Geography - RGGU. Switzerland Highest point in Switzerland

28.07.2020

Switzerland is located on mainland Europe and the occupied territory of Switzerland is 41290. The population of Switzerland is 7783000 people. The capital of Switzerland is located in the city of Bern. The form of government in Switzerland is the Federal Republic. Spoken in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, Romansh Who borders Switzerland: France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy.
Switzerland is majestic mountains, elegant cities, famous resorts, picturesque mountain slopes and pristine lakes. In a relatively small space, amazing creations of human hands and the beauty of nature are concentrated here. There are many small towns in the country with a unique flavor, such as the famous Solothurn with baroque buildings and various cultural monuments, Biel - the "capital of clocks", which speaks two official languages, Chur - the oldest Swiss city, founded in 2500 BC era, La Chaux-de-Fonds, a city with an interesting Museum of Clocks, Disentis, famous for its museum and a monastery built in the eighth century, Splügen and Guarda, Alpine villages with their unique charm, Emmental and Afoltern, where fascinating cheese-making exhibitions are held, and many other equally interesting places. Each town here has its own special charm and deserves the closest attention.
The western part of the country with the picturesque Jura Mountains is a large natural park with majestic mountain slopes planted with vineyards, deep canyons, beautiful lakes such as Leman, Biel and Neuchâtel. Lake Leman can rightfully be considered a natural monument of the country. This is the largest reservoir in Switzerland: its length is more than seventy kilometers, and its width reaches thirteen, while the depth in some places is three hundred and ten meters. The shores of Lake Leman are one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the towns scattered around are full of various historical monuments. This area is often called the "Swiss Riviera", which is quite deserved.
In the small town of Neuchâtel, attention is drawn to such objects as the castle of the same name, the magnificent cathedral, built in the thirteenth century, and the Prison Tower, located at the foot of the hill. In addition, here you can walk along the picturesque cliffs of the Broje valley, from which the Sarin River is visible, the famous bridges - the wooden Bersky and suspension Zaringen, visit the Tour Rouge fortress, the Poya castle, the Augustinian monastery and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas with an impressive 74-meter tower.
On the banks of Neuchâtel is the popular resort of Yverdon-les-Bains, famous for its magnesium and sulfur thermal waters. The temperature of the water, which rises from a depth of almost six hundred meters, is +29 degrees. Local attractions include the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress, a castle built in the thirteenth century, and archaeological sites from the Celtic era.
The city of Geneva, which was founded by the Celts in 500 BC, enjoys huge and well-deserved popularity. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is famous for its magnificent and elegant parks, which lie on the banks of the Rhone Lake. Of the main historical and cultural attractions, one can mention St. Peter's Cathedral, the Arsenal, the Town Hall, the Conservatory, the Opera House and the Jet d'Eau fountain, built about one hundred and twenty years ago. Also a very remarkable object is the amazing watch made of flowers, which has the world's largest second hand.
The capital of the country is the city of Bern, founded at the end of the twelfth century. Its historical center is the chain of Kramgasse, Marktgasse and Spitalgasse streets, which abut against the Niederbrücke bridge. It is here that you can see all the main sights of the capital - the Prison Tower, beautiful street fountains, Chimes with various moving figures, the Clock Tower, a Gothic cathedral with a hundred-meter bell tower, statues and intricate stained-glass windows and much more. special attention deserves the City Hall (beginning of the fifteenth century) with wooden ceilings and a large reception hall, as well as the "Bear Crypt".

Switzerland covers an area of just over forty-three thousand square kilometers. The neighbors of this European state are Germany in the north, France in the west, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east and Italy in the south. Most of the border with Germany in the northern part of the country is divided by the Rhine River, even though near Schaffhausen this river enters Swiss territory. To the east, the border with Germany and part of the border with Austria runs along the shoreline of Lake Borden. The southwestern part of the border with the French state passes through another picturesque lake - Lake Geneva. Switzerland's longest border is with Italy. Its length is more than seven hundred and forty one kilometers. For comparison, Switzerland's border with France has a length of a little over five hundred and seventy kilometers, with Germany - three hundred and sixty-two kilometers, and with Austria and Liechtenstein - a total of just over two hundred kilometers. It is noteworthy that Switzerland has no access to the sea.

More than fifty-eight percent of the country's area is occupied by the Alps and another ten percent by the Jura Mountains. Mount Tandre, the highest peak of the Jura, is also located in Switzerland. But the highest point of the country is Dufour Peak, and the lowest is Lago Maggiore. The most famous mountain peak in Switzerland has long been the Matterhorn. The central part of the state is occupied by the Swiss Plateau. It is in this part of Switzerland that most of the industry is concentrated, cattle breeding and agriculture are well developed. This is where most of the Swiss live.

Switzerland contains more than six percent of the fresh water reserves of all of Europe. This is primarily due to the large number of lakes of glacial origin. It is in the Swiss lands that such rivers as the Inn, the Rhone and, of course, the Rhine originate.

Conventionally, Switzerland can be divided into four regions. In the most flat northern region are the cantons of Aargau, Glarus, Basel, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Zurich. In more mountainous Western area are Geneva, Bern, Vaud, Friborg and Neuchâtel. Central Switzerland includes the cantons of Unterwalden, Lucerne, Uri and Schwyz. The smallest area is the southern region of the country.

SWISS CONFEDERATION

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does Swiss Confederation mean?

SWISS CONFEDERATION(noun)
The noun SWISS CONFEDERATION has 1 sense:

1. a landlocked federal republic in central Europe

Family information: SWISS CONFEDERATION used as a noun is very rare.

Dictionary entry details

SWISS CONFEDERATION(noun)

Meaning:

A landlocked federal republic in central Europe

classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

Switzerland; Suisse; Svizzera; Swiss Confederation; Switzerland

Instance hypernyms:

European country; European nation (countries occupying the European continent)

Meronyms (parts of "Swiss Confederation"):

Weisshorn (a mountain in the Alps in Switzerland (14,804 feet high))

Zurich (the largest city in Switzerland; located in the northern part of the country)

aar; aare; Aare River (a river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine)

Alps; the Alps (a large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction)

Lake Geneva; Lake Leman (a lake between southwestern Switzerland and France that is crossed from east to west by the Rhone)

Matterhorn (a mountain in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy (14,780 feet high); noted for its distinctive shape)

Rhine; Rhine; Rhine River (a major European river carrying more traffic than any other river in the world; flows into the North Sea)

Rhone; Rhone River (a major French river; flows into the Mediterranean near Marseilles)

Lausanne (a city in western Switzerland; cultural and commercial center)

Interlaken (a popular resort town in the Alps in west central Switzerland)

Geneva; Geneve; Genf (a city in southwestern Switzerland at the western end of Lake Geneva; it is the headquarters of various international organizations)

Bale; basel; Basle (a city in northwestern Switzerland)

Bern; Berne; capital of Switzerland (the capital of Switzerland; located in western Switzerland)

Swiss canton (one of the cantons of Switzerland)

Savoy (a geographical region of historical importance; a former duchy in what is now southwestern France, western Switzerland, and northwestern Italy)

Tessin; Ticino (an Italian-speaking region of southern Switzerland)

Domain member region:

commune (the smallest administrative district of several European countries)

International Relations and Security Network; ISN (Switzerland’s information network for security and defense studies and for peace and conflict research and for international relations)

battle of Sempatch; Sempatch (the Swiss Confederation escaped Hapsburg domination by their victory in 1386)

Holonyms ("Swiss Confederation" is a part of…):

Europe (the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use ‘Europe’ to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles)

"He that will steal an egg will steal an ox." (English proverb)

"Good fences make good neighbors." (Robert Frost)

"Blind bear picks corn, picks one and throws one." (Chinese proverb)

"When two dogs fight over a bone, a third one carries it away." (Dutch proverb)

» CONFEDERATION
» SWISS

Which borders with Switzerland

There are such large industrial centers as Zurich. The central part, east and south - mountains, deep gorges, eternal snow and glaciers.

The embankment of Lake Geneva, the Valais valley, where the Rhone River flows, is an area of gardens, fields and vineyards. Here is the famous Swiss resort of Lausanne.

On the border with France, Geneva.

One of the most prestigious resorts in Switzerland, surrounded by the three most high peaks in Europe - the ski center Zermatt.

This is a great place for skiers of all levels. Here, traffic is prohibited, so the air is unusually clean.

Davos is an elite resort. famous politicians, business people love to visit here. Financiers.

The Saas-Fee resort is one of the highest mountainous places in Switzerland.

There are magnificent mountains, the magnificent Mittellallen ski area and many facilities, including special toboggan slopes, conventional skis, monolines, outdoor ice rinks, etc.

climate:

Mountain mountains are predetermined by different climatic zones of Switzerland. In the mountains in summer, as a rule, it is not hot, but in the lowlands and in the northern part of the country it is quite warm.

Weather forecast for non-governmental organizations "Mapmakers": Bern, Geneva, Zurich

Internet:

Time for Chisinau is one hour behind.

currency:

The national currency is the Swiss franc.

One of the revelations is equal to 100 centimes.

To obtain a visa, you must have a foreign passport, an application form, an obligation to leave signed by the client, an air ticket and 1 photo. The visa is issued within two days.

State structure

Switzerland is officially confederation(which means the union of several independent states), but in fact it is a federal republic, uniting several sovereign cantons under a single authority and with a single federal center.
This discrepancy arose due to the historical name of the country on Latin- Confoederatio Helvetica, corresponding to the state structure until 1848.

In 1848, a new Swiss constitution was announced, according to which several separate cantons united into a strong union state with a single political system.

From this moment begins the modern history of Switzerland as a country with complete order in political system. The new constitution also laid the foundations federal parliamentary system which are still in effect.

Switzerland cannot be called a real parliamentary or presidential republic, as the country has unique rules in the state structure.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral parliament - the Federal Assembly, which is divided into the National Council and the Council of Cantons, which are completely equal. The National Council consists of 200 deputies elected for 4 years by popular vote.

who borders switzerland

The Council of Cantons consists of 2 representatives from each canton and one from the half-cantons.

Any laws that are passed must be approved by the deputies of both chambers in order to minimize the risk of passing laws that do not meet the interests of the country's inhabitants. In addition, within 10 days after the adoption of any law by the Parliament, a national referendum is held, in which at least 50,000 signatures must be collected for approval.

This is how the policy of direct democracy is implemented in Switzerland. Amendments to the Constitution are approved only through a nationwide mandatory referendum.

Members of Parliament appoint 7 members of the Federal Council, which is the government with executive power. Each year, one of these 7 representatives is appointed to the presidency, thus the head of state changes every year.

The remaining members of the Federal Council head departments or ministries, one of them is also appointed vice president. The composition of the Federal Council is selected in such a way that it includes representatives of all major political parties and geographical regions of the country.

All government bodies are located in the capital of the country, the city of Bern. The Swiss Federal Court, which has the highest judicial authority, is located in Lausanne.

Despite the fact that this body is in fact the supreme court of the state, it cannot declare federal laws unconstitutional.

Switzerland consists of 26 cantons and half-cantons, each of which has its own authorities and its own constitution, limited by the main Swiss constitution.

Federal authorities decide questions of war, foreign policy, army, conducting the federal budget, railways. The executive power in the cantons belongs to the government council, consisting of several members - from 5 to 11 people, with the president at the head. In smaller cantons, the government operates on a voluntary basis.

The current version of the page has not yet been reviewed by experienced contributors and may differ significantly from the one reviewed on May 20, 2018; checks are required.

Territorial structure of Switzerland as a federal republic includes 26 cantons (20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons).

The cantons (German Kantone, French cantons, Italian.cantoni, Romsh.chantuns) are the largest state-territorial units of the Swiss Confederation. The lowest level of territorial-administrative division is the communities (German Gemeinde), of which there were 2495 as of January 2012 (in 2011 - 2495 communities).

Below is a list of cantons (it is worth noting that many cities in Switzerland have different names used in different languages country).

Each canton has its own constitution and laws, the legislative body is the cantonal council ( cantonsrat ), or a big council, an executive body - ruling council (regierungsrat ), or a council of state, consisting of a governor ( landammann ), or the chairman of the state council, and government advisers ( regierungsrat ), or government advisers.

The canton is completely independent in solving internal problems. The central government is in charge of international affairs, the federal budget and the issue of money.

Nevertheless, Switzerland is a single state. The motto of the country: "One for all and all for one!" (lat. Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno).

Switzerland's neighboring countries and their capitals on the map

The most recent in terms of date of formation is the canton of Jura (separated from the canton of Bern in 1979 by referendum).

1 Until 1999, it had the status of a half-canton. According to the Swiss constitution of 1999, de jure received the status of a canton, but de facto remained a semi-canton with limited rights.

Switzerland

Population of Switzerland

As can be seen from the historical sketch, a single ethnic community has not developed in Switzerland. Linguistic and ethnic differences in the population of Switzerland are still very clear: each of the four Swiss peoples - German Swiss, French Swiss, Italian Swiss and Romansh - is a separate ethnic community, distinguished by national identity, language and cultural identity.

At the same time, every inhabitant of Switzerland is aware not only of his ethnic and cantonal affiliation, but also of the state community, expressed in a single self-name - the Swiss and in general terms of their culture.

The Swiss censuses give the composition of the population by language, taking it as the national determinant.

According to the latest census in 1970, from total number 5,189,707 Swiss people (excluding emigrants) 3,864,684 spoke German, 1,045,091 French, 207,557 Italian and 49,455 Romansh dialects.

The languages of the peoples of Switzerland belong to two different language groups: Romansh (French, Italian, Romansh) and Germanic (German).

Despite the multilingual composition of the population, there are no sharp national contradictions in Switzerland.

What countries borders Switzerland?

According to the Swiss constitution, all four peoples are equal, and their languages are recognized as national. State office work, laws common to all of Switzerland are published in four languages.

Three peoples - German Swiss, Franco-Swiss and Italo-Swiss live in compact groups in historically developed areas. The Swiss Germans are settled in 15 cantons in the north, northeast and center of the country; Franco-Swiss make up the main population of the three western cantons - Vaud, Geneva and Neuchâtel, as well as a significant part of the inhabitants of the cantons of Friborg, Valais and Berne; Italo-Swiss live in part of the canton of Tessin and in two adjacent areas of the canton of Graubünden.

The most ancient and smallest population of Switzerland - the Romansh live in part of the canton of Graubünden. The boundaries of all these areas have developed historically. Native language inhabitants of each ethnic region is the main spoken language, as well as the language of the press, school education, radio broadcasts, etc.

German-Swiss and Italian-Swiss speak dialects that differ significantly from their respective literary languages. A German, for example, does not always understand a Swiss German. But German-Swiss and Italian-Swiss write in literary languages.

Romansh speaks and writes in dialects.

Recently, the intensive development of industry and transport, accompanied by an increase in internal migration and the expansion of contacts between the Swiss, has contributed to the spread of bilingualism, mainly among residents of big cities, tourist and resort centers, as well as in border areas.

The peculiarities of the historical development of the Swiss state, which for a long time was a union of separate independent cantons, led to the fact that the consciousness of belonging to a certain canton and now often manifests itself much stronger than the ethnic one.

Therefore, the Swiss often call themselves not by nationality, but by cantonal affiliation - “Bernese”, “Wallis”, etc. Residents of various cantons differ in some features in folk clothes, food, customs, they are characterized by local patriotism.

Most Swiss belong to two faiths - Protestantism (2.9 million people).

people) and Catholicism (2.2 million). Calvin's followers predominate among Protestants.

The cantons of Vaud, Schaffhausen, City Basel, Zurich, Bern, Glarus, Neuchâtel, Geneva belong to the Protestant Church.

Catholicism is spread over a larger area, but in a less populated part of the country. The cantons of Schwyz, Uri Unterwalden, Tessin, Friborg, Solothurn, Valais, Lucerne and Zug remained Catholic after the Reformation. In some cantons (Appenzell, Aargau, Grisons) the number of Catholics and Protestants is almost the same. Per last years the number of Catholics increased markedly, which is explained by the higher birth rate in Catholic families, as well as the naturalization of foreigners, most of whom profess Catholicism.

by the end of the 1970s, the Swiss population had grown by 15%. The population of the cantons of Geneva and Tessin grew especially rapidly, where many foreign workers were sent in the 60s and 70s. In the cantons of the central and north-eastern part of Switzerland, the increase was minimal, and in Glarus there was even a decrease in the population.

Over the past two decades, the birth rate has been declining, but at the same time, the death rate has also been declining.

Therefore, there was still a natural increase in the population, although it decreased from 7.9 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1960 to 3.0 in 1977.

Along with the Swiss, more than 1 million foreigners live in the country. No other European country has such a high proportion of foreigners in its population. First of all, these are workers recruited for a long period of time to work in industry, construction, and the service sector.

In 1978 there were 750,000 foreign workers in Switzerland, mostly Italian, Spanish, but also from Turkey, Greece and Portugal.

In addition to permanent immigration, there is also seasonal immigration. About 200 thousand people come to Switzerland for construction and agricultural work. Nearly 100,000 residents of the border regions of Germany and France commute to work in Switzerland every day.

During the years of the economic crisis, about 300,000 factories were closed in Swiss industry.

jobs, while the number of unemployed in the country is small. The fact is that foreign workers are simply evicted from Switzerland, there is an “export” of unemployment.

Foreign workers are especially widely used in the most difficult, unhealthy or dirty work. They huddle in barracks, are not protected from the arbitrariness of entrepreneurs; if foreign workers openly express protest, dissatisfaction with the conditions of work and life, then they are threatened with immediate expulsion.

In the northern cantons of Switzerland there are frequent cases of hostile antics against foreign workers; at the same time, behind the back of the chauvinistically minded part of the population are bourgeois political groups interested in inciting the Swiss against immigrants.

The authorities are taking measures to limit the influx of foreigners: naturalization requires living in Switzerland for at least 10 years, having a guaranteed job and housing, being “trustworthy” politically, etc.

At the same time, many Swiss travel to foreign countries, however, as a rule, only for temporary residence. Basically, these are qualified specialists traveling to foreign countries to work at Swiss enterprises. Part of highly qualified personnel is simply lured to the USA, Germany.

325,000 Swiss live abroad.

In Switzerland, which did not participate in either the first or second world wars, there are almost the same number of women and men - 50.7 and 49.3%, respectively (1970).

Features of the country's economic development are reflected in the socio-economic structure of its population.

The number of people employed in industry is constantly growing - from 44% in 1941 to 48% in 1970. And the percentage of the economically active population employed in agriculture decreased from 30% to 8% over the same period. During this time, the share of people employed in the service sector has increased significantly: from 35 to 44%.

The country is extremely unevenly populated. The average population density is 154 people per 1 sq. km. km, but on the Swiss plateau and in the north-eastern part of the country it reaches 250 people per 1 sq. km.

km. In the mountainous central and southern parts of Switzerland (with the exception of the Tessin canton), as well as in the east, the population is very rare - from 25 to 50 people per 1 sq. km. km.

Internal migration of the population is low; it mainly comes from purely agrarian areas to industrialized areas and, to a lesser extent, to big cities. Population movements are complicated by linguistic and religious differences between the cantons.

More than half of the Swiss live in cities, but there are few large cities: only Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern and Lausanne have more than 100 thousand people.

residents. Only 4 cities have from 50 to 100 thousand inhabitants. The main part of the country's cities has less than 20 thousand inhabitants.

shopping

In the minds of a huge number of people, Switzerland is associated with cheese and watches. And, of course, people come here to make sure that the Swiss cheese is the most delicious, and the clock is the most accurate. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that this is so.

A tourist can try Swiss cheeses and dishes based on them in any corner of the country. But many people go to Geneva specifically to buy watches and jewelry. By the way, you can buy original products here on any main street.

The spring months in Switzerland are especially attractive for those who love to shop for designer items. The fact is that it is at this time that many manufacturers make discounts (up to 70%!) On their goods - from clothes to souvenirs. You can buy things from famous designers in Ticino, in the south of the country.

Among the largest shopping centers you can call Shop Ville (Zurich) and Fox Town Faktory (Mendrisio). The latter is the largest shopping complex in Europe.

Great pleasure will give you shopping in Bern. In shopping boulevards up to 6 kilometers long, you can find everything from souvenirs to cakes.

As for the schedule of the shops, you will have to get used to it. First, on Sunday, most institutions do not work. On Saturday, the working day lasts, as a rule, until 16:00. Stores usually close on Wednesdays, especially in rural areas, but on Thursdays they are open longer, until about 21:00. The Swiss are quite strict with lunch: from 12:00 to 14:00, most institutions do not work.

Out of competition - gas stations: open every day from 08:00 to 22:00. True, food and drinks are more expensive here.

Transport

The largest international airports in Switzerland are located in Zurich, Basel and Geneva. They are operated by the Swiss company.

In general, transport links in Switzerland are one of the densest. Trains leave approximately every half an hour. Big cities have a very dense network of buses and trams. Most of the subway lines in Switzerland resemble our tram lines: they run above ground. Only in 2008, the first underground metro was opened in Lausanne.

Intercity transportation is also well established. Even remote settlements regularly want buses. You can get to any place in the city and country quickly, easily and on the transport that you prefer.

Ferries run on the numerous lakes of Switzerland exactly on schedule. There are cable cars in the mountains: not only very convenient, but also exciting!

In general, transport in this country works - pardon the pun - like a Swiss watch.

As for the roads, traveling in your own car can also be a lot of fun. At least because of the landscapes that stretch around. In addition, you can not complain about the quality of coverage and infrastructure. An important role is played by roads that pass through mountain passes.

An important point: to travel by car on some highways, your car must be equipped with a special ticket. It can be bought at the entrance to Switzerland, at customs. It costs around $30. Permissible speed on highways - 120 km / h, up to 80 km / h - outside settlements, up to 50 km / h - in settlements. There are video cameras on all roads that help catch violators, so be careful. By the way, for speeding in Switzerland can judge. You can even pay a fine for exceeding the speed limit by 5 km/h.

Helpful Hint: Don't drive with sunglasses on. The fact is that there are a lot of tunnels on the roads of Switzerland. Entering the tunnel on a sunny day, you will find yourself in total darkness, which is unsafe for you and, possibly, for a vehicle moving towards you.

Connection

Communications in Switzerland, you guessed it, also work smoothly. Moreover, modern public telephones offer very unusual opportunities for many tourists. So, they have a touch screen, through which you can not only make a call, send an email or look through the telephone directory, but also order train tickets.

As for mobile communications, the GSM standard is used here.

Internet access can be found everywhere: in public access areas or in a virtual cafe - for free or for a couple of francs.

Post offices are open on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 07:30 to 18:30 (lunch - from 12:00 to 13:30). In the lobby of most hotels there are one or two computers connected to the Internet that you can use.

Safety

Tourists who intend to spend a vacation in Switzerland with accommodation or a hotel need a tourist visa. To obtain it, you need to submit the following documents: a passport and a copy of its first page, a completed application form with a signature and a photo, an original and a copy of a round-trip ticket, confirmation of prepaid housing, confirmation of the availability of funds. In some cases, the Embassy may require other documents.

Switzerland is considered a safe country, and yet experts recommend getting insurance, which can save you from paying impressive amounts for an emergency. medical care(you never know). And if your property is stolen, insurance will help repair the damage.

In general, the crime rate in Switzerland is very low. However, you should still beware of pickpockets, especially at the height of the season or during exhibitions and conferences. Particular caution is advised at train stations and during night train journeys.

In case of theft, immediately contact the police station for a report. It is better to always have your passport with you if you want to avoid problems with the police. By the way, the representatives of the law here do not differ in angelic character.

The level of road safety in this country is also very high. However, winding mountain roads can pose an increased risk, especially during the summer and winter holidays, when congestion increases.

Business

Switzerland is the richest country in the world. In addition, it is one of the most important financial centers in the world: a huge number of branches of foreign banks operate here. The secret of the reliability of Swiss banks is simple: they are located in a country with a stable economic and legal system, and therefore cannot go bankrupt.

It seems completely logical that a country with such a status annually hosts international conferences and exhibitions, which attract tens, hundreds of thousands of people from different parts of the world. So, the most popular of the exhibitions are: FESPO ZURICH (“Leisure, travel, sports”), SICHERHEIT (“International Safety Fair”), IGEHO (“International exhibition of the supply industry, hotel and restaurant business”), Internationaler Automobil-Salon Genf ( "International Automobile Salon"), Blickfang Basel ("Furniture Design, Jewelry and Fashion Exhibition") and many others. Conferences on political, financial, banking, industrial and cultural issues are regularly held here.

The property

Switzerland has long been considered one of the most closed countries for property buyers from abroad. It is impossible to buy real estate here if you do not have a category B residence permit (and this is a permanent visa extension for 10 years). Moreover, the buyer is still obliged to comply with the rules of the "game" of the state: the acquired property cannot be used for commercial purposes. A foreigner is allowed to use housing only for his own needs, and with a restriction on residence time - 6 months a year. You can live permanently in this house only by obtaining a residence permit in this country. There is also an area limitation.

Houses and apartments in Switzerland are very expensive, and the country's real estate market has demonstrated its resilience even during the crisis. Experts even noted a slight increase in prices for a number of objects.

The cost of housing in Switzerland depends on many factors. One of the most important is location. So, a small apartment in Villars, in a residential complex, can be purchased for some 60 thousand euros. Apartments in more expensive resorts can cost from 150 thousand to 800 thousand euros (depending on the area and the view from the window). Those who have more serious means and are looking for solitude in the bosom of nature and a huge personal space, of course, choose luxury villas and chalets. Such housing will cost about 5-8 million euros.

Contrary to popular belief, a trip to Switzerland is no more expensive than a trip to Germany or Italy. It's just that the Swiss understand very well that "good money" equals "good service". In this country, a tourist always gets what he paid for.

If you want to spend as little as possible, then the best option is to live in a camp site, cook for yourself, travel short distances and only by bike. With such a rest, you can spend about $ 30 per day. You will not spend much more if you eat in restaurants fast food or student canteens at universities: lunches are relatively inexpensive there (7-9 $).

Comfortable conditions within reason - a three-star hotel or inn - "pull" about $ 100 per day. Lunch at a restaurant can significantly lighten your wallet. By the way, tips there (+15%) are included in the bill. The same goes for the cost of taxi services.

A visit to a museum or an acquaintance with some attraction will cost about $ 4. About the same amount you will spend on moving around the city by public transport.

Visa information

Citizens of the CIS and the Russian Federation to travel to the territory of Switzerland, which is part of the Schengen countries, need a visa. A short-term Schengen visa (category C) can be tourist (when booking a hotel or tour around the country), guest (when visiting relatives or friends), business (if necessary, meetings with business partners) and transit (when traveling in transit to those countries that are not members of the Schengen area).

In addition, the Swiss embassy issues study visas for people who are going to study for more than 90 days, and work visas for people who are employed.

The Swiss Embassy in Moscow is located at: per. Ogorodnaya Sloboda, 2/5. You can also contact the Consulate General in St. Petersburg (Chernyshevsky Ave., 17) or the Visa Department of the Embassy (Moscow, Prechistenskaya Embankment, 31).

Story

The history of Switzerland dates back to the 12th millennium BC. It was then that the territory covered with eternal snows, under the onslaught of global warming, began to free itself from ice. Gradually, the white cover changed into green, and the "revived" earth found its first inhabitants from the human race.

In ancient times, Switzerland was inhabited by the Celtic tribes of the Helvetii, hence its ancient name - Helvetia. Around the 1st century BC, after the campaigns of Julius Caesar, the country was conquered by the Romans and gained worldwide fame. In the 5th century AD, during the era of the Great Migration of Peoples, it was captured by the Alemanni, Burgundians and Ostrogoths; in the VI century - the Franks. In the 11th century, Switzerland became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.

Initially, the Swiss were not a single nation, while Switzerland itself was a union of communities (cantons) that aspired to self-government. At the beginning of August 1291, the peasants of the forested cantons of Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, who lived on the shores of Lake Firwaldstet, entered into an alliance and swore an oath to help each other in the struggle against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty; in a stubborn struggle they defended their independence. The Swiss celebrate this joyful event to this day: August 1 - the National Day of Switzerland - salutes and fireworks illuminate the Swiss sky in memory of the events of more than seven centuries ago.

For two centuries, Swiss troops have been victorious over the feudal armies of dukes, kings and kaisers. Provinces and cities began to join the original union. The united allies sought to expel the Habsburgs, gradually expanding their borders. In 1499, after the victory over Kaiser Maximilian I of Habsburg, Switzerland freed itself from the domination of the empire. In 1513, there were already 13 cantons in the union. Each canton was absolutely sovereign - there was no common army, no common constitution, no capital, no central government. In the 16th century, a severe crisis began in Switzerland. The reason for this was the split in christian church. Geneva and Zurich became centers of activity for the Protestant reformers Calvin and Zwingli. In 1529, a religious war broke out in Switzerland. Only a serious danger emanating from outside prevented the complete disintegration of the state. In 1798, the French invaded Switzerland and transformed it into a unitary Helvetic Republic. For fifteen years the country was under their rule. The situation changed only in 1815, when the Swiss introduced their own constitution with equal rights for 22 sovereign cantons. In the same year, the Peace Congress of Vienna recognized the "permanent neutrality" of Switzerland and determined its borders, which are still inviolable. However, the unity of the union of cantons was not reliably ensured by the organization of a sufficiently strong central authority. Only under the constitution of 1948, the fragile union turned into a single state - federal Switzerland.

National features

Switzerland is a highly developed country with intensive agriculture. It is the largest exporter of capital, the financial center of the capitalist world. Swiss banks are the most reliable. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the country has never joined any blocs. It has been and remains a stable country in Europe.

In Switzerland, four languages are spoken and written: German (various local dialects of Swiss German and literary High German are spoken by 65% of the population), French (18%), Italian (mainly one of the Lombard dialects, 12%), and in Romansh (in five different dialects). Having the opportunity to learn all the languages of the country at school, every Swiss, as a rule, understands them, although he is not always able to express himself in all.

The Swiss are very religious: according to the 1980 census, about 50% profess the Protestant faith, 44% - Catholic, 6% adhere to other religions or atheism. Traveling in Switzerland, one cannot fail to notice the world-famous virtue of the Swiss - the love of cleanliness and order. They vacuum the streets! James Joyce once remarked that soup here can be eaten without plates, straight from the pavement. In Switzerland, it is impossible to pass by Swiss watches, which have become the epitome of precision, elegance, a kind of world standard. For this small country, watches have become the most prestigious and significant export.

culture

In Eastern Switzerland is the Rhine Falls (average water flow - 1100 cubic meters per second). Near the waterfall is the city of Schaffhausen. This part of the country is replete with colorful flower carpets: alpine rose (rhododendron), edelweiss, saxifrage, breakwort. Most of the plants are perennial herbs and shrubs. Their flowers are relatively large and bright; both the flowers and the plants themselves are often fragrant. Small towns and villages with an unobtrusive charm fit perfectly into such a natural landscape. In Central Switzerland, you can admire Mount Pilatus - a favorite vacation spot for both residents of the country and foreign tourists.

Switzerland is an amazing country. In a small space, both the beauties of nature and the outstanding creations of human hands are concentrated in it. At every step - traces of different civilizations. The ruins in Nyon and Avenches remind of the Romans, in particular the amphitheater for 10,000 visitors. In Basel, Geneva and Lausanne, a variety of Romanesque and Gothic architectural monuments attract attention. The fortress Castello di Montebello (Castello di Montebello) of the Renaissance has been preserved - one of the places of pilgrimage for tourists. The baroque is richly represented, mainly the monasteries of Einsiedeln (Einsiedeln), Engelberg (Engelberg) and the churches of Kreuzlingen (Kreuzlingen) and Arlesheim (Arlesheim).

The architectural appearance of the city of Schaffhausen is dominated by Baroque and Rococo, and the oldest surviving buildings date back to the late Gothic period. Along a stone-paved path you can climb to the ancient fortress of Munot. The center of Eastern Switzerland is the city of St. Gallen, which, according to legend, owed its birth to the Irish monk Gallus. During the construction of the skete, Gallus was helped by a bear; his image can be seen today on the city coat of arms. The famous cathedral in St. Gallen and the monastery library are considered the main monuments of the Baroque style in Switzerland.

Diverse and rich cultural life country. Every big city has its own theater and symphony orchestra. Of the musical theaters, the most famous are the Opera House in Zurich, the Grand Theater in Geneva and the Basel City Theater. Summer in Switzerland is the time of festivals, they take place in Lausanne, Zurich, Montreux and many other cities. In addition to the world famous international music festivals Carnival takes place in Lucerne every year. The holiday always begins on Thursday and lasts until the first Wednesday of Great Lent.

Swiss cuisine

Swiss cuisine enjoys well-deserved recognition among gourmets all over the world, and the Swiss themselves do not shy away from luculla delights at home. So, the favorite pastime of the inhabitants of Zurich is a walk through restaurants and cafes, and if they praise you any of the eateries, you can safely go there. The local cuisine has been strongly influenced by its neighbors, primarily the "older French cousin" and Italian cuisine, as well as a purely Swabian table, but still it has enough of its own delicacies that have become widespread in other countries. A quintessentially Swiss dish, the famous fondue is best enjoyed when it's cold outside and it's raining or snowing. Then sit comfortably in front of the fireplace and, after chopping pieces of bread crumb on a long fork, dip them in melted cheese. It is best to drink this delicacy with white wine or tea.

Another well-known cheese dish that has become widespread is the Vallis raclette. The very name of the dish ("raclette" (fr.) - a coarse grater) gives out the principle of its preparation. The cheese is rubbed on a coarse grater or broken into small pieces, heated and served with potatoes. However, in order to enjoy the taste and aroma of cheese, it is not at all necessary to warm it up. The best examples are the Emmental (more often called Swiss) and Appenzell cheeses, which enjoy well-deserved recognition among gourmets, as well as Greyerz cheese. Exquisite taste and aroma distinguish "Vasheren" - which is prepared only in winter, and "Schabziger" - cheese with herbs from Glernerland.

Among the Ticinese delicacies, first of all, it is necessary to name small soft formagini cheeses, which are cooked from cottage cheese, as well as various varieties of mountain cheese, the most famous of which is Piora. Another famous Swiss delicacy is the Zurich schnitzel (veal in a creamy sauce). Those who like to eat hearty prefer the Bernese appetizer (Berner Platte) - a dish of sauerkraut with beans and fried potatoes. Bern is also considered the birthplace of the famous Rosti - thinly sliced fried potatoes with cracklings.

And now it's time to think about soups, for example, Basel flour broth, barley soup from Bünden or Busekka - Ticinese tripe soup. National dish sunny southern Switzerland is, of course, polenta, a dish of corn grits with cream and pieces of fruit. To the south of St. Gotthard, risotto is very popular - a rice dish prepared in Milanese (with saffron), mushrooms or peasant style (with vegetables).

The menu of Swiss cuisine also includes fish dishes: rudd, trout, pike and egli (freshwater perch), which are prepared differently everywhere. In late autumn and winter, many restaurants offer game delicacies such as roe deer back. And another delicacy, famous on both sides of the Swiss border, deserves your attention. This is Bunden-style meat, beef jerky, cut into very thin slices. Those who first tasted it in Valais, and not in Graubünden, call this dish “Welsh meat”.

The Alpine Republic is famous for its wines. Widely known are white wines - Dezaley and St.-Saphorin, Fendant and Johannisberg, Twanner. The best varieties of red wines are the exquisitely thin "Rose der CEil-de-Perdrix", the strong "Dole", "Pinot Noir" and "Merlot". But, perhaps, the best Bünden wines are made in the Italian town of Veltalin, which since 1815 has become the Swiss canton of Graubünden. "Sassella", "Grumello", "Inferno" - these are the names of strong ruby-red wines, which owe their luxurious bouquet to the generous southern sun. It remains only to say a few words about all kinds of sweets served for dessert, afternoon tea, and evening coffee. These are fruit pies, and Zug cherry cake, and carrot cake, and Engadine walnut cake, and of course, the famous Swiss chocolate.

Economy

Switzerland is one of the most developed and wealthy countries in the world. Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with intensive, highly productive agriculture and an almost complete absence of any minerals. According to Western economists, it is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of economic competitiveness. The Swiss economy is closely connected with the outside world, primarily with the EU countries, with thousands of threads of industrial cooperation and foreign trade transactions. OK. 80-85% of Swiss trade is with EU countries. More than 50% of all cargoes from the northern part of Western Europe to the south and in the opposite direction pass through Switzerland in transit. After a noticeable increase in 1998-2000. The country's economy has entered a recession. In 2002, GDP grew by 0.5% to CHF 417 billion. fr. Inflation was at around 0.6%. The unemployment rate reached 3.3%. The economy employs approx. 4 million people (57% of the population), of which: in industry - 25.8%, including in mechanical engineering - 2.7%, in the chemical industry - 1.7%, in agriculture and forestry - 4.1% , in the service sector - 70.1%, including in trade - 16.4%, in banking and insurance - 5.5%, in the hotel and restaurant business - 6.0%. The policy of neutrality made it possible to avoid the devastation of two world wars.

Politics

Switzerland is a federal republic. The current constitution was adopted in 1999. The federal authorities are in charge of issues of war and peace, foreign relations, the army, railways, communications, money emission, approval of the federal budget, etc.

The head of the country is the president, who is elected every year on a rotating basis from among the members of the Federal Council.

The highest legislative body is a bicameral parliament - the Federal Assembly, consisting of the National Council and the Council of Cantons (Equal Chambers).

The National Council (200 deputies) is elected by the population for 4 years under the proportional representation system.

The federal structure and the constitution of Switzerland were enshrined in the constitutions of 1848, 1874 and 1999.

Now Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons (20 cantons and 6 half-cantons). Until 1848 (except for a short period of the Helvetic Republic) Switzerland was a confederation). Each canton has its own constitution, laws, but their rights are limited by the federal constitution. Legislative power belongs to Parliament, and executive power belongs to the Federal Council (government).

There are 46 deputies in the Council of Cantons, who are elected by the population according to the majority system of relative majority in 20 two-member constituencies and 6 single-member constituencies, that is, 2 people each. from each canton and one from the half-canton for 4 years (in some cantons - for 3 years).

All laws adopted by Parliament can be approved or rejected in a popular (optional) referendum. To do this, after the adoption of the law, 50 thousand signatures must be collected within 100 days.

The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18.

The highest executive power belongs to the government - the Federal Council, consisting of 7 members, each of which heads one of the departments (ministries). Members of the Federal Council are elected at a joint meeting of both houses of parliament. All members of the Federal Council alternately serve as president and vice president.

The foundations of the Swiss state were laid in 1291. Before late XVIII century, there were no central state bodies in the country, but all-union councils - tagzatzung - were periodically convened.

Geography

Switzerland is located in the heart of Western Europe. It borders Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, Italy to the south and France to the west. Switzerland is one of the smallest countries in the world: its total area is 41,285 km2. The maximum length from north to south is 220 km, from west to east - 348 km.
Switzerland has gathered within its borders a unique diversity of nature and landscape. The lowest point is on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Ticino (194 m a.s.l.). Eternal snow covers the peaks of the mountains, 48 of which are 4000 m and higher. Peak Dufour (4634 m) in the canton of Vallis is the highest point in Switzerland.

Three geographic regions

The Alps, the Swiss Plateau (or Middle Belt) and the Jura form the three main geographic regions.
- The Alps occupy 60% of the country's area and have long defined the national identity of Switzerland, although in economic terms the Middle Strip plays a more important role. Only 11% of the country's population lives in the Alps. Numerous mountain passes are important transit routes.
- More than two-thirds of the population lives on the territory of the Swiss Plateau, which makes up 30% of the country's area. Large agglomerations and important industrial centers are located here. In the west, the plateau borders on Lake Constance, in the east - on Geneva.
- To S.-Z. the Jura Mountains extend from the Middle Strip, occupying 10% of the entire area of Switzerland. The mountain range consists mainly of limestone and is formed by a system of ridges, plateaus, valleys and peaks with an average height of 700 m.

Climate and seasons

In Switzerland, the climate differs depending on the region. In the territory north of the Alps, a humid temperate climate prevails; south of the Alps, signs of a Mediterranean climate are obvious. The complex orographic structure of the country contributes to the creation of numerous regional microclimates. The annual rainfall is above the European average.
Switzerland has all four seasons. In spring (March - May) fruit trees bloom and the fields turn green. In summer the temperature rises to 25-30С. In autumn (September - November), the crop ripens, the leaves of the trees gradually change color and fall off. Winter is snowy and moderately cold.

Inland waters

Switzerland is rich in water resources. 6% of Europe's fresh water reserves are concentrated on its territory. From here, the rivers Rhone, Rhine and Inn flow into the basins of the Mediterranean, North and Black Seas. Switzerland has over 1500 lakes. Lake Geneva on the border with France is the largest in Western Europe.
Glaciers occupy 3% of the territory of Switzerland. The largest valley glacier is the Aletsh glacier (23 km).

Transport links across the Alps

Switzerland is an important transit country with a strong cargo flow in the direction of the North-South transport corridor. Road and rail tunnels through the St. Gotthard pass directly link Italy with Northern Europe. The construction of the New Alpine Railway Line (NEAT) is currently underway. On June 1, 2016, the Gotthard Tunnel was opened in Switzerland. It became the longest railway. tunnel in the world. The Great Saint Bernard Pass is the main transport link between Western Switzerland and Italy.

Cities

Two thirds of the Swiss population live in cities. Switzerland can be roughly divided into six major metropolitan areas, each with over half a million inhabitants. These include Zurich, Bern, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and Ticino. Today, 84% of the country's economic production is concentrated in these metropolitan areas.