Lecture about Switzerland

©2005 SWITZERLAND TOURISM

Switzerland in general:

The diversity of the landlocked, mountainous country is the essence of Switzerland and gives the country its unique identity. Still, it is best known for its financial institutions, fine cheeses and chocolate, watch making industry, for its scenery and an excellent network of public traffic.

Capital City: Berne

Major Cities: Baden, Basel, Bellinzona, Bern, Biel, Brig, Chur, Fribourg, Genève, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lausanne, Locarno, Lugano, Luzern, Martigny, Montreux-Vevey, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Sierre, Sion, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thun, Winterthur, Zug, Zürich

Bordering Countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein

Inhabitants: 7'261'200

Flag:  

Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansch

Climate: Because of its central position, the weather is influenced by the four main European air currents – from the Atlantic, the eastern continent, the northern subpolar region and the Mediterranen south. The climate is temperate on the Central Plateau, otherwise it differs considerably from region to region.

Landforms: Alps and Pre-Alps cover 60%, Central Plateau 30% and Jura 10% of the country.

Land Area: 41,284 km2

Schweizer Mittelland: (where I come from)

Summer: The red of the geraniums in their window boxes is more intense than anywhere else in the world. At Gürben Valley and the Schwarzenburgerland, gentle hills, which mark the end of the pre-Alpine region, blend into the Laupenamt and Seeland plain, bordered in the north by the Jura range, next to Lake Bienne, Solothurn and the Oberaargau region. The prosperity of the villages flows into the cities with their massive protective walls, arcades, romantic alleyways and fountains topped with statues, which stand as silent witnesses to a colourful past. Time seems to stand still. Why hurry? In spite of the TGV, ICE and Pendolino high-speed trains that stop in Bern (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) daily, that seems to be the city's motto. Take the time for a visit to the central part of the canton of Bern.

Winter: Time seems to stand still in the medieval towns of the surrounding Schweizer Mittelland. The Alpine foothills, the Jura range, the Emmental, the Gurnigel-Gantrisch area and Mount Weissenstein, above Solothurn, are renowned for their winter sports, and Gstaad, the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau ski regions are close by.

Mountains:

The scent of alpine flowers and spicy herbs is in the air again and the faint ting-a-ling of the cow and the goat bells accompanies hikers from alp to alp. Mountains and valleys are magnificently decked out. The natural experience of Switzerland is unique and so varied that you can hike and experience new things for weeks. Welcome to our mountains!