing. EU members such as the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria are not part of the Schengen area.

To cross the territory of Switzerland, you must have a residence permit in one of the Schengen countries.

Yes, a residence permit is one of the mutually exclusive conditions for transit through the territory of Switzerland.

The second condition is a Schengen visa. So, either a residence permit or a visa. In other words, the Swiss require a document confirming that your stay in Europe is legal.

You can drive your car into Switzerland, but back - only on foot.

In fact, you are free to do whatever you want, and you can use any vehicle to enter and exit the country. The Swiss won't mind. Naturally, provided that you use this transport legally.

Perhaps so many myths are generated by the peculiar foreign policy of Switzerland, which it has demonstrated for five centuries: the main principles of the country were neutrality and closeness. The past four years have not yet had time to change public opinion, but we are pleased to tell you that today it has become much easier to become a guest of the Swiss.

The area of ​​Switzerland is quite small even by European standards. Nevertheless, this small country plays a rather significant role in world processes. and the foreign policy of this state, which for more than one hundred and fifty years have ensured unprecedented stability, can be considered unique. Let's briefly study the history, find out the area and some other nuances associated with this country.

Geographic location of Switzerland

Before considering the area of ​​​​Switzerland, as well as some other issues, let's find out where this state is located.

Switzerland is located in the heart of Western Europe, on the territory of a mountain range called the Alps. In the east it borders with Austria and Liechtenstein, in the south with Italy, in the west with France, and in the north it touches Germany.

The nature of most of Switzerland is mountainous. In the west of the country there is a rather large Lake Geneva.

The capital of Switzerland is the city of Bern.

History before the formation of an independent state

Now let's take a quick look at the history of Switzerland. Settlements in these places have been known since Paleolithic times. During the Neolithic period, there was a cultural community that built their houses on stilts.

In ancient times, the mountainous part of the country in the east was inhabited by the Retes tribes, who were considered related to the Italian Etruscans. It was from the Romanized representatives of this tribe that one of the modern ethnic groups of Switzerland, the Romansh, originated.

Also from the XIII century BC. e., Celtic peoples began to penetrate here. Before the Roman conquest, the west of modern Switzerland was inhabited by the Celtic-speaking tribes of the Helvetii and Allobroges, and the east by the Vindeliki.

In 58 BC. e. the Helvetii and Allobroges were conquered by the great Roman commander Julius Caesar, and after his death under Octavian Augustus in 15-13 BC. e. rheta and vindeliki were conquered.

The occupied territories are thus incorporated into the Roman Empire. The territory of modern Switzerland was divided between the provinces - Rezia and Germania Superior, and a small area near Geneva was part of Narbonne Gaul. Later, another province, Vindelicia, was separated from Rezia in the north. The region began to gradually romanize, significant Roman buildings, roads, cities were built here, when the power of the empire was declining, Christianity began to penetrate here.

Already in 264 AD, the Germanic tribe of the Alemans invaded the territory of modern western Switzerland. At the beginning of the 5th century, they finally captured the east of the country. In 470, the west of Switzerland became part of the kingdom of another Germanic tribe - the Burgundians, who, however, were Christians. If the Alemans completely destroyed the traces of Romanization on their territory, exterminating, expelling and assimilating the local population, the Burgundians, on the contrary, treated the locals quite loyally, which contributed to the predominance of the Romanesque population in the lands subject to them. This division was even reflected in modern times: the western French-speaking population of Switzerland is mainly the descendants of the inhabitants of the country of the Roman period, and the eastern German-speaking population is the descendants of the Alemans.

In addition, already after in 478, the south of Switzerland fell successively under the rule of the Germanic kingdoms of the Ostrogoths and Lombards, whose center was in Italy. But the Ostrogoths also did not forcibly Germanize the population, therefore Romansh and Italians currently live in this part of the country.

It should be noted that the prevention of mixing of the above ethnic groups and military incursions was hindered by the natural division of Switzerland by the Alps into relatively isolated areas.

In the VIII century, the total area of ​​Switzerland was again united within the framework of the Frankish state. But already in the 9th century it fell apart. Switzerland was again divided between several states: Upper Burgundy, Italy and Germany. But in the XI century, the German king managed to create one that included the entire area of ​​Switzerland. However, soon the imperial power weakened, and in reality these lands began to be controlled by local feudal lords from the families of the Tserengens, Cyburgs, Habsburgs and others who exploited the local population. The Habsburgs became especially strong after the possession of the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire passed into their hands at the end of the 13th century.

Fight for independence

It was the struggle against these lords, mainly the Habsburgs, that served as the beginning of the unification of the scattered Swiss regions into a single independent state. In 1291, a military alliance "for all time" was concluded between representatives of the three cantons (regions) of Switzerland - Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden. From this date it is customary to keep a record of Swiss statehood. From that moment began an active struggle of the people against the Habsburgs, representatives of the imperial administration and feudal lords. The famous legend of William Tell belongs to the initial stage of this struggle.

In 1315, the first major clash between the Swiss and the Habsburg army took place. It was called the Battle of Morgarten. Then the Swiss managed to win, numerically exceeding them by several times the enemy army, moreover, consisting of knights. It is with this event that the first mention of the name "Switzerland" is connected. This was due to the erroneous extension of the name of the canton of Schwyz to the territory of the entire union. Immediately after the victory, the alliance treaty was renewed.

In the future, the Union continued to successfully operate against the Habsburgs. This attracted the desire of other regions to join it. By 1353, the Union already consisted of eight cantons, since Zurich, Bern, Zug, Lucerne and Glarus were added to the original three.

In 1386 and 1388, the Swiss inflicted two more significant defeats on the Habsburgs at the battles of Sempach and Nefels. This led to the fact that in 1389 peace was concluded for 5 years. Then it was extended for 20 and 50 years. The Habsburgs actually renounced the rights of the lords regarding the eight allied cantons, although they continued to be part of the Holy Roman Empire. This state of affairs continued until 1481, that is, almost 100 years.

In 1474-1477, Switzerland was drawn into the Burgundian War in alliance with France and Austria. In 1477, in the decisive battle of Nancy, the Swiss defeated the troops of the Duke of Burgundy, and he himself died in this battle. This victory significantly increased the international prestige of Switzerland. Its warriors began to be valued as excellent mercenaries, which had a positive effect on the country's economy. In this capacity, they serve the French king, the Duke of Milan, the Pope and other sovereigns. In the Vatican, the guards of the Holy See are still made up of Swiss. More and more lands are becoming willing to join the Union, but the old cantons are not too eager to expand their borders.

In the end, in 1481, a renewed treaty was concluded. Two more cantons, Solothurn and Friborg, were accepted as members of the Union. The area of ​​Switzerland expanded, and the number of cantons was increased to ten. In 1499, a victory was won in the war with the Swabian League, supported by the emperor. After that, a treaty was concluded, which actually marked the withdrawal of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire. But legally the emperor has not yet abandoned his claims. In 1501, Basel and Schaffhausen were admitted as cantons to the Union, and in 1513, Appennzell. The number of lands reached thirteen.

Meanwhile, in the 15th century, the Reformation, a group of Christian religious teachings that denied the primacy of the Pope in the spiritual world, was sweeping across Europe. In the city of Geneva, the founder of one of the leading currents of the Reformation, John Calvin, lived and died for a long time. Another prominent reformer, Ulrich Zwingli, was a native of St. Gallen. The reform was accepted by many European sovereigns and princes. But the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire opposed her. For this reason, in 1618, a pan-European broke out. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, in which the emperor recognized his defeat and the right of the princes to choose their own religion for their land, and the exit of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire was also legally secured. Now it has become an absolutely independent state.

Independent Switzerland

However, Switzerland of that time could only relatively be considered a single state. Each canton had its own legislation, territorial division, the right to conclude international agreements. It was more like a military-political union than a full-fledged state.

In 1795, a revolution began in Switzerland, supported from outside by Napoleonic France. The French occupied the country, and in 1798 a unitary state was created here - the Helvetic Republic. After the victory of the allies over Napoleon in 1815, the former structure returned to Switzerland with minor changes, although the number of cantons was increased to 22, and later to 26. But a movement for the centralization of power began to rise in the country. In 1848 a new constitution was adopted. According to her, Switzerland, although it continued to be called the Confederation, actually turned into a full-fledged government. The neutral status of the camp was immediately fixed. This was the key to the fact that since then Switzerland has become one of the most peaceful and tranquil corners of the world. Located in the heart of Europe, destroyed by the First and Second World Wars, this state is almost the only one that did not suffer during the tragic events. Indeed, only Sweden and the territory of Switzerland turned out to be free from war in Europe. The area of ​​the country was not damaged by enemy bombs or invasions of foreign armies.

The industry and the banking sector were actively developing in the country. This made it possible to make Switzerland a world leader in the provision of financial services, and the standard of living of the citizens of the Alpine state became one of the highest on the planet.

switzerland square

Now let's find out what is the area of ​​Switzerland. This indicator is the basic criterion for further analysis. At the moment, the area of ​​Switzerland is 41.3 thousand square meters. km. This is the 133rd indicator among all countries of the world.

For comparison, the area of ​​the Volgograd region alone is 112.9 thousand square meters. km.

Administrative divisions of Switzerland

In administrative-territorial terms, Switzerland is divided into 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons, which, in general, is equal to 26 subjects of the confederation.

The largest in area are the cantons of Graubünden (7.1 thousand sq. km), Bern (6.0 thousand sq. km.) and Valais (5.2 thousand sq. km.).

Population

The total population of the country is about 8 million people. This is the 95th figure in the world.

But what population density does Switzerland have? The area of ​​the country and the population that we have established above make it easy to calculate this indicator. It is equal to 188 people/sq. km.

Ethnic composition

On the territory of the country, 94% of the inhabitants consider themselves ethnic Swiss. This does not prevent them from speaking different languages. Thus, 65% of the population are German-speaking, 18% French-speaking and 10% Italian-speaking.

In addition, about 1% of the population are Romansh.

Religion

During the Middle Ages and the New Age, Switzerland became a real arena of struggle between Protestants and Catholics. Now the passions have subsided and there is no religious confrontation in the country. About 50% of the population are Protestants - Catholics.

In addition, there are small Jewish and Muslim communities in Switzerland.

general characteristics

We learned the area of ​​Switzerland in sq. km, population and history of this country. As you can see, she had a long way from a disunited union of cantons to a single state. The history of Switzerland can serve as an example of how culturally, religiously, ethnically and linguistically disparate communities can be united into a single nation.

The success of the Swiss development model is confirmed by its economic performance and more than 150 years of peace in the country.

used Wikipedia materials
Paleolithic (c. 12 millennium BC) - the first traces of human settlements in the lowlands of Switzerland.
Neolithic - people lived in settlements on stilts along the shores of lakes, were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding.
10th-1st centuries BC. Switzerland was occupied mainly by the Celtic tribes. From the 1st century BC. the territory was occupied by the Helvetians, a large Celtic tribe, so the Romans called it Helvetia. The Helvetians already had literacy, brought from Greece, they minted coins. At that time, cities already existed: the capital Aventicum (Aventicum, now Avenche), Geneva, Lausonium (Lausonium, Lausanne), Salodurum (Salodurum, Solothurn), Turicum (Turicum, Zurich), Vitudurum (Vitudurum, Winterthur).
WITH 3 in. BC. the gradual seizure of the territory by the Romans begins. In 121 BC The territory around Geneva was taken over by Rome.
IN 58 BC about 300 thousand Helvetians set off towards the Atlantic Ocean, as they were forced out by the Germanic tribes. However, Caesar did not allow them to move further than Lake Geneva and forced them to return to Helvetia. Caesar recognized the Helvetii as allies and retained their independence.
IN 15 BC the Roman army crossed the Alps and the Rhine and established control over eastern and central Switzerland. The Romans built settlements, roads, trade developed. Already during the reign of the Romans, Christianity began to penetrate into Helvetia, monasteries arose.
264- Alemanni invaded Helvetia, the lands on the right bank of the Rhine were lost, Aventicum was destroyed.
406-407 The Alemanni conquered eastern Switzerland. They destroyed almost all traces of Roman influence, including Christianity.
470- Western Switzerland fell under the rule of the Burgundians (also a Germanic tribe).
Already in the 5th c. Switzerland was divided linguistically into groups: in the territory subject to the Alemanni - German, in the southeast (Canton of Graubünden), formerly under the Ostrogoths - Romansh was preserved, in Ticino (later under the rule of the Lombards) - Italian, the western part (Burgundians) - French.
496- the Alemanni were conquered by Clovis (the Franks), in 534 his sons conquered the Burgundians, in 536 the Ostrogoths ceded Rhaetia.
569- Ticino was conquered by the Lombards and only in 774 passed into the power of the Franks.
6th-7th centuries- under the Franks, the monasteries received large land plots.
843- Under the Verdun Treaty, Switzerland was divided: the western (together with Burgundy) and the southern (together with Italy) were given to Emperor Lothair, the eastern (together with Alemannia) - to King Louis the German.
888- Duke Rudolph of the House of Welf founded the Upper Burgundian Kingdom (included western Switzerland with Wallis).
10th c.- attacks of the Hungarians and Saracens.
WITH 1032 power over Burgundy passed to the German emperor Conrad 2.
IN late 11th - early 12th century. count and ducal families rose, especially the Zähringens, who founded several new cities (Freiburg in 1178, Bern at the end of the 12th century, Thun in the 13th century, etc.). In the 13th century the Tseringen family died out and their possessions passed to the empire and other counts, especially large possessions went to the end of the 13th century. Counts of the Habsburgs. In the 13th century Switzerland consisted of many petty political entities, some of which were directly imperial, others belonged to counts, dukes, or were ecclesiastical possessions.
IN 1231 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II bought Uri from the Habsburgs, and in 1240 granted Schwyz a special Liberty Charter, making it imperial. The Habsburgs did not recognize this charter and undertook the conquest of Schwyz in 1245-1252. Uri and Unterwalden, still subject to the Habsburgs, came to the aid of Schwyz; during the war, they concluded the first allied treaty, the text of which has not been preserved. After some time, Schwyz and Unterwalden were forced to recognize the power of the Habsburgs, and their alliance broke up.
1 August 1291 the treaty was renewed "in perpetuity". The act of the treaty, drawn up much later in Latin, has been preserved in the archives of the city of Schwyz. The allies undertook to help each other with advice and deed, personally and with property, on their lands and outside them, against anyone and everyone who wants to inflict offense or violence on all of them or any of them. The treaty confirms the rights of local lords, but rejects attempts to establish power from outside (ie, the Habsburgs). The beginning of Switzerland as a state is counted from this treaty. Until the 19th century people believed in the legend about the formation of the Swiss Union, associated with William Tell and the mythical agreement on the Rütli meadow in 1307.
IN 1315 an attempt was made to subjugate Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald to Austria. The inhabitants ambushed the Habsburg army at Morgarten, over Lake Egeri, and put it to flight. A new treaty was concluded at Brunnen, confirming the union of the three cantons. Formally, they depended on the empire, but its power was minimal.
IN 1332 Lucerne entered into an alliance with the three cantons, which had been under the rule of the Habsburgs since 1291. The war of 1336 did not help the Habsburgs. In 1351 Zurich joined the union. In the ensuing war, Glarus and Zug joined the alliance, and in 1353, Bern. Education ended by 1389 "Union 8 old lands”(Eidgenossenschaft or Bund von acht alten Orten), which remained in this form until 1481. Internal relations between the allied lands were and remained until 1798 completely free and voluntary. General issues were decided at Diets (Tagsatzung), which met with representatives of the lands.
During 15th c. the Allies expanded their holdings in Switzerland. At the same time, they did not accept the conquered lands into their union, they ruled them precisely as conquered. The lands were divided between the cantons or remained in common use. The internal organization of the lands was varied. The original cantons have long been democratic, and after the liberation from the power of the Habsburgs - democratic republics. They were governed by a nationwide gathering, at which all the most important issues were decided, foremen, judges and other officials were elected. The entire free male population, and sometimes the unfree or semi-free, could converge on gatherings. In other cantons, more urban in nature, there was a sharp contrast between the city and the lands subject to it. In the cities themselves, there was a struggle between the old patrician families, burghers (mainly merchants, bankers) and the lower class of the population - artisans organized in workshops. Depending on the greater or lesser strength of one or another of these classes, power was organized in one way or another. In general, during this period, Switzerland was the most free and comfortable country.
1460 - Switzerland's first university in Basel.
Military victories of the Swiss Union in the 15th century. created glory for his troops, so foreign rulers began to look for mercenaries in them, and neighboring lands began to seek to enter into an alliance. At the end of the 15th century in Stans a new treaty was concluded, which included two new lands - Solothurn and Friborg (Stan agreement). From this period, the connection with the empire was finally terminated, although this was formally recognized only by the Peace of Westphalia (1648). At the beginning of the 16th century as a result of participation in the Italian wars, the union received the ownership of Ticino.
In 1501 Basel and Schaffhausen were admitted to the Union, in 1513 Appenzell was converted from an “assigned land” into an equal member of the Union. Thus formed Union of thirteen lands. In addition to them, Switzerland included quite a few assigned lands or lands friendly with one or another (or several) of the members of the Union (Eidgenossenschaft). Neuchâtel (Neuenburg) occupied a very special position for a long time: it was an independent principality, which had its own princes, but it was under the patronage of Switzerland. Later, the princely power went to the king of Prussia, thus it was a Prussian principality in the Swiss Union. Friendly lands were also the Bishopric of Basel, the Abbey of St. Gallen and the city of St. Gallen (which, at the same time as Appenzell, asked for admission to the Union, but were refused), Biel, Grisons, Valais, somewhat later (since 1526) Geneva. Thus, the geographical boundaries of Switzerland, if we count both assigned and subject lands, were almost the same as now.
IN 16th century The Reformation movement began, leading to religious wars, as a result of which Switzerland was divided into Catholic and Protestant. In 1586, seven Catholic cantons (4 forest, Zug, Freiburg, Solothurn) concluded the so-called "Golden", obliging its members to defend Catholicism within each canton, if necessary - by force of arms. As a result, the Swiss Union, as it were, fell apart. The Catholic cantons had their diets in Lucerne, the Protestant ones in Aarau, although the former general ones remained nearby, having lost a large share of their already modest significance. To religious strife in the 16th century. plague epidemics and famine were added, only in the 17th century. industry again began to develop rapidly, which was facilitated by the fact that Switzerland was on the sidelines of the Thirty Years' War. During this period, the desire to maintain neutrality in European clashes manifested itself and took a conscious form in Switzerland.
IN 18th century religious conflicts continued and there was a continuous struggle between different classes of the population, which more than once reached open clashes and peasant uprisings. 18th century is also the era of intellectual development and flourishing of Switzerland (Albrecht Haller, Bernoulli, Euler, Bodmer, Breitinger, Solomon Gessner, Lavater, Pestalozzi, J. von Müller, Bonnet, de Saussure, Rousseau, etc.).
During the French Revolution, unrest also began in Switzerland, which the French took advantage of - in 1798 they brought their troops into Switzerland. Representatives of 10 cantons adopted a constitution (approved by the French Directory) of a single Helvetic Republic, replacing the former Union of thirteen lands. The new constitution proclaimed the equality of all before the law, freedom of conscience, press, trade and crafts. The supreme power was declared to belong to all citizens. Legislative power is vested in the Senate and the Grand Council, while executive power is vested in the directory, which consists of 5 members. The latter elected ministers and commanders of troops and appointed prefects for each canton. Meanwhile, the course of action of the French, who imposed a significant military indemnity on some cantons, annexed Geneva to France (in April 1798) and demanded immediate accession to the Helvetic Republic and the rest of the cantons, caused great excitement in the latter. However, they were forced to give in and join the republic.
Meanwhile, Austrian troops entered Switzerland, occupied its eastern part and established a provisional government in Zurich. All this caused a popular uprising, suppressed by the French. Before 1803 power was constantly changing in the country and people's discontent grew, until in 1803 the Helvetic Republic ceased to exist. Napoleon made up mediation act- the federal constitution of Switzerland, which on February 19, 1803 was solemnly handed over by Bonaparte to the Swiss commissioners. Switzerland formed a union state of 19 cantons. The cantons were supposed to assist each other in case of external or internal danger, did not have the right to fight with each other, and also to conclude agreements between themselves or with other states. In internal affairs, the cantons enjoyed self-government. In addition to the 13 old cantons, the Union included Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Vaud and Ticino. Valais, Geneva and Neuchâtel were not included in the Union. Each canton with a population of more than 100,000 had two votes in the Sejm, the rest - one each. At the head of the Union was the Landammann, who was elected annually in turn by the cantons of Friborg, Bern, Solothurn, Basel, Zurich and Lucerne. Switzerland concluded a defensive and offensive alliance treaty with France, under which she undertook to deliver to France an army of 16,000 people. This obligation fell upon Switzerland as a heavy burden, but in general Switzerland suffered less from Napoleon's warlike enterprises than all other vassal states. After the Battle of Leipzig (1813), the Allied Sejm decided to maintain strict neutrality, which was reported to the warring countries.
Declaration signed on March 20 1815, the powers recognized the eternal neutrality of the Swiss Union and guaranteed the integrity and inviolability of its borders. Valais, Geneva and Neuchâtel were annexed to the Union, which thus included 22 cantons. The union treaty of August 7, 1815 again turned Switzerland into a number of independent states, loosely linked by common interests. The supreme power, although it belonged to the Sejm, but its activity was very weak. The Polish revolution that broke out in 1830 gave a strong impetus to the liberal movement. A whole series of popular demonstrations began, demanding democracy, equality of rights, separation of powers, freedom of the press, etc.
The struggle, which went as far as armed clashes and the formation of a union (Sonderbund) by several cantons, led to the creation in 1848 constitution, in general terms similar to the modern constitution of Switzerland. Bern was chosen as the federal capital. A permanent body of executive power was established - a federal council of seven members elected by a legislative body from two chambers - the national council and the council of cantons. The federal government was empowered to issue money, regulate customs regulations, and determine foreign policy. Now Switzerland could devote time not to wars, but to economic and social issues. Production, established in the cities of Switzerland, began to be based mainly on highly skilled labor. New railways and roads made it possible to penetrate into previously inaccessible regions of the Alps and promoted the development of tourism. In 1863, the International Red Cross was established in the Swiss city of Geneva. Compulsory free education appeared.
IN 1874 A constitution was adopted that introduced the institution of a referendum.
During World War I Switzerland remained neutral.
At first Second World War, after a series of armed clashes, mainly in the air, Germany and Switzerland concluded an agreement. Switzerland remained neutral, provided banking services to Germany, allowed the free transit of German goods through Switzerland. The military of other countries who entered the territory of Switzerland were kept in internment camps. Civil refugees, especially Jews, were denied entry in most cases. In the 90s of the 20th century. a scandal arose over the fact that Swiss banks store Nazi gold and valuables taken from the victims of the genocide, and also prevent heirs from accessing accounts. As a result, the Swiss banking group agreed in 1998 to pay $1.25 billion in compensation to the victims of the genocide and their heirs.
After the Second World War, Europe slowly and painfully recovered from the destruction. Switzerland has used these years to improve its intact commercial, financial and economic system. Over time, the Swiss city of Zurich became an international banking center, the headquarters of major international organizations (for example, WHO) settled in Geneva, and the International Olympic Committee settled in Lausanne. Fearing for its neutrality, Switzerland refused to join the UN (currently it has observer status) and NATO. But she joined the European Free Trade Association. In 1992, the Swiss government announced its desire to join the EU. But for this, the country needed to join the European Economic Area, which citizens opposed in a referendum in 1992. Switzerland's application for EU membership is still on hold.

The Legend of William Tell

According to legend, the peasant Wilhelm Tell from Bürglen, a famous archer, went with his son to the town of Altdorf to the fair. Gessler, the newly appointed governor of the Habsburgs, hung his hat on a pole in the square, to which everyone was supposed to bow. Tell did not do this. For this, Gessler ordered his son to be taken and suggested that Tell shoot down an apple from the boy's head with an arrow. Tell took one arrow, put the second in his bosom. His shot was successful. Gessler asked why the second arrow was needed. Tell replied that if his son had died, the second arrow would have been for Gessler. Tell was arrested and taken on Gessler's ship to be taken to his castle in Küssnacht. At this time, a storm broke out on the lake, Tell was unleashed to help save the boat. Tell jumped out of the boat at the place now known as Tellsplatte and went to Küssnacht. When Gessler arrived there, Tell shot him on the narrow road. Tell's act inspired people to revolt against the Austrians, in which Tell played the role of one of the leaders. Representatives of the three cantons (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald) took the legendary oath of mutual assistance on the Rütli meadow in 1307. According to legend, Tell died in 1354 trying to save a drowning child.
The first written sources documenting the legend of William Tell date back to the 15th century. (White Book of Sarnen, 1475). For a long time, the legend was considered a historical event, later, in the 19th-20th century, it was confirmed that the formation of the Swiss Union dates back to 1291.
The legend of Tell inspired Goethe during his travels in Switzerland. He wanted to write a play about it, but then passed the idea on to Friedrich Schiller, who in 1804 wrote the play William Tell. Rossini used Schiller's play as the basis for his opera William Tell.

brief information

More than 16 million tourists visit Switzerland every year. For most of them, Switzerland is initially associated with watches, chocolate, Swiss cheese and ski resorts. However, tourists very quickly realize that this country has unique medieval architectural buildings, amazingly beautiful nature, a large number of attractions, the annual international automobile show in Geneva, as well as excellent thermal resorts.

Geography of Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation is located in the center of Europe, it has no access to the sea. Switzerland borders France to the west, Italy to the south, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. The total area of ​​this country is 30,528 sq. km., and the total length of the border is 1,850 km.

The territory of Switzerland is divided into three main geographical regions - the Alps (occupy 60% of the country), the Swiss Plateau (30% of the country's territory) and the Jura mountains in the north of the country (about 10% of the territory). The country's highest peak is Dufour Peak in the Alps (4,634 m).

Several rivers flow through Switzerland - Rhone, Limmat, Rhine, etc. But tourists are more interested in Swiss lakes - Zurich in the east, Geneva, Thun, Firwaldstet in the south, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north of the country.

Capital

Since 1848, the capital of Switzerland has been the city of Bern, which is now home to about 135 thousand people. Bern was formed in 1191 by order of Duke Berthold the Rich.

Official language

Switzerland speaks four languages. The most common of them is German (more than 67%). Next come French (more than 20%), Italian (6.5%) and Romansh (0.5%) languages.

Religion

More than 38% of the inhabitants of Switzerland belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants (31% of the population) and Muslims (4.5%) also live in this country.

State structure of Switzerland

Switzerland, according to the 1999 Constitution, is a federal parliamentary republic. The head of state is the President, elected from 7 members of the Federal Council for 1 year. It is the Federal Council that has the executive power in the country.

Legislative power has for many centuries been vested in a bicameral parliament - the Federal Council, consisting of the Council of Cantons (46 representatives, two from each canton) and the National Council (200 deputies).

Administratively, the Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons.

Climate and weather

In general, the climate in Switzerland is temperate, continental, but it has regional differences. In the west of Switzerland, the climate is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, in the Alps the climate is mountainous, alpine. South of the Alps, the climate is almost Mediterranean. The average annual temperature is +8.6C. In winter, there is a lot of snow in Switzerland, which guarantees a long ski season.

Average air temperature in Bern:

January - -1C
- February - 0C
- March - +5C
- April - +10С
- May - +14C
- June - +17C
- July - +18C
- August - +17C
- September - +13C
- October - +8C
- November - +4C
- December - 0C

Rivers and lakes

Switzerland has several large rivers - the Rhone, Limmat, Rhine, as well as the most beautiful lakes - Zurich in the east, Geneva, Thun, Firwaldstet in the south, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north of the country.

History of Switzerland

People on the territory of modern Switzerland lived 5 thousand years ago. In 58 B.C. Roman legions led by Gaius Julius Caesar defeated the troops of the Helvetian tribe living in Switzerland. In 15 B.C. the Roman emperor Tiberius conquers the tribes in the Swiss Alps, and from that time Switzerland becomes part of Ancient Rome.

In the early Middle Ages, Switzerland was under the rule of the Franks, and was divided into two parts - Middle Francia and East Francia. Only in 1000 AD. the Swiss territories were reunited under the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1291, the three Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden united to resist external enemies, and by 1513 this confederation included 13 cantons. The first half of the 16th century in Switzerland was marked by religious wars.

Only in 1648, according to the Peace of Westphalia, European countries recognized the independence of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1798, revolutionary French troops conquered Switzerland and gave it a new constitution.

In 1815, the independence of Switzerland was again recognized by other states. Switzerland has since become a neutral country.

In 1847, some Swiss Catholic cantons tried to create their own union by separating from the rest of Switzerland, but they did not succeed. The civil war in 1847 in Switzerland lasted less than a month and killed about 100 people.

In the 20th century, during two world wars, Switzerland remained a neutral country. However, during the Second World War in Switzerland, the mobilization of men into the army was announced, because. there was a strong threat of invasion by German troops. An important role during the Second World War was played by the International Red Cross, whose main office was in Geneva.

The first Swiss cantons granted women the right to vote in elections in 1959. At the federal level, Swiss women gained the right to vote in 1971.

In 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the UN.

Culture of Switzerland

The culture of Switzerland was greatly influenced by neighboring countries - France, Germany, Austria and Italy. However, Swiss culture is now very distinctive and unique.

Until now, the Swiss zealously preserve their ancient traditions, the “soul” of which is expressed in music, dances, songs, embroidery and woodcarving. Even small Swiss villages have several musical folklore ensembles or dance groups.

In the mountainous regions of Switzerland, yodel, a type of folk singing, is popular (as in Austria). Every three years Interlaken hosts the International Yodeling Festival. A typical Swiss folk instrument is the accordion.

1 Art Basel
2 Geneva Auto Show
3 Montreux Jazz Festival
4. Omega European Masters
5. White Turf Events
6 Lucerne Festival
7. Locarno International Film Festival
8. Ascona Music Festival

Kitchen

Swiss cuisine is characterized by precision and accuracy in the preparation of dishes. Swiss cuisine uses a lot of vegetables and herbs. In general, Swiss cuisine is formed on the basis of numerous regional traditions. However, in every canton of Switzerland, cheese is often used in cooking. In general, dairy products are very popular among the Swiss.

About 450 types of cheese are produced in Switzerland. Each Swiss eats an average of 2.1 kilograms of cheese annually.

The national Swiss dishes are “rösti” (“roshti”), which is grated potatoes fried in a pan (i.e. a kind of potato pancakes, they are served with herring, scrambled eggs or cheese), and “fondues” (“fondue” ), prepared from cheese and meat.

The Swiss are very fond of chocolate. Each Swiss eats more than 11.6 kilograms of chocolate every year. Now Swiss chocolate is famous all over the world.

Landmarks of Switzerland

Switzerland has not been at war with anyone for a long time, and given that the Swiss are very thrifty and economical, it becomes clear why a large number of various historical and architectural monuments have been preserved there. The top ten attractions in Switzerland, in our opinion, include the following:

Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva

The famous Chillon Castle was built in 1160 and belonged to the Dukes of Savoy for a long time. The famous English poet George Byron, after a trip to Chillon Castle in 1816, wrote his famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon"

swiss national park

The Swiss National Park was formed in 1914. It covers an area of ​​169 sq. km. In this reserve, deer, chamois and mountain goats are found in large numbers.

Jet d "Eau fountain in Geneva

The Jet d "Eau fountain was built in 1881. It hits from Lake Geneva to a height of 140 meters. Now the Jet d" Eau fountain is considered one of the symbols of Geneva.

Medieval villages in the canton of Graubünden

There are many old villages in the canton of Graubünden with houses dating back to the 13th century.

Monument to the Duke of Brunswick

A monument to the Duke of Brunswick was built in Geneva in 1879. Not far from this monument is the Jet d "Eau fountain.

Cathedral of St. Peter in Geneva

The construction of the Gothic St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva lasted from 1160 to 1310. It is in this cathedral that the chair of the famous reformer of the Catholic Church, Han Calvin, is located.

Museum of ceramics and glass "Ariana"

The Ariana Museum is located near the Palais des Nations, in the Ariana Park in Geneva. The museum presents works of art from ceramics, porcelain and glass from around the world.

Bastion park in Geneva

Parc de Bastion is the oldest botanical park in Switzerland (it was founded in 1817). The magnificent building of the University of Geneva is located in this park.

Russian Orthodox Church in Geneva

This church was built in 1866. Now she is one of the decorations of Geneva.

Rhine Falls

In the canton of Schaffhausen, on the border with Germany, there is the famous Rhine Falls (i.e. this is a waterfall on the Rhine River).

Cities and resorts

The largest Swiss cities are Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Lausanne, and, of course, Bern.

Switzerland is, apparently, the classic country of ski resorts. The skiing season in Switzerland starts in November and lasts until April inclusive. The most popular Swiss ski resorts are Zermatt, Saas-Fee, St. Moritz, Interlaken, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Leukerbad, Villars/Grillon.

For many tourists, Switzerland is associated with ski resorts. However, in this country there are a lot of balneological resorts on thermal waters. The most popular Swiss balneological resorts are Leukerbad, Bad Ragaz, Yverdon-les-Bains, Baden, Ovronna, etc.

Souvenirs/Shopping

We advise you to bring Swiss chocolate (the most famous brands are Toblerone, Cailler, and Lindt), cheese, Swiss watches, cuckoo clocks, Swiss army knives, small cow bells, handicrafts, towels, etc. from Switzerland as souvenirs.

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