Language: French, German, Italian, Romansh
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Calling Code: +41
Switzerland (German die Schweiz, French Suisse,
Italian Svizzera, Romansh Svizra), officially the Swiss
Confederation (Latin Confoederatio Helvetica, German Schweizerische
Eidgenossenschaft, French Confédération suisse, Italian
Confederazione Svizzera, Romansh Confederaziun svizra) , The State
of Switzerland is a state in Western Europe, a federal republic
consisting of 26 cantons with federal authorities in Bern.
Switzerland is located at the junction of Western, Central and
Southern Europe, is landlocked and borders Italy in the south,
France in the west, Germany in the north, Austria and Liechtenstein
in the east. The country is geographically divided between the Alps,
the Swiss plateau and the Jura, covering a total area of 41,285 km².
While the Alps occupy most of the area, Switzerland's population of
approximately 8.5 million people is largely concentrated on the
plateau, where the largest cities are located, including two global
ones - Zurich and Geneva.
The creation of the Swiss
Confederation dates back to the Late Middle Ages and was the result
of a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy.
Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally
recognized at the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Since the Reformation
of the 16th century, Switzerland has adhered to a policy of armed
neutrality; it has not waged external wars since 1815 and did not
join the UN until 2002; nevertheless, it pursues an active foreign
policy for world peace. Switzerland is home to the Red Cross, one of
the oldest and most renowned humanitarian organizations in the
world; a platform for numerous international organizations,
including the second largest UN branch. The country is a founding
member of the European Free Trade Association (but is not a member
of the European Union, European Economic Area or Eurozone), but
participates in the Schengen Area and the European Single Market
through bilateral treaties.
Switzerland is a multinational
state with wide ethnocultural, linguistic, religious, racial and
national diversity.
Switzerland lies at the crossroads of
Germanic and Romanesque Europe and has four main linguistic and
cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although the
majority of the population is German-speaking, Swiss national
identity is rooted in a common historical experience, common values:
federalism, direct democracy and Alpine symbolism. Due to its
multilingualism, Switzerland is known by different names: Schweiz
(in German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); and Svizra
(Romanche), but Swiss coins and stamps use the country's Latin name
instead of the four national languages: Confoederatio Helvetica,
often shortened to "Helvetia".
Switzerland is one of the most
developed countries in the world, with the highest nominal adult
wealth and the eighth-highest GDP per capita. It ranks at the
forefront of a number of international indicators, including
economic competitiveness, innovation and human development. Zurich,
Geneva and Basel were ranked among the top ten cities in the world
for quality of life, with Zurich coming in second. Three Swiss
cities - Zurich, Basel and Lausanne - were among the top hundred
science and technology clusters in the world.
Entry regulations can be viewed at the Federal Office for Migration
(BFM). Since November 1, 2008, Switzerland has been part of the Schengen
area, which means entry is usually possible without showing ID. For
citizens of the European Union, the national identity card (identity
card) or passport is sufficient for visa-free entry as a tourist. The
border guard is responsible for identity checks; these can also be
carried out by “flying patrols” in the rear area.
Since
Switzerland is not part of the EU, goods checks can be carried out at
the borders; The customs administration bodies are responsible for this.
The limits are particularly low for foods produced in the country (dairy
products, meat, alcoholic beverages) and exceeding them can result in
steep punitive tariffs. Goods up to a limit of CHF 300 per person can be
imported freely; more expensive new goods must be declared upon import,
after which VAT must be paid. Larger amounts of foreign currency are
also subject to registration requirements.
The largest airport in Switzerland is Zurich Airport (IATA: ZRH). Most scheduled flights depart from Zurich, Geneva Airport (IATA: GVA) and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (IATA: BSL, MLH, EAP). Other, albeit smaller, airports are Lugano-Agno Airport (IATA: LUG), Bern-Belp Airport (IATA: BRN) and St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (IATA: ACH).
From Germany there are direct trains between Zurich and Basel and
European destinations such as Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg or, for
example, Berlin. Night trains serve cities such as Prague, Dresden,
Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. There are direct connections
from Zurich to Stuttgart and Munich.
Trains also run from Zurich
to Austria, for example to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna. Night trains
run to Vienna and sometimes further to Budapest.
TGV connections
to France exist from Basel, Bern, Neuchâtel, Lausanne and Geneva to
Paris, from Basel and Geneva to Lyon and from Basel and Lausanne to
Dijon. There are also TER trains from Basel to Strasbourg.
There
are direct trains to Milan from Zurich, Bern, Basel and Valais / Ticino.
After many night train connections were canceled for reasons of
profitability, there are now signs of an improvement in the
international night train service due to increasing awareness of
ecological issues.
The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) offer various
package deals for travelers from abroad. With the Swiss Travel Pass, for
example, travelers receive free travel on most train, post bus and
shipping lines for 3, 4, 8 or 15 days. However, many mountain railways
are excluded from this. Interrail tickets are also valid. If you're
planning a day trip, you might find a discounted offer at Railaway. The
easiest way to buy a ticket (although not always the cheapest) is to use
the SBB app on your smartphone: after the journey has been planned using
the electronic timetable, you can immediately buy the ticket online, it
will be in the form a QR code stored on the smartphone.
Cheap day
tickets are also available from almost all municipalities in Switzerland
that offer impersonal general subscriptions (CHF 30.00 to 45.00 per day
ticket). You don't need a half-fare subscription, but many
municipalities only offer the offer to their own residents. Here is the
list of affiliated communities: Day ticket community
Most larger
cities are connected every half hour.
Unless you use the
above-mentioned package deals or Interrail, traveling by train in
Switzerland is relatively expensive compared to other European
countries. In addition, the trains on the main traffic routes (away from
the tourist routes) are overcrowded during peak hours. Switzerland has
many tourist-interesting routes where a train ride is worthwhile (e.g.
Glacier Express, Gotthard route, various mountain railways, etc.).
In Switzerland, you must ensure that you do not board a train
without a valid ticket (travel document). If in doubt, you can make
inquiries at the railway counter or ask the conductor (conductor) before
boarding. The fines are otherwise high (usually a basic fee of 100
francs plus the travel price).
Various long-distance bus lines, mainly from European providers, run
in and through Switzerland. There is a wide range of options, especially
from/to Germany, the Eastern European countries, the Baltics and the
Balkans as well as Spain and Portugal. The main destinations are Zurich,
Basel, Bern, St. Gallen, Lausanne and Geneva. Due to the cabotage ban,
international providers are not allowed to transport travelers on routes
within Switzerland in order to circumvent the transport monopoly of
public providers.
Due to the dense rail network, national
long-distance bus lines, on the other hand, hardly exist except for the
PostBus lines Chur – Bellinzona (practically every hour) and St. Moritz
– Lugano (rarely).
Reservations are mandatory on some tourist
PostBus lines. Reservations are free and can be made up to one hour
before departure. A surcharge applies on some tourist lines.
Most motorways leading to the Swiss border have a motorway border
crossing or at least a high-quality continuing road. From Germany, the
main routes are from Frankfurt/Main along the Rhine to Basel, from
Stuttgart via Singen to Schaffhausen, from Munich via Bregenz to the
Lustenau border crossing near St. Margrethen, which is also used when
traveling from Austria via the Arlberg.
Coming from the south of
France, the crossing near Geneva is the most important; from Alsace you
drive via Basel. From Italy via Milan the Chiasso or Simplon Pass
crossing is usually used.
The public transport system in Switzerland is very well developed.
Most places are connected to the nearest larger city every half hour,
and even remote villages can usually be reached by train or post bus.
The larger cities with their agglomerations have a dense public
transport network. The timetable can be accessed online from the Swiss
Federal Railways (SBB). With the SBB app, the route can be planned on
the smartphone thanks to the electronic timetable (including details of
line numbers, platforms and transfer times) and the ticket can be
purchased online using an integrated function.
Zone tariff
systems are increasingly being used in public transport, and the SBB app
simplifies the purchase of the ticket that covers the required zones.
The half-fare subscription is popular in Switzerland; holders travel at
half the price, just like children.
Vignette
In order to be able to use motorways and motorways, a
motorway vignette must be purchased. This applies to cars, motorcycles,
mobile homes and all other privately used motor vehicles up to a maximum
weight of 3.5 tons for any number of trips within a calendar year
(annual vignette, from December 1st of the previous year to January 31st
of the following year). In contrast to other Alpine countries, there is
no special toll for road tunnels (e.g. Gotthard Tunnel). Unlike in
Austria, however, car trailers in Switzerland also require a vignette.
The price for a motorway vignette for 2021 is CHF 40.00. or €38.50. The
vignette is available online at Swiss Post, Deutsche Post, ADAC, ÖAMTC
and other points of sale, as well as offline at petrol stations, post
offices, rest stops and larger border crossings. The vignette must be
placed on the inside of the windshield in a place that is clearly
visible from the outside in cars and motorhomes; in motorcycles, it must
be placed on an easily recognizable and non-replaceable part of the
vehicle (left on the fork handle or on the tank) and on the left front
of trailers.
Speed limits
120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on
motorways, 80 km/h on country roads outside built-up areas, 50 km/h in
urban areas, unless a different speed is signaled. Many cities and
villages also have 30 km/h zones. It is advisable to adhere to these
limits; the fines can be very expensive (for 61 km/h instead of 50 km/h
in urban areas: 250 francs). If you exceed 15 km/h in urban areas, 20
km/h outside of urban areas and on motorways or 25 km/h on motorways,
your driving license can be revoked, as well as a severe fine depending
on your income; if you exceed 5 km/h more, this is usually mandatory (
for foreigners: in addition to the fines, at least the revocation of the
right to drive in Switzerland). In the case of massive speed violations
(70 km/h in 30 km/h zones, exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h in urban
areas, 60 km/h outside of urban areas and on motorways or 80 km/h on
motorways), the minimum penalty is one year's imprisonment, and this is
also the case Vehicle confiscated. If a trailer is carried, the same
speeds apply as without a trailer, apart from the general maximum speed
of 80 km/h. Trailers that are registered for 100 km/h in Germany must
comply with the 80 km/h limit in Switzerland; The registration is not
valid in Switzerland (note: at 100 km/h on roads or 105 km/h on
motorways there is a risk of driving privileges being withdrawn, see
above).
Identifying colors for signposting
Motorways and
motorways are shown with green signposts and distance boards (the
motorway numbering in red), main roads with right-of-way with blue
signposts and town signs, secondary roads with no right-of-way with
white signs. On the back of the town signs (when leaving the town), the
next town is shown at the top in small font above the dividing line, and
at the bottom the next important route destination is shown in larger
font (usually with distance information). Detours are signaled in
orange, yellow signs are for military traffic. Road numbering is
practically only important on motorways.
Alcohol and drugs
In
Switzerland there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5‰ in traffic. If you
are involved in an accident due to excessive alcohol consumption, this
can still result in civil legal consequences. There is absolute zero
tolerance for illegal drugs. Therefore, if you consume alcohol, you
should generally leave your car parked, use public transport or call a
taxi.
Attention, carrying stored “speed cameras” is prohibited and will
result in the confiscation of the device and a fine of up to 3,000
francs. More recent navigation devices therefore automatically
deactivate the radar functions based on the current location. With older
devices, care must be taken to ensure that no speed cameras are stored
in the points of interest in the device, even if they were supplied with
the device. Simply “turning off” such points of interest is not enough.
Navigation devices must not be attached to the windshield if they block
the field of vision.
Other differences to Germany and Austria
In Switzerland, the town signs have no influence on the permitted speed.
The urban speed applies there from the signal “50 generally” and stops
at the signal “end of 50 generally”. Under ideal conditions, you should
not drive slower than 80 km/h on motorways. Overtaking on the right on
multi-lane roads is also prohibited in urban areas, similar to on
motorways, if the individual roads do not lead in different directions.
Overtaking on the right usually results in your ID being revoked. During
the day you drive with lights on (daytime running lights or, in the
absence of one, with dipped beams).
Autobahnen.ch, private
information portal on tolls, traffic rules and an overview of motorways
and expressways in Switzerland
Tips for road traffic in the mountains:
The yellow post buses
(buses) have the right of way on mountain post roads - marked with a
golden post horn on a blue background. The post bus driver can warn of
confusing curves with the typical three-tone horn. The post bus driver
has the right to give mandatory instructions to other road users.
The
vehicle traveling downhill gives way to the one traveling uphill and
backs up on narrow roads. Trucks and buses, but not minibuses or mobile
homes (as they are legally passenger cars), always have the right of way
over passenger cars.
Smaller mountain roads are often winding and can
be strenuous to drive as you always have to make room for oncoming
traffic.
On small roads, you may want to honk in front of very
confusing curves, especially on mountain passes (but this will reveal
that the driver is a foreigner and may get malicious looks).
Don't
drive or overtake as fast as the locals, they know the route better.
Especially in mountain areas, locals appreciate it when drivers and
motorhomes who are unfamiliar with the area briefly turn off to the
right and let the following vehicles pass.
In winter, make sure you
have the appropriate equipment (winter tires, snow chains); insufficient
tires can result in a fine. If a corresponding obligation is signaled,
winter equipment must be carried with you.
Although Switzerland is a landlocked country, it can be reached by
boat. The most important for entry is the Lake Constance ferry
Friedrichshafen-Romanshorn as a feeder to Friedrichshafen Airport
(airport-lake transfer available). From Romanshorn you can continue by
train.
Other cross-border connections are less important for
entry, but from a tourist perspective they are worthwhile. River cruises
on the Rhine or a sea trip across the Italian part of Lake Langensee
(Lake Maggiore) or Lake Lugano are possible. There are four shipping
lines on Lake Geneva to Geneva, Lausanne, Nyon, Morges, Vevey and
Montreux.
Many lakes are worthwhile for boat trips; not just on
Lake Constance or Lake Geneva. Lake Lucerne with one of the largest
paddle steamer fleets in Europe or a three-lake tour on Lake Neuchâtel,
Lake Murten and Lake Biel in the western Mittelland also have their
charm.
River trips are possible on the Rhine between Schaffhausen
and Konstanz and between Basel and Rheinfelden and on the Aare between
Biel and Solothurn.
Bicycle trips (in Switzerland they are called bike tours) are also
popular and have their own special appeal. Switzerland can be easily
reached as an extension of the Rhine cycle path or as part of a tour
around Lake Constance. Within Switzerland there is a well-designed and
excellently signposted long-distance cycle path network with 9
long-distance cycle routes and 52 regional routes. In addition, the
various Alpine passes offer challenges for sporty insiders. Bicycles can
be taken on almost all trains and post buses for 18 CHF (reduced 12 CHF)
(bicycle ticket), or for the additional price of a ticket. Some post
buses only take bicycles with you if you register in advance.
In
various larger cities there are bike sharing offers where you can rent a
bike at short notice (some free, some for a fee); Corresponding offers
can be found via Suisse roule.
In Switzerland, for electric
bicycles that travel faster than 30 km/h and up to 45 km/h with pedal
assistance, you need a class M moped license (from 16 years old) and a
rear-view mirror on the left; 14-16 year olds also need these for slower
e-bikes. This also means wearing a helmet is mandatory.
Switzerland has a dense, well-developed and marked network of hiking
trails with yellow signposts that are uniform throughout Switzerland and
indicate the direction, time required and intermediate destinations.
Various long-distance hikes, such as the Jurahöhenweg, cross large
regions of Switzerland.
Red-white-red marked mountain trails and
blue-white-blue alpine routes are demanding, require good footwear and
sure-footedness and should not be underestimated.
The Swiss maps
are also considered excellent; for hikes we recommend the editions at a
scale of 1:25,000 or the special hiking maps at 1:50,000 Swiss National
Topography: Map Index. You can access the country's topography maps
directly and free of charge on the Wanderland Schweiz website or with
the Swisstopo smartphone app.
Hiking suggestions for long hikes,
multi-day tours and short hikes can be found at SchweizMobil.
The most important thing that a traveler from abroad immediately
notices as soon as he sets foot on Swiss soil is that he does not
understand the person he is talking to. Swiss German is very different
from Standard German and is almost completely incomprehensible to
foreigners; It's gotten to the point where Swiss German is generally
subtitled on television. In particular, the characteristic hard palate
sounds only occur in Switzerland and are difficult for strangers to
imitate successfully (you shouldn't even try, you'll just make yourself
ridiculous). Swiss people grow up speaking Swiss German and only learn
the standard language at school. Apart from a few French loanwords, the
standard language in Switzerland is similar to Standard German with one
serious difference: the Eszett "ß" is generally not used in Switzerland,
which is why it comes from e.g. B. does not exist on any Swiss keyboard.
Switzerland has a total of four national languages: in addition to
German, they are French, Italian and Romansh. Around 66 percent of the
population is a German native speaker. A good 23 percent speak French, 8
percent Italian, and just under one percent speak Romansh. Very few
Swiss people speak four languages; many speak two or three national
languages.
One should therefore not expect that German will be
understood in the Romansh-speaking regions; this particularly applies to
the French-speaking part of Switzerland. In Italian-speaking
Switzerland, on the other hand, communication in German is often
possible, at least in touristy places. In Romansh Switzerland, all
locals speak German or Italian. Most Swiss - except French-speaking
Swiss, who usually only speak French - know some English, so
communication in English is usually possible. If you don't have any
knowledge of one of the national languages, it might be helpful to try
to communicate in English.
There are three bilingual cantons,
Friborg, Valais, and Bern. French and German are spoken in all of these
cantons, with French clearly predominating in the first two cantons. The
only trilingual canton is Graubünden, where German, Italian and Romansh
are spoken. In some bilingual cities, German and French are spoken.
Examples of this are Biel/Bienne, Freiburg im Üechtland/Fribourg and
Murten/Morat.
There is no uniform spelling for the dialects,
which vary regionally and even from place to place. Dialect is basically
written the way it is spoken, and only in private. In addition to
standard German, at least one foreign language is taught. In most
cantons, the first foreign language is another national language, but in
some cantons it is English. There are currently efforts, particularly in
eastern Switzerland, to make English the first foreign language in
schools.
The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss franc, abbreviated
“Fr.” or “CHF”, in French-speaking Switzerland often “frs”. Values below
one franc are called “rappen” (Rp.) in German-speaking Switzerland,
“centimes” in French-speaking Switzerland and “centesimi” in Ticino. One
franc corresponds to 100 centimes. Since the “Fünfräppler” is the
smallest coin unit, centime amounts are always rounded to 5 centimes.
Switzerland changes its banknotes approximately every 10 years (the
notes of the 8th series of banknotes will be recalled as of April 30,
2021 and are no longer considered official means of payment. snb.ch).
The old series can then still be exchanged in some banks during the
transition period, notes from older series can only be exchanged at the
Swiss National Bank. It's not worth taking banknotes home for your next
vacation.
The euro is accepted as a means of payment in many
shops and service providers (post office, train, etc.), but only
banknotes, not coins. Many machines also accept euros. However, change
is usually paid in Swiss francs. Because of the exchange rate loss,
using euros as a means of payment only makes sense in individual cases
(e.g. when in transit). Money is exchanged at the SBB (exchange offices
in the larger train stations), the banks and larger post offices (the
latter, however, only in euros). Places where you can pay with euros are
often marked with a € sign.
When paying by credit card, billing
in CHF or EUR is usually offered as an alternative; The selection must
be made at the beginning of the payment process on the card reader.
Billing in EUR is not recommended because the billing company uses a
significantly less favorable exchange rate than the credit card
companies (example in February 2019: direct payment in EUR with 1EUR =
1.08CHF, payments in CHF at the exchange rate 1EUR = 1.14CHF ).
In the large distributors (Migros, Coop) you can usually pay without any
problems with euro notes at the favorable exchange rate without any
fees, and you get the change back in Swiss francs. Larger train stations
usually have a supermarket where this money exchange is possible.
The usual, traditional opening hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Smaller shops close at midday (12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.). Larger stores
(Migros, Coop, etc.) may be open a little longer in the evening,
depending on the canton; they usually close around 8 p.m. The exception
to this is the so-called evening sale, which takes place once a week and
takes place on a different day depending on the location (in St. Gallen,
for example, on Thursdays until 9 p.m.). On Saturdays most shops are
only open until 5:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
Shops at gas
stations and train stations usually have very long opening hours (daily,
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the canton, sometimes earlier
on Sundays)
Due to the parts of the country with different languages and
cultures, Swiss cuisine has influences from Italian, German and French
cuisine. Well-known specialties include raclette, cheese fondue,
Älplermagronen (cheese macaroni), Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, Rösti and
other dishes. Polenta and risotto are popular in southern Switzerland.
Switzerland is also known for its diverse types of cheese and chocolate.
There are also very good Swiss wines.
More on this topic under
Eating and Drinking in Switzerland.
Swiss nightlife offers a wide range of events to suit every taste.
Numerous parties take place on weekdays, especially in big cities, and
clubs and bars are also open until the early hours of the morning during
the week.
Depending on the canton, regulations regarding “police
hours” still apply to normal restaurants and inns; on weekdays they
close at 11 p.m. or midnight. However, the days in which the village
policeman made the rounds and the “Überhöcklers” are over " a " Nötli "
received - in some cantons the police hour was abolished completely,
which led to complaints from residents about noise pollution.
"Extensions" for bars and nightclubs and also in the case of folk
festivals and other major events are common in all cantons, however, in
special ones A “free night” is granted for major events.
The
minimum age for entry into the clubs is usually between 18 and 21 years.
Hard alcohol is served from 18 years old, beer and wine from 16 years
old. The controls are sometimes quite restrictive; For reasons of equal
treatment, all customers (if they are not already gray-haired) are often
required to provide ID. Certain outlets that are open late in the
evenings have started selling alcohol only to people over 20 or even 21
years old. Certain stores stop selling alcohol at all after a certain
period of time, although this period varies depending on the location.
When it comes to sleeping options, there is a very wide range of
options in Switzerland, as in most European countries. This starts with
5-star hotels and extends to campsites, youth hostels or overnight
accommodation in a straw barn. In terms of price, overnight stays in
Switzerland tend to be in the upper price segment.
As a rule of
thumb you can use the following guide prices:
5-star hotel: from
around 350CHF per person and night
4-star hotel: from around 180CHF
per person and night
3-star hotel: from around 120CHF per person and
night
2-star hotel: from around 80CHF per person and night
Hostels: from around 30CHF per person per night.
The hotel stars
in Switzerland are based on the hotel classification of the
hotelleriesuisse association. All hotel members of hotelleriesuisse
undergo regular quality tests in order to be awarded the corresponding
hotel stars. At swisshoteldata.ch you can find information about hotel
stars, infrastructure and specializations.
The prices in Swiss
youth hostels are at the usual level in Europe. The accommodation is a
little simpler than in Germany, but breakfast and dinner are usually
better.
For group accommodation in Switzerland there is the
central agency CONTACT groups.ch, hotels and holiday homes for groups.
The mediation is free and non-binding. On the portal you can select 850
accommodations according to your own criteria and write to them directly
using a collective request. The occupancy plans are online and up to
date.
Tipping is included in all service establishments. For
special services, a small tip, usually in the form of rounding up the
amount, is always welcome.
For information on booking options on
the Internet, see the topic article on hotel portals in the relevant
section on Switzerland.
Wild camping is generally prohibited in
national parks, nature reserves, hunting areas and game rest areas. The
cantons of Appenzell, Bern, Glarus and Solothurn have also issued bans;
this also applies to parking mobile homes outside designated areas. In
Aargau and Obwalden you can stay one night as an individual. Otherwise,
community-specific rules apply. The TCS automobile club offers a special
camper membership, 2023 for 60CHF.
Mon, Jan 1, 2024 New Year's Day
Sun, Mar 31st 2024 Easter Sunday
Thu, May 9, 2024 Ascension Commemoration of Christ's Ascension
Sun,
May 19, 2024 Whitsun Sunday
Thu, Aug. 1, 2024 Federal celebration
national holiday
Mon, Dec 25, 2023 Christmas
There are six
public holidays in Switzerland that are non-working throughout the
country. In large parts of Switzerland, Good Friday (Friday, March 29,
2024), Easter Monday (Monday, April 1, 2024), Whit Monday (Monday, May
20, 2024), Federal Bus and Prayer Day (September 15, 2024), and St.
Stephen's Day are also celebrated (Tuesday, December 26, 2023) and
Berchtold Day (Tuesday, January 2, 2024).
If these holidays fall
on a working day, long-distance public transport (SBB, etc.) runs as on
a Sunday (timetable note; † = Sundays and public holidays), although the
differences are often only minimal. This does not apply to municipal
transport companies. These observe regional holidays and therefore have
very different timetables.
The federal holiday is the only
federal holiday. All other public holidays are determined by the 26
cantons, so there are significant differences from canton to canton.
Furthermore, there is no work or only limited or shortened work on
certain traditional holidays, even though these days are not recognized
as public holidays. It is not uncommon for such events to only affect
certain districts of a canton or even individual communities.
The
national holiday on August 1st is celebrated with bonfires, fireworks
and also speeches and music lectures.
The crime rate in Switzerland is low. In cities there is a slightly
increased risk of becoming a victim of pickpockets. Bicycles e.g. B.
should always be locked when out of sight. In larger cities, a good lock
is also recommended for older bicycles.
As a neutral country,
Switzerland is not affiliated with any alliance, but maintains its own
army.
Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world that
has more shelter places than residents; The cantons and municipalities
are responsible for planning shelters, with each resident being assigned
a shelter. Since 2012, the construction of a shelter for new
single-family homes has been abolished; Larger shelters will continue to
be created and maintained in residential complexes and under public
buildings.
Switzerland offers one of the highest standards of healthcare in the
world, with compulsory health insurance with guaranteed basic care.
Dental treatment is always subject to a charge. The European Health
Insurance Card applies. However, treatments must first be paid for and
then submitted for reimbursement to the Joint Institution KVG,
Industriestrasse 78, CH-4609 Olten (information sheet). Compared to
Germany, high additional payments are due. It can make sense if you are
near the border to go to the doctor in Germany, Austria or Italy.
Every larger city has one or more hospitals, and family medical
emergency practices are increasingly being run at the hospitals, which,
like the 24-hour "permanences" in large cities, are direct contact
points for health problems. In the larger hospitals, the forms and the
staff are also multilingual. The density of doctors is one of the
highest in the world, and the primary care emergency service is
organized across the board.
The rescue service is exemplary and the
various emergency response organizations are networked with one another,
and the medical emergency number (144) has been introduced throughout
Switzerland. Every point in Switzerland can be reached by helicopter
within a very short time by the non-governmental REGA (emergency number
1414). Patron membership with REGA is highly recommended. In Valais, Air
Glaciers (emergency number 1415) is responsible for air rescue.
Unless otherwise stated, tap water, but also the water in most fountains
in Switzerland, is generally drinkable and is often even superior in
quality to mineral water. The "No drinking water" sign on a well does
not necessarily mean that the water is bad and undrinkable - it was
often put up in order to be able to forgo the strict controls for
drinking water. Locals may be able to tell you if you can still drink
the water, at your own risk of course... it may well be high quality
spring water.
In many areas, especially in the northeastern
Mittelland (Thurgau, Schaffhausen, Zurich, northern canton of St. Gallen
and the Aarau/Olten area), in the Three Lakes region (Lake Neuchâtel)
and in the southern Lake Thun area (Spiez-Niedersimmental region) ( As
of 2012) there is an increased risk of infection with TBE (tick-borne
encephalitis), which is transmitted through tick bites. When going on
trips to the forest, it is recommended to take the necessary protective
precautions (long clothes, tick spray, etc.). Vaccination is recommended
for longer stays in the region with activities in the forest.
North of the Alps there is a temperate, Central European climate,
mostly characterized by oceanic winds, south of the Alps it is more
Mediterranean. However, the climate varies greatly from region to
region, depending on the geographical elements.
Basically, the
weather is similar every day from the Jura arc across the Central
Plateau and the foothills of the Alps, while the weather in the inner
Alps and in southern Switzerland can be completely different. In central
Switzerland, the Alps and Ticino, the average rainfall is around 2000
millimeters per year. The wettest place is Säntis (2,502 m above sea
level) with an average of 2,837 mm (standard period 1981–2010), the
driest place is Ackersand in Vispertal with an average of 545
millimeters per year (both values for the standard period 1981–2010). In
the standard period 1961–1990, the value for arable sand was 521
millimeters. In the Central Plateau the amount is around 1000 to 1500
millimeters per year. This region is the only region in Switzerland to
have recorded a statistically significant increase in annual rainfall
since 1864, which is primarily due to an increase in the winter months.
The amount of precipitation in Switzerland is generally around twice as
high in summer as in winter. Primarily depending on the altitude, a lot
of precipitation falls as snow in winter, so that there is a solid
blanket of snow in the Alps and foothills of the Alps for months. It
snows comparatively rarely in the regions around Geneva and Basel as
well as in southern Ticino, and here there can also be winters without a
snow cover. The greatest snow depth in Switzerland was measured at 816
cm in April 1999 on Mount Säntis.
The temperatures in Switzerland
depend primarily on the altitude. In addition, they tend to be
statistically slightly higher in the west than in the east (approx. 1
°C). In general, the average temperature in January in the lowlands is
around −1 to +1°C. In the warmest month, July, it is 16 to 19°C. The
average annual temperatures are around 7 to 9°C. The warmest places on
average with available series of measurements are Locarno-Monti and
Lugano, each with an annual average of 12.4°C (normal period 1981–2010).
As at almost all measuring stations, climate change is also evident
here: in the standard period 1961–1990, the average values were 11.5°C
(Locarno/Monti) and 11.6°C (Lugano), respectively, and thus by 0.9 or
0.8°C lower than in the last averaged standard period. The coldest place
on average is the Jungfraujoch at −7.2°C (normal period 1981–2010). Here
too, the average temperature has increased by 0.7°C since the standard
period 1961–1990. Absolute records were measured in Grono with 41.5°C on
August 11, 2003, and in La Brévine with −41.8°C (January 12, 1987).[37]
Compared to the altitude of comparison locations in the Central Plateau,
the temperatures in the Rhone Valley, the Rhine Valley and the Basel
region are on average one to two degrees Celsius warmer, and two to
three degrees warmer in the Magadino Plain in Ticino. Although the
climate is part of southern Switzerland, the temperatures in the
Engadine are an average of ten degrees Celsius colder. This is because
the Engadine is a high alpine valley. The same applies to the side
valleys and Goms in Valais.
Hail is a rather rare event in the
Alps, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. In the period from 1999 to
2002, the average annual hailstorm in Emmental, Laufental and Toggenburg
was up to 60 minutes; in the other regions it was less than 30 minutes.
Fog can be observed throughout the Central Plateau, although the
Alpine areas are affected less frequently. The fog is particularly
common along the Aare, the northern Reuss and in Thurgau, where it can
occur for several weeks, especially in autumn, winter and early spring.
With the exception of high fog, fog is a comparatively rare phenomenon
in the Jura arc and in the Basel region. The frequency of fog in the
Swiss plateau has decreased significantly since the 1970s. The
Zurich-Kloten weather station, for example, used to repeatedly record
years with 50 to 60 days of fog. Today there are around 40. The reasons
for the decline in fog are likely to be found in a change in the
prevailing weather conditions and in improving air quality control.
Frequently occurring winds in Switzerland are the mild Föhn on both
sides of the Alpine ridge and the cold Bise, from which southern
Switzerland is often spared. The highest wind speed ever measured is 285
kilometers per hour (Jungfraujoch, February 27, 1990).
The
Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) is
Switzerland's national weather service. Other well-known private weather
services are: SRF Meteo, Meteomedia and MeteoNews. The Institute for
Snow and Avalanche Research is located in Davos.
This section on
climate is covered by the Wikipedia page "Switzerland".
Basically, similar rules of decency and mutual respect apply in
Switzerland as in other Western European countries. However, a few small
differences are worth mentioning:
There is an unspoken
understatement. Modesty is perceived as pleasant.
When toasting with
a glass of beer or wine, make eye contact with your partner. The French
way of turning to the next person is considered impolite.
The
statement “I'll get a beer,” often used in restaurants and bars in
Germany, is considered very impolite in Switzerland. Instead, in
Switzerland people order with “I would like a beer” or “Could I get a
beer?”
Close friends and good acquaintances give each other three
kisses on the cheeks - left, right, left.
The usual “Hello” greeting
in Germany is generally rarely used in Switzerland, except on the
telephone. In Eastern Switzerland, people who are on first name terms
are greeted with “Hoi” and say goodbye with “Tschau”. In contrast, in
the Basel region they greet each other with “Sali” (Salut) and in the
Bern region with “Tschou”. .
People you don't know or with whom you
communicate via email are greeted with "Grüezi" or "Grüessech"
(Greetings to you). However, “Guete Morge” (in the morning hours), “Gute
Tag” during the day and “Guete(n) Obig” as a greeting in the evening are
more common.
In Germany, the usual "bye" when saying goodbye is
perceived by the Swiss as collegial/confidential and - if at all - only
used to say goodbye to people with whom you are on a first-name basis.
People with whom you are on friendly terms can be said neutrally with
“Goodbye” (or “Goodbye”) or with “Adieu”.
Punctual as a Swiss watch
is not just an empty phrase. Arriving too early or too late for an
invitation with a fixed time is not welcomed.
Further: The Swiss
are proud of their identity (multilingualism, dialects, culture and
direct democracy) and they should honor this with respect. If they
criticize Switzerland or make derogatory comments, they are usually met
with contempt and incomprehension. Please address other topics and
respect Switzerland and its people as they are. This way you will
quickly make friends. The Swiss are a very friendly people, a little
reserved at first, but they are very helpful and consider politeness,
manners and mutual respect to be very important.
The international area code is: +41 or 0041. If this international
area code is used, the leading zero is omitted from the numbers. So 044
123 45 67 becomes 0041 44 123 45 67. This must also be dialed when
calling from a landline within the same area code. Within Switzerland,
the normal telephone number has ten digits (044 999 99 99) and should be
dialed that way. For international calls to Switzerland, the zero should
be omitted (+41 44 999 99 99). If you want to make an international call
from Switzerland, you should dial a double zero in front of the country
number. Example: Germany 0049 + national phone number.
The last
public telephone booth was moved to the museum in 2019 and telephone
taxi cards were also taken out of circulation.
There are three
mobile network providers, each operating their own network: Swisscom,
Salt and Sunrise. There are also more than a dozen service providers
that offer SIM cards for private customers. The differences in costs and
reception performance are negligibly small. However, a comparison is
advisable, especially when it comes to internet access tariffs. If you
rarely make phone calls or hardly need mobile internet, you should
consider a prepaid offer. For example from Lebara Mobile, whose SIM
cards can be easily purchased at post offices. For the price of just
under 15 CHF you get a card with 30 CHF credit; M Budget offers are
available at Migros supermarkets. SIM cards are only issued upon
presentation of an ID card in order to better monitor the population.
Mobile phone coverage is exemplary for all providers, even in rural
areas. Dead spots are rarely encountered, even in the Alps; Coverage is
excellent, particularly in ski areas. In areas close to the border, make
sure that roaming is switched off when using a Swiss SIM card. Roaming
tariffs are high and it can happen that you accidentally make calls on a
foreign network with heavy traffic.
In Switzerland, mobile phones
are not called cell phones, but rather Natel. This term originally meant
National Car Telephone Network and then transferred to the devices used.
90% of the population has access to a 5G network; for political and
ideological reasons, citizens' initiatives in many places are resisting
the construction of 5G antennas. 4G and 3G coverage is comprehensive,
the 2G network was switched off at the end of 2020.
Switzerland
is not part of the EU, so the EU roaming regulation does not apply here.
Some providers grant free roaming on a voluntary basis for Switzerland
(e.g. Telekom Deutschland), others (e.g. the Austrian providers)
mercilessly charge roaming fees for Swiss networks. It is advisable to
read the small print of your own cell phone contract here.
In Switzerland there is a dense postal network of the Swiss Post, the counters of larger post offices are open most Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and are usually also open on Saturday mornings (smaller post offices often have very limited opening hours). Please note the emptying time for the yellow mailboxes; in rural areas they are only emptied once a day. In a number of smaller towns the post office was abolished and replaced by a branch in the village shop.
Switzerland is generally not a cheap travel destination and the prices for the tourist infrastructure are significantly higher than in the euro area. However, the actual travel costs depend heavily on the exchange rate of the € to the Swiss franc. A snack (e.g. bratwurst costs around 6 Fr) a main course in a restaurant is rarely available for less than 25 Fr and even simple accommodation rarely costs less than 80 Fr per night. The same applies to the fares for Buses and trains. For those who want to travel more around the country, a "half-fare" subscription (a type of rail card/advantage card that allows you to travel for half the price) can be useful.
For electrical devices, the plugs and sockets comply with the Swiss standard SEV 1011. These sockets can accept the two-pin Euro plugs, but not contour plugs such as. B. the German Schuko plug; Grounded devices are connected with a three-pin plug. The use of a suitable adapter is recommended. The mains voltage corresponds to the usual 230 V in Europe.
The name of the country goes back to the name of the canton of Schwyz, which was one of the three founding cantons of the confederation in 1291. In 970, the center of this canton is mentioned as Suuites, in 1281 - Switz, modern. Schwyz; the name comes from OE-German. suedan "uproot". Since the XIV century, the state as a whole has been called by the name of this canton. The inhabitants of the country themselves called themselves Eidgenossen (that is, Confederates), and only from the end of the 15th century did the self-name Schweizer (that is, the Swiss) come into use. From the name of the country Schweitz (German: Schweiz) the name of its inhabitants, the Swiss (German: Schweizer, Polish: Szwajcar), is derived, and from it the Russian name of the country Switzerland is “the country of the Swiss”.
The area of today's Switzerland has been inhabited
since the Paleolithic period. Traces of the Magdalenian culture can be
found e.g. B. in the Kesslerloch near Thayngen. Only after the last ice
age, the so-called Würm Ice Age, did the Swiss plateau become more
densely populated by pile dwellers, especially the areas around the
lakes. At the beginning of the Iron Age, Celtic settlement in the
Midlands began. Finds near La Tène in the canton of Neuchâtel gave the
entire period of the Younger Iron Age its name. The Celts maintained
trade relations into the Greek cultural area.
The episode about
Polyphemus from the Odyssey, which appears in oral tradition as the
"blinding of the ogre" in the folklore of many ethnic groups worldwide,
comes closest to a prehistoric original version in Swiss tradition for
the area of today's canton of Valais.
Before the Roman conquest, according to the records of
the Roman general and politician Julius Caesar in his justification for
the Gallic War, various Celtic tribes and peoples lived in what is now
Switzerland: the Helvetii (Central Plateau), the Lepontii (Ticino), the
Sedunians ( Valais, Lake Geneva) and the Raetians (eastern Switzerland).
As the Roman Empire expanded across the Alps, the area of today's
Switzerland was integrated into the Roman Empire until the 1st century
AD and the population was Romanized. The most important Roman cities in
Switzerland were Aventicum (Avenches), Augusta Raurica, Vindonissa
(Windisch), Colonia Iulia Equestris (Nyon) and Forum Claudii Vallensium
(Martigny). In late antiquity, Switzerland was Christianized, starting
from the urban centers. Early bishoprics were Geneva, Augusta
Raurica/Basel, Martigny/Sitten, Avenches/Lausanne and Chur.
After
the fall of the Roman Empire, the Germanic tribes of Burgundians and
Alemanni settled in the Central Plateau from the north and mixed with
the Romanized population. In the areas of western Switzerland that were
more heavily populated during Roman times and in the Alpine valleys,
Romance languages (later French, Romansh and Italian) and Christianity
persisted, while Germanic Alemannic spread in northern Switzerland. By
746, the Franks subjugated the Burgundians and Alemanni, making
Switzerland part of the Frankish Empire. When this empire was divided,
the area of Switzerland became part of the Eastern Frankish Empire,
later the Holy Roman Empire. Their area largely belonged to the tribal
duchy of Swabia and the Kingdom of Burgundy. Until the 9th century, the
Alamanni were also Christianized, starting from important monastic
centers such as St. Gallen and Reichenau.
In the early history of
the Roman-German Empire, noble families from Switzerland such as the
Habsburgs, Kyburgers, Lenzburgers and Rudolfingers played an important
role. In addition, the Alpine passes were of utmost importance for
German rule over Italy. This explains why the German rulers always paid
particular attention to the valleys in the Alps and tried to dominate
them directly. The residents of the valleys of central Switzerland saw
this “Imperial Immediacy” as a privilege.
From the end of the
12th to the 14th century, residents of the Upper Valais migrated to
other Alpine areas in Switzerland, to northwestern Italy, Liechtenstein
and western Austria, and occasionally to Savoy and Bavaria. The
emigrants were later referred to as Walser. There are still around 150
villages founded by the Walser people over a length of around 300 km in
the Alpine arc.
The three original cantons or Waldstätte (places) Uri,
Schwyz and (although the interpretation is uncertain) Unterwalden
concluded an alliance in 1291 after the death of the German King Rudolf
I of Habsburg to protect their “ancient freedoms”. A document relating
to this, the so-called Federal Letter, is dated to the beginning of
August 1291. According to legend, this covenant was invoked on the
Rütli. In the 19th century, August 1st, 1291 was set as the date for the
“foundation” of the Old Confederation and thus August 1st was set as the
Swiss national holiday.
The bad relationship between the
Confederates and the Habsburg ruling dynasty stems from the German royal
election on November 25, 1314, when the Wittelsbacher Ludwig the
Bavarian and the Habsburg Frederick the Beautiful were elected German
king at the same time. The Confederates stood by Ludwig the Bavarian.
This and an attack on the Einsiedeln monastery prompted Leopold I of
Austria to embark on a military campaign against the Confederates in
1315, which ended unfortunately for him in the Battle of Morgarten. In
order to maintain their independence from the Habsburgs, the imperial
cities of Lucerne, Zurich, Glarus, Zug and Bern joined the League of
Waldstätte in the 14th century. The resulting structure is known as the
Eight Ancient Places. Only when the cities of Zurich, Bern and Lucerne
made the Confederation an instrument of their cooperation by joining did
the Confederation acquire a stable political significance, which was
also tolerated by the European court centers in Vienna, Paris and Milan.
The Battle of Morgarten is controversial among historians today.
Further conflicts with the House of Habsburg followed: in 1386 at
Sempach (Lombardy, which saw its economic interests threatened by the
Habsburgs, had financed the federal armament) and in 1388 at Näfels, the
Confederates managed to defeat Habsburg knightly armies. In 1415 they
conquered the Habsburg ancestral lands in Aargau (at the instigation of
Emperor Sigismund). The Old Zurich War (1436–1450) broke out between the
city of Zurich and the other Confederates because of the inheritance of
the Counts of Toggenburg, during which Zurich allied itself with the
Habsburgs. Zurich was ultimately forced to return to the Confederation.
Another war deprived Habsburg of Thurgau in 1460, so that on June 11,
1474, Duke Sigismund of Tyrol was forced to recognize the Old
Confederation as an independent state in the "Eternal Direction" in view
of the threat from Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy. In 1474, at the
request of Emperor Frederick III, the Confederates moved. against
Charles the Bold and, in alliance with Lorraine and Habsburg, destroyed
his empire in the Burgundian Wars. During this time, Bern and Freiburg
expanded into Vaud, which was previously controlled by the Savoy and
Burgundians, which they completely conquered by 1536.
The
military victory over the Burgundians strengthened the Confederation's
desire for independence. For this reason, she opposed the imperial
reform of the German king and later emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian's
attempt to make the Confederates submissive in the Swabian War ended in
the Peace of Basel in 1499. As a concrete result, in 1501 Basel and
Schaffhausen joined the Federal Confederation, which developed into the
Thirteen Old Places. There were also other allies, the so-called Facing
Places, especially Valais and the Three Leagues, but also monarchies
such as the Princely Abbey of St. Gallen or the County of Neuchâtel.
Until 1798, areas that were jointly conquered by several of the Thirteen
Old Places and also jointly administered as bailiwicks were referred to
as common dominions. These included, among other things: Areas in
today's cantons of Thurgau and Ticino. In addition, most places had
politically dependent subject areas.
The victories in the
Burgundian Wars and the Swabian War and their modern infantry tactics
established the reputation of the Swiss fighters and gave the mercenary
sector an enormous boost. This remained an important economic factor in
the rural regions of central Switzerland until the 19th century.
The expansion of the Confederation towards Northern Italy took place to
secure the Alpine passes. As a result, the Confederation became involved
in the complicated Italian wars between Habsburg, France, Venice, the
Pope, Spain and the various Italian potentates. The Swiss Guard, founded
by Pope Julius II in 1506, also dates from this time. By 1513, the
Confederates succeeded in conquering what is now Ticino and finally even
Milan, over which they exercised patronage. After the defeat against
France in the Battle of Marignano in 1515, military dominance over
northern Italy ended. The political myth that the Swiss were invincible
was refuted, and the political discord between the places became
apparent. This prevented an effective foreign policy from 1515 onwards,
and the phase of “sitting still” (today neutrality policy) began. The
Thirteen Places concluded the Eternal Peace in 1516 and a wage alliance
with the Kingdom of France in 1521 and in return received pensions,
customs and trade benefits and political support in internal and
external conflicts. In addition, a large part of the Ennetberg areas was
finally awarded to the Confederates.
The Reformation initiated by
Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich in 1519 spread across the Mittelland and led to
great tensions between the various cantons. After the religiously
motivated First and Second Kappel Wars, a compromise was reached in the
Second Kappel Peace in 1531: Zurich, Bern, Basel, Schaffhausen and parts
of Graubünden remained reformed; The original cantons of Lucerne, Zug,
Solothurn and Freiburg remained Catholic. In 1541, John Calvin
implemented the Reformation in Geneva, which became the “reformed Rome”
through his work. Nevertheless, there were two more military conflicts
between the two religious groups in the towns during the Villmerger Wars
of 1656 and 1712. The Zwinglians and Calvinists united in the Helvetic
Confession in 1536, thereby founding the Reformed Church, which spread
worldwide through England, Scotland and the Netherlands.
In view
of the confusion and devastation of the Thirty Years' War, the
Confederation decided on "perpetual armed neutrality" in the Defense of
Wil in 1647 and remained largely neutral in the wars of the 17th and
18th centuries. On October 24, 1648, the Swiss cantons achieved
recognition of their separation from the Holy Roman Empire in the Peace
of Westphalia in Osnabrück, Germany, and thus became independent. The
interpretation of the relevant Article VI IPO or Section 61 IPM was
controversial, but was then largely interpreted as a recognition of
sovereignty under international law. Internally, the religious division
prevented a reform of the anachronistic federal network of alliances. In
the 17th and 18th centuries, the urban cantons in particular
consolidated their internal rule in an absolutist sense and sometimes
developed so strongly economically that one could speak of
proto-industrialization. Nevertheless, the Confederation as a whole
lagged behind developments and was perceived in contemporary literature
as backward, disordered and outdated. This contrasts with the depiction
of Switzerland in literature and painting that prevailed during the
Enlightenment as an Alpine idyll, Arcadia or as a place of primitive
democracy (Rousseau).
On May 5, 1798, after a short resistance, the Old
Confederation was occupied by France and incorporated into its territory
of influence as a subsidiary republic under the name “Helvetic
Republic”. The Helvetic Republic was the first modern state on Swiss
territory and, in contrast to tradition as a unitary state, was
organized in a highly centralized manner. The previous differences
between subject countries and ruling cities and towns were abolished.
Equality under the law, the creation of a unified economic and monetary
area, and freedom of belief and conscience were just some of the
progressive innovations that found their way into Switzerland. As a
French satellite state, the Helvetic Republic was drawn into the events
of the coalition wars and became a theater of war on several occasions.
After several coups d'état and the suppression of an armed uprising,
Napoleon Bonaparte re-established a federal constitution with autonomous
cantons in Switzerland's Act of Mediation in 1803. The name “Swiss
Confederation” was chosen as the state name. The former subject areas
and the associated places were converted into the new cantons of St.
Gallen, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino and Vaud.
In 1815,
Switzerland's internal and external borders were internationally
recognized at the Congress of Vienna. Neuchâtel, Valais and Geneva were
added to the 19 cantons of the mediation period, and the canton of Bern
received the territory of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. In the Second
Peace of Paris of November 20, 1815, the great powers decreed “perpetual
armed neutrality” for Switzerland in order to remove their territory
from French influence. Through the “Federal Treaty”, Switzerland became
a confederation of states again, so that during the following
Restoration era, the cantons were once again more independent than they
had been during the Napoleonic period. The canton of Jura was only
created in 1979 when part of the area that became the canton of Bern in
1815 was split off.
Disputes between the liberal-progressive and the conservative-Catholic cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri, Zug, Ob- and Nidwalden, Freiburg and Valais (Sonderbund) led to the Sonderbund War in 1847. The civil war lasted from November 3rd to November 29th, 1847, when Valais was the last of the conservative Catholic cantons to surrender to the enemy. According to official information, the Sonderbund War cost 150 people their lives and left around 400 injured. It was the last military conflict on Swiss soil to date.
After the victory of the liberal-progressive cantons
over the conservative-Catholic cantons in the Sonderbund War,
Switzerland was transformed into a modern federal state and the autonomy
of the cantons was restricted by the federal constitution of 1848. Bern
was designated as the seat of the federal authorities and parliament
(see Switzerland's capital question). In its early days, the newly
created Swiss federal state was politically dominated by the liberal
movement. It represented the majority in the Federal Assembly and the
entire Federal Council. The Federal Constitution has been completely
revised twice, namely in 1874 and 1999. The Swiss Post was founded on
January 1, 1849.
In the first 25 years of its existence, the
young federal state had to elect a general four times due to military
threats. The experienced General Guillaume Henri Dufour, who acted
prudently in the Sonderbund War, was again given supreme command of the
Swiss Army by the Federal Assembly in 1849 (Büsinger trade), 1856
(Neuchâtel trade) and 1859 (Savoy trade). General Hans Herzog was
responsible for protecting the country's borders during the
Franco-Prussian War (1870/71). In February 1871, under the eyes of the
Swiss Army, around 87,000 men of the defeated French “Bourbaki Army”
crossed the border in the cantons of Neuchâtel and Vaud and were
interned. The reception and care of the exhausted soldiers is the
largest humanitarian action that Switzerland has ever carried out.
On the initiative of Henry Dunant, the International Committee of
the Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1864.
In 1866, Swiss Jews
were granted full civil rights and freedom of residence throughout
Switzerland. However, complete freedom of belief only came with the
total revision of the Swiss Federal Constitution in 1874.
During
the second half of the 19th century, Switzerland was hit by a strong
wave of industrialization and railway construction. The politician,
business leader and railway entrepreneur Alfred Escher influenced the
political and economic development of Switzerland like no other at that
time. In addition to his political offices, he played a key role in the
founding of the Swiss Northeastern Railway, the Federal Polytechnic, the
Swiss Credit Union, the Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Institute, the
Swiss Reinsurance Company and the Gotthard Railway.
The dark side
of industrialization became increasingly clear, e.g. with child labor.
Glarus and Zurich were the first cantons to pass factory laws to protect
workers. In 1877, the state took over the appropriate legislative
authority to combat the worst abuses nationwide.
In the religious
and cultural fields, the confrontation between liberalism and
conservatism continued in the culture war. The integration of Catholics
into the new federal state took place in 1891 with the election of Josef
Zemp to the Federal Council. He was the first Catholic in the state
government. Since the founding of the federal state, the committee had
previously been made up exclusively of representatives of the Liberals.
Since then, the bourgeois parties have stood more or less united against
the workers' movement in Switzerland (since the First World War in the
“citizen bloc”).
During the First World War, Switzerland maintained its
armed neutrality. The border occupation took place from 1914 to 1918
under General Ulrich Wille. Switzerland was not affected by an invasion
during the First World War - although it was completely surrounded by
warring neighboring states from 1915 onwards. However, the war years
presented the people and the army with serious internal problems.
The national strike of 1918 was the sharpest confrontation to date
between the workers and the bourgeoisie in Switzerland. The labor
movement was only able to establish itself politically at the national
level after the introduction of proportional representation in 1919.
In 1923, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein signed
the customs treaty that is still valid today.
The peace agreement
in the metal and watch industries between employer and employee
organizations in 1937 ushered in the era of industrial peace and
collective labor agreements. Since then, strikes in Switzerland have
been extremely rare. The Swiss Social Democratic Party (SP) emerged as
the strongest faction in the 1943 National Council elections. As a
result, Ernst Nobs was the first Social Democrat to be elected to the
Federal Council. With the introduction of old-age and survivors'
insurance (AHV) in 1948, another demand from the general strike was
fulfilled.
After the outbreak of World War II, Switzerland once
again invoked armed neutrality and ordered the general mobilization of
the army under the commander-in-chief, General Henri Guisan. The Swiss
Army withdrew from active service to the Réduit in order to offer the
toughest possible resistance to a German attack in mountain positions.
The government-sponsored “Intellectual National Defense” movement gave
the population of Switzerland a strong will to assert themselves against
National Socialism. During the Nazi rule in Germany, Switzerland
temporarily accepted refugees, but after a while it specifically
rejected Jews and, above all, refugees classified as “politically
persecuted.” In response, the Jewish National Councilor David Farbstein
resigned in 1938. On August 31, 1938, Switzerland threatened to
terminate the German-Swiss visa agreement, with which visa-free border
crossing had been agreed in 1926 and which also applied there without a
formal treaty after the annexation of Austria. In order to obtain visa
exemption for citizens of “German blood,” the German side, after several
days of negotiations, agreed on September 29, 1938 to specially mark the
passports of Jews. Passports with a Jewish stamp only entitled the
holder to cross the border if a visa for transit or residence had
previously been issued. Many refugees were sent back at the borders,
some were even arrested and extradited to German authorities. The
refugees who were allowed into the country were interned in camps after
the start of the war at the latest. They were not allowed to express
themselves politically in any way. Around 1,000 Swiss citizens also
suffered in the Nazi concentration camps between 1933 and 1945, at least
200 of whom died. No violent conflict has claimed more Swiss lives in
the last 200 years.
In 1942, after 24 years of preparation, the
Swiss Criminal Code came into force (previously each canton had its own
criminal code). Homosexual acts have been legal in Switzerland since
1942.
After the Allied victory, Switzerland was initially
isolated in terms of foreign policy. The victorious powers viewed the
Swiss as “war profiteers” who had cooperated with the Nazis. With the
Washington Agreement in 1946, Switzerland agreed to pay the USA 250
million francs, in return for which Swiss accounts were unblocked and
the "black list" on which Swiss companies that had cooperated with the
Nazis were deleted.
The Swiss population helped the suffering
population in post-war Europe through the Swiss donation and the
children's aid of the Swiss Red Cross. After the Second World War, needy
Austrian and German children were invited by Swiss host parents to
become Swiss children.
In the post-war period, problematic issues
of the past were taken up, such as the persecution of the Yenish people
through the “Children of the Country Road” program, the problem of
hiring children, administrative care, forced sterilizations, economic
relations with the apartheid state of South Africa and the role of Swiss
banks in connection with escape funds from Third World dictators. In the
late 1990s, a dispute arose over compensation for lost Jewish assets at
Swiss banks between 1933 and 1945. Switzerland's role in the Second
World War was critically examined in the Bergier Report in the 1990s.
In 1960, Switzerland became a member of the newly founded European
Free Trade Association (EFTA). Switzerland was one of the founding
members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) in 1961. After a long domestic political dispute, which mainly
revolved around the question of neutrality, Switzerland joined the
Council of Europe in 1963 and ratified the European Convention on Human
Rights in 1974. In 1970, the Federal Council took Switzerland's first
steps towards the EEC, which resulted in a free trade agreement in 1972.
In 1971, women's suffrage was approved in a referendum after decades of
struggle. In 1973 it joined the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
In 1969 and 1970, three terrorist
attacks against aviation shocked the country. A total of 51 people were
killed and Swissair lost two aircraft. In 1982, the Pilatus aircraft
factory in Stans was the victim of an arson attack.
The Jura
question preoccupied Switzerland for decades. Finally, in 1979, the new
canton of Jura was founded by the separation of the French-speaking
districts of Delsberg, Ajoie and Freiberge from the canton of Bern.
Elisabeth Kopp was the first woman to be elected to the Federal
Council in 1984.
The army was able to maintain an important
social position in Switzerland until the 1990s because its structure as
a militia army meant that civil and military leadership cadres were
closely intertwined. As early as the 1970s and increasingly during the
GSoA army abolition initiative in 1989, tensions arose between
traditionalists and critics over the role of the army in society. Since
the end of the Cold War, the influence of the Swiss army on civil
society has declined sharply.
The government's attempt to join
the European Economic Area (EEA) failed in a vote on December 6, 1992.
After 1999, the Swiss people agreed to several bilateral treaties with
the European Union. In 2005, Switzerland also joined the Schengen and
Dublin agreements. Switzerland joined the United Nations (UNO) on
September 10, 2002 following a positive referendum.
Negotiations
for an EU-Switzerland framework agreement took place from 2014 to 2021.
As a result, a draft contract was presented in November 2018, but was
not implemented. In May 2021, the negotiations were broken off by
Switzerland without any results.
Because of the Covid-19
pandemic, the Federal Council declared the “special situation” according
to the Epidemics Act with effect from February 28, 2020. It was replaced
by the “extraordinary situation” from March 16, 2020, which was valid
until June 19, 2020. Since then, the “special situation” has been in
effect again. The extraordinary situation gave the Federal Council the
authority to govern under emergency law. It was the first time since the
Second World War that the Federal Council made use of this option for a
long period of time. With the Covid-19 Act of September 25, 2020, the
Federal Assembly created the necessary legal basis for the Federal
Council's emergency regulations and thus ended the application of
emergency law.
On June 9, 2022, the UN General Assembly elected
Switzerland as one of ten non-permanent members of the UN Security
Council with 187 out of 190 valid votes. The two-year mandate lasts from
January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. All major parties supported the
candidacy, with the exception of the SVP. She expressed concerns about
neutrality.
Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 20
cantons and 6 half-cantons. There are 2 enclaves in Switzerland:
Büsingen is part of Germany and Campione d'Italia is part of Italy.
Until 1848 (except for a short period of the Helvetic Republic),
Switzerland was a confederation; currently it is effectively a
federation, however the word "confederation" is retained in the
country's official name. Each canton has its own constitution and
legislation, but their application is limited by the federal
constitution. 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.
Legislative power
is a bicameral Federal Assembly, consisting of the National Council and
the Council of Cantons, and in the legislative process, both chambers
are equal. The National Council (200 deputies) is elected by the
population for 4 years under the proportional representation system. The
federal structure of Switzerland was enshrined in the constitutions of
1848, 1874 and 1999. There are 46 deputies in the Council of Cantons,
who are elected by the population, in most cantons according to the
majority system of a relative majority in 20 two-member and 6
single-member districts, that is, 2 people from each canton and one from
a half-canton for 4 years (in some cantons - for 3 years). ).
The
executive body is the Federal Council (German Bundesrat, French Conseil
fédéral, Italian Consiglio federale), consisting of 7 members (German
Bundesrat, French conseiller fédéral, Italian consigliere federale),
each of which heads one of the ministries of the Federal Administration
. Two of the members of the Federal Council alternately act as president
of the confederation (German Bundespräsident, French président de la
Confédération, Italian presidente della Confederazione) and vice
president, respectively. To manage the apparatus of the Federal Council,
there is the position of chancellor (German Bundeskanzler, French
chancelier de la Confédération, Italian cancelliere della
Confederazione), who has an advisory vote in the Council and is not
formally a member of it.
Members of the Federal Council and the
chancellor are elected at a joint meeting of both houses of parliament
for the entire term of his office, that is, for 4 years. Each year the
Parliament appoints the President and Vice-President of the
confederation from among the members of the Council, with no right of
reappointment for the next year. In practice, members of the Federal
Council are almost always re-elected, so that its composition can remain
unchanged for several terms of parliamentary terms, and traditionally
all members of the Council take the presidency in turn.
All laws
adopted by the parliament can be approved or rejected at an optional
nationwide referendum (direct democracy), for which, after the adoption
of the law, a minimum of 50,000 signatures must be collected within 100
days. Changes to the Constitution or accession to international
organizations require confirmation at a nationwide mandatory referendum.
All citizens of the country who have reached the age of 18 have the
right to vote.
The basic principles of the Swiss confederation
were laid down in 1291. Until the end of the 18th century, there were no
central state bodies in the country, but all-Union councils (Tagsatzung)
were periodically convened. In 1798, Switzerland was occupied by France
and a French-style constitution was adopted. In 1803, as part of the Act
of Mediation, Napoleon restored Swiss independence. The first federal
constitution, adopted in 1848, provided for the creation of a bicameral
federal parliament. In 1874, a constitution was adopted that provided
for the introduction of the institution of referendums. In 1999, a new,
thoroughly revised edition of this constitution was adopted. Only in
1971, in accordance with the result of a national referendum, women
received the right to vote, but its introduction in all cantons was
completed only in 1990. Thus, Switzerland became the last European state
to equalize women's voting rights with men.
Rights
Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische
Volkspartei (SVP)) - national conservative, right-wing
Ticino League
(Lega dei Ticinesi) - right-wing, isolationist
The Federal Democratic
Union of Switzerland is a right-wing Christian
Centre-right
Conservative Democratic People's Party of Switzerland - conservative
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
(Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz (CVP)) is a moderate
Christian Democratic
Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland -
social conservative
Centrists
Free Democratic Party of
Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz (FDP)) -
liberal
The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland is an environmentalist
liberal
Centre-left
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz (SP)) - socialist
Christian
Social Party of Switzerland - Christian Socialist
Left
The
Green Party of Switzerland (Grüne Partei der Schweiz (GPS)) is an
environmentalist
Alternative Left - Left Socialist
Swiss Labor
Party (Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz (PdA)) - communist
Solidarity
(SolidaritéS) - communist, Trotskyist, anti-capitalist
Unions
The largest federal trade union association in the country is the
Association of Swiss Trade Unions (Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund).
In sectoral terms, it consists of sectoral trade unions, in territorial
terms - from cantonal trade union associations
(Kantonalgewerkschaftsbund), cantonal trade union associations from
regional trade union associations (Regionalgewerkschaftsbund), regional
trade union associations from local trade union associations
(Lokalgewerkschaftsbund). The highest body is the trade union congress
(Gewerkschaftskongress), between trade union congresses - the board of
the trade union association (Gewerkschaftsbundesvorstand), the youth
organization - trade union youth (Gewerkschaftsjugend).
The highest court is the Federal Court (Bundesgericht, Tribunal fédéral), the courts of appeal are the highest courts (Obergericht), in Geneva - the Chamber of Justice (Justizhof, Cour De Justice), in Basel-Stadt - the courts of appeal (Appellationsgericht), the courts of first instance - district courts (Bezirksgericht), in Lucerne - district courts (Amtsgericht), in the Jura - courts of first instance (Gericht erster Instanz), in Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Schaffhausen, Zug, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden - cantonal courts (Kantonsgericht), in St. Gallen - county courts (Kreisgericht), the lowest level of the judicial system - world courts (Friedensgerichte) (not exist in all cantons), the highest judicial instance of administrative justice - the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht, Tribunal administratif fédéral).
Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26
cantons (20 cantons (Kanton) and 6 semi-cantons (Landesteil)), cantons
can be divided into districts (Bezirk), districts into cities and
communities (Gemeinde), some communities into urban areas (Stadtkreis).
Below is a list of cantons, with many cities in Switzerland having
different names depending on the language.)
Each canton has its
own constitution and legislation. The legislative bodies of the cantons
are cantonal councils (Kantonsrat) elected by the population, the
executive bodies are the ruling councils (Regierungsrat), consisting of
prime ministers (Regierungspräsident) (or landammanns (Landammann)),
vice-prime ministers (Regierungsvizepräsident) (or land stadtholders).
(Landstatthalter)) and government councilors (Regierungsrat) elected by
the cantonal councils.
Legislative bodies of the Roman cantons
are large councils (fr. Grand Conseil, it. Gran Consiglio), executive
bodies - state councils (fr. Conseil d'État, it. Consiglio di Stato),
consisting of the chairmen of the state council (fr. Président du
Conseil d'État, it. Presidente del Consiglio di Stato), deputy chairmen
of the Council of State (fr. Vice-président du Conseil d'État, it.
Vicepresidente del Consiglio di Stato) and state councilors (fr.
Conseiller d'État, it. Consigliere di Stato).
The state power in
Appenzell-Innerrhoden is distinguished by a special structure: the
legislative body is the land community (Landsgemeinde), which includes
all voters, the executive body is the cantonal commission
(Standeskommission), consisting of the ruling Landammann (Regierender
Landammann), the helping Landammann (Stillstehender Landammann) and
government advisers (Regierungsrat).
In districts which are
headed by a prefect (Bezirksamman) appointed by the cantonal council.
The representative bodies of cities are community councils
(Gemeinderat) elected by the population, the executive bodies are city
councils (Stadtrat), consisting of city presidents (Stadtpräsident) and
city councilors (Stadtrat), elected by community councils.
The
representative bodies of the communities are the community meetings
(Gemeiendeversammlung), consisting of all residents of the community,
the executive bodies of the communities are the community councils
(Gemeinderat), consisting of the community president (Gemeindepräsident)
and community councilors (Gemeinderat), elected by the community
meetings.
Switzerland is a landlocked country whose territory is
divided into three natural regions: the Jura Mountains in the north, the
Swiss Plateau in the center and the Alps in the south, occupying 61% of
the entire territory of Switzerland.
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 plateau lies in a lowland, but most of it is located
above 500 meters above sea level. Consisting of wooded ridges (up to
1600 m), the young folded mountains of the Jura stretched into the
territory of France and Germany. The highest point in Switzerland is
located in the Pennine Alps - Peak Dufour (4634 m), the lowest - Lake
Maggiore - 193 m.
Switzerland contains 6% of Europe's fresh water
reserves. The largest rivers are Rhone, Rhine, Limmat, Are. Switzerland
is rich and famous for its lakes, the most attractive of which are
located along the edges of the Swiss plateau - Geneva (582.4 km²),
Vierwaldstet (113.8 km²), Thun (48.4 km²) in the south, Zurich (88.4
km²) in the east, Bilske (40 km²) and Neuchâtel (217.9 km²) in the
north. Most of them are of glacial origin: they were formed at a time
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
Lago Maggiore (212.3 km²) and Lugano (48.8 km²).
About 25% of the
territory of Switzerland is covered with forests - not only in the
mountains, but also in the valleys, and on some plateaus. Wood is an
important raw material and source of fuel.
Minerals
In
Switzerland, there are practically no minerals. There are only large
reserves of coal, deposits of iron ore, small deposits of graphite and
talc. The extraction of rock salt, carried out in the upper reaches of
the Rhone and along the Rhine near the border with Germany, covers the
needs of the country. There are raw materials for the construction
industry: sand, clay, stone. Until the middle of the 20th century, coal
was the main source of energy, which after 1950 was gradually replaced
by oil. 11.5% of energy is produced with the help of water resources,
55% of the electricity consumed is from hydroelectric power plants.
Climate
Switzerland has a continental climate typical of Central
Europe, with significant fluctuations depending on the altitude. In the
west of the country, the influence of the Atlantic Ocean is great, as
you move to the east and in the southern mountainous regions, the
climate acquires continental features. Winters are cold, on the plateau
and in the valleys the temperature reaches zero, and in the mountainous
regions -11 ° C and below. The average summer temperature in the
lowlands is +18-20 °C, slightly lower in the mountains. In Geneva,
average temperatures in July are around 19°C, and in January around 3°C.
About 850 mm of precipitation falls per year. Strong north and south
winds.
The annual precipitation level in Zurich on the plateau is
1000 mm, and in Zent - more than 2000 mm. A special quality of the
Eastern Alps is that about 65% of the annual precipitation falls in the
form of snow. Quite often, even in May-June, at an altitude of more than
1500 m, precipitation occurs in the form of snow pellets. Some areas are
permanently covered with a layer of ice.
The climate and
landscape differ from region to region. In Switzerland, you can find
both mosses and lichens inherent in the tundra, as well as palm trees
and mimosas, characteristic of the Mediterranean coast.
Relief
Most of the country is occupied by the Alps. In the south are the
Pennine Alps (up to 4634 m high - Dufour peak), the Lepontine Alps, the
Rhaetian Alps and the Bernina massif.
The deep longitudinal
valleys of the Upper Rhone and the Anterior Rhine separate the Pennine
and Lepontine Alps from the Bernese Alps (Mount Finsteraarhorn, height
4274 m) and the Glarn Alps, which form a system of ridges stretching
from the southwest to the northeast across the country. Dominated by
peaked ridges, composed mainly of crystalline rocks and strongly
dissected by erosion. The main passes (Great St. Bernard, Simplon, St.
Gotthard, Bernina) are located above 2000 meters above sea level.
The landscape of mountainous Switzerland is characterized by a large
number of glaciers and glacial landforms, the total area of glaciation
is 1950 km². In total, there are approximately 140 large valley glaciers
in Switzerland (Aletsch Glacier and others), there are also cirque and
hanging glaciers. In recent decades, due to global warming, there has
been a reduction in the number and total area of alpine glaciers.
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; ranks 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 (trade turnover 80-85%), industrial cooperation and foreign
trade transactions. 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 growth in 1998-2000,
the country's economy entered a period of recession. In 2002, GDP grew
by 0.5% and amounted to 417 billion Swiss francs. Inflation was at
around 0.6%. The unemployment rate reached 3.3%. About 4 million people
(57% of the population) are employed in the economy, 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 in the two world wars allowed the Swiss economy to
avoid devastation.
Switzerland is home to four of the world's
largest gold refineries, processing two-thirds of the world's gold
production; accordingly, this country is the world's largest importer
and exporter of the precious metal. In 2014, its imports accounted for
23% and exports for 21% of the $321 billion global turnover.
The volume of imports in 2018 amounted to CHF 273.389 billion
(excluding precious metals), including
products of the chemical
and pharmaceutical industries (50.1 billion);
machinery and
electronics (32.1 billion);
vehicles (19.3 billion);
bijouterie
and jewelry (16.0 billion);
metals (15.9 billion);
tools and
watches (12.2 billion);
textiles, clothing and footwear (11.7
billion);
food (10.9 billion);
energy resources (9.5 billion);
synthetic materials and paper products (8.5 billion)
The volume of exports in 2018 amounted to CHF 303.886 billion,
including:
products of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries
(104.4 billion);
tools and watches (38.0 billion);
machinery,
equipment and electronics (33.5 billion);
metals (14.4 billion);
bijouterie and jewelry (11.6 billion);
food products (9.0 billion);
synthetic materials and paper products (5.2 billion);
vehicles (5.0
billion);
textiles, clothing and footwear (4.9 billion);
energy
carriers (2.8 billion)
Advantages of the Swiss economy: highly
skilled workforce, reliable service sector. Developed branches of
pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering and high-precision mechanics.
Transnational concerns of the chemical industry, pharmacology and the
banking sector. Banking secrecy attracts foreign capital. The banking
sector accounts for 9% of GDP. Innovation in mass markets (Swatch
watches, Smart car concept).
Weaknesses of the Swiss economy:
limited resources and small area.
Switzerland does not have a minimum wage. But the minimum wage has been introduced since 2017 in the cantons of Neuchâtel and Jura (the second highest in the world, CHF 20 (€18.53) per hour or about CHF 3600 (€3335.21) per month), from November 1, 2020 in the canton Geneva (highest in the world, CHF 23 (€21.30) per hour or CHF 4086 (€3785.47) per month) and from January 1, 2021 in the canton of Ticino (third highest in the world, CHF 19.75 ( €18.29) per hour or around CHF 3500 (€3241.40) per month). As of 2015, the average wage in Switzerland is CHF 6257 (€5485.96 gross) and CHF 5136 (€4502.29 net) per month.
For several decades, the Swiss Confederation was included in the list of offshore zones. There are about 4,000 financial institutions in the country, including many branches of foreign banks. Swiss banks account for 35-40% of the world's property and property management of individuals and legal entities. They enjoy a good reputation among customers due to the stable domestic political situation, the solid Swiss currency, and the observance of the principle of "bank secrecy". The largest Swiss banks are UBS and Credit Suisse. Switzerland, being a major exporter of capital, ranks fourth in the world after the USA, Japan, Germany. Direct investments abroad account for 29% of Swiss GDP (the world average is about 8%). 75% of all Swiss investments are directed to developed industries, among developing countries, Latin America and Southeast Asia attract Swiss capital the most. The share of Eastern Europe in the total volume of investments is insignificant.
The industry is dominated by large transnational associations, which, as a rule, successfully withstand competition in the world market and occupy leading positions on it: the Nestle concerns (food products, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, baby food), Novartis and Hoffmann-la- Roche (chemical and pharmaceutical products), Alyusuiss (aluminum), the Swedish-Swiss concern ABB - Acea Brown Boveri (electrical engineering and turbine building). Switzerland is often associated with the watch factory of the world. Based on old traditions and high technical culture, watches and jewelry of the most prestigious brands are produced here: Rolex, Chopard, Breguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, etc.
There are practically no fossils in Switzerland. Rock salt and building materials are of industrial importance.
About 42% of electricity in Switzerland is generated by nuclear power plants, 50% by hydroelectric power plants, and the remaining 8% by thermal power plants from imported oil. Most hydroelectric power stations are located in the Alps, where more than 40 artificial lakes - reservoirs have been created. At the initiative of the "greens", the construction of new nuclear power plants has been temporarily suspended. And by 2050, Switzerland will become completely neutral in relation to nature.
The Swiss transport system is “debugged like
clockwork”. All 3212 km of the main tracks of public railways, owned by
the federal company SBB-CFF-FFS, are fully electrified. More than 600
tunnels have been laid in the mountains, including the Simplon tunnel
(19.8 km). Funiculars and cable cars operate in mountainous regions. The
length of roads is about 71 thousand km. An important role is played by
roads passing through the mountain passes of St. Gotthard, Greater St.
Bernard and others.
On October 27, 2008, the first underground
metro in Switzerland was officially opened in Lausanne - 5.9 km, 14
stations, trains are controlled automatically, without a driver. Prior
to this, metro lines only partially passed underground, resembling more
tram lines.
The main international airports are Geneva, Zurich,
Basel.
Agriculture has a pronounced livestock orientation
(with an emphasis on the production of meat and dairy products), is
characterized by high yields and labor productivity. The predominance of
small farms is characteristic. Swiss cheese has been well known in many
countries of the world for centuries. In general, agriculture provides
the country's needs for food by 56-57%.
Switzerland maintains
foreign trade relations with almost all countries of the world. The
country's economy is largely dependent on foreign trade - both in the
import of raw materials and semi-finished products, and in the export of
industrial products (more than 50% of textile products are exported,
about 70% of engineering, over 90% of the chemical and pharmaceutical,
98% of the watch industry) .
The developed industrial countries
account for 80% of Switzerland's foreign trade turnover. Its main
partners are the EU countries - more than 3/4 of exports and imports.
Among the largest foreign trade partners are Germany, France, USA,
Italy, Great Britain, Benelux.
As a traditional country of tourism, Switzerland holds
a strong position in this area in Europe. The presence of a developed
tourist infrastructure, a network of railways and roads, combined with
picturesque nature and an advantageous geographical position, ensures
the influx of a significant number of tourists into the country,
primarily Germans, Americans, Japanese, and in recent years also
Russians, Indians, and Chinese. 15% of the national income comes from
tourism.
The Alps occupy 2/3 of the entire territory of
Switzerland and annually attract thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to
Switzerland. The highest point of the country is located in the Pennine
Alps and is called Peak Dufour (4634 m). Also in Switzerland are
Europe's highest railway station Jungfraujoch at 3454 m above sea level
and Europe's highest brewery in Monstein at 1600 m.
The most
famous ski and recreational resorts in Switzerland:
Davos,
St.
Moritz,
Zermatt,
Switzerland is world famous for its private schools,
boarding houses and universities. Switzerland is the birthplace of
reformist pedagogy, education here is still based on the principles of
Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget and Rudolf Steiner. The level of education
in the private sector is quite high, thanks to the excellent training of
teachers and the tradition of quality. It is also worth mentioning such
aspects that complement the ideal conditions for learning, such as
stability, security and prestige. All of the above factors attract a
huge number of students and learners from all over the world. In
addition to specialized schools of hotel business, foreign language
courses are very popular. Programs designed for any period usually give
excellent results and are conducted by native speakers using modern
techniques. Private language schools usually offer a wide range of
places of study and various adapted language programs for adults,
children and teenagers. Private educational institutions enjoy special
prestige.
According to an international study of the quality of
secondary education, Switzerland for 10 years (2000-2009) has
consistently demonstrated high rates of training of graduates of its
schools. So, for example, in 2000, according to the PISA (Programme for
International Student Assessment) monitoring of the quality of education
in the school, conducted by the OECD (Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development), Switzerland ranked 13th among 32
countries, and in 2009 - 14th among 65. In all four studies (PISA-2000,
PISA-2003, PISA-2006 and PISA-2009), Swiss schoolchildren were
significantly above the OECD average.
Switzerland also shows good
results in terms of higher education. In the international rankings of
the best universities in the world, Switzerland traditionally occupies
4-9 positions, second only to the USA, Canada and the UK.
Swiss
education is considered expensive by some not very knowledgeable
inhabitants, even by European standards. Meanwhile, tuition at public
universities in Switzerland is one of the cheapest in the world.
The total population as of 2020 is about 8,667,100
people. Swiss women give birth to their first children at an average age
of 30.7 years. As of 2021, on average, one resident of Switzerland has
1.58 children.
Age structure of the population
25 252);
15-24 years old: 10.39% (men 446,196 / women 426,708);
25-54 years
old: 42.05% (men 1,768,245 / women 1,765,941);
55-64 years old:
13.48% (men 569,717 / women 563,482);
65 years and older: 18.73%
(males 699,750
women 874 448) (2020 figures)
Average age
Overall indicator: 42.7 years
Men: 41.7 years
Women: 43.7 years
(2020 figures)
Average life expectancy
Overall indicator:
83.03 years
Men: 80.71 years
Women: 85.49 years (as of 2021)
Historically, the Swiss Confederation was formed in
the conditions of coexistence of various linguistic, cultural and
religious groups. 90% of the population are Swiss. They don't have a
common language. The largest language group: German Swiss (65%),
followed by the number of French Swiss (18%), Italian Swiss (10%).
Romansh also live in the country, they make up about 1% of the
population.
German, French, Italian and Romansh are the national
and official languages of the Swiss Confederation.
The
relationship between the "French" and "German" parts of Switzerland is
the most important factor in the development of national history.
However, they are far from ideal. Relations between the main cultural
and linguistic areas of the country since the beginning of the 19th
century, when densely populated French-speaking regions were annexed to
the territory of Switzerland, are still characterized by a large number
of conflicts and contradictions. There is even an imaginary border
between these two cultural-linguistic communities - Röstigraben. Perhaps
the most acute issue in these relations was the conflict over the
formation of a new Jura canton.
As of 2019, the United Nations
estimated that 2.6 million immigrants and their descendants lived in
Switzerland, representing 29.9% of the country's population.
According to The World Factbook, the composition of
the population of Switzerland by religion as of 2019: Catholics - 34.4%,
Protestants - 22.5%, other Christians - 5.7%, Muslims - 5.5%, other
religions - 1, 6%, atheists - 29.5%, no data - 0.8%.
Protestantism
The largest Protestant religious organization, the
Union of Swiss Evangelical Churches (Schweizerischer Evangelischer
Kirchenbund), consists of the following local churches:
(local
majority churches)
The Reformed Church of Bern-Jura-Solothurn
(Reformierte Kirchen Bern-Jura-Solothurn) - unites the Zwinglians of the
cantons of Bern, Solothurn and Jura, is the majority church in the
canton of Bern
Evangelical Reformed Local Church of the Canton of
Zurich (Evangelisch-reformierte Landeskirche des Kantons Zürich) -
unites the Zwinglians of the canton of Zurich, is the majority church in
the canton
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des Kantons
Basel-Landschaft (Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des Kantons
Basel-Landschaft) - unites the Zwinglians of the canton of
Basel-Landschaft, is the church of the majority of the canton
Evangelical Reformed Church of City Basel (Evangelisch-reformierte
Kirche Basel-Stadt) - unites the Zwinglians of the canton of
Basel-Stadt, is the church of the majority of the canton
Evangelical
Reformed Local Church of the Canton of Glarus (Evangelisch-Reformierte
Landeskirche des Kantons Glarus)
The Evangelical Reformed Local
Church of Appenzell (Evangelisch-reformierte Landeskirche beider
Appenzell), is the majority church in Appenzell-Ausserrhoden
Evangelical Local Church of the Canton of Thurgau (Evangelische
Landeskirche des Kantons Thurgau)
Evangelical Reformed Church of the
canton of Neuchâtel (Église réformée évangélique du canton de Neuchâtel)
- unites the Calvinists of Neuchâtel, is the church of the majority of
the canton
Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud
(other)
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des Kantons Schaffhausen
Evangelical Reformed Local Church of Grisons (Evangelisch-reformierte
Landeskirche Graubünden) - unites the majority of believers in
German-speaking areas
Reformed local church Aargau (Reformierte
Landeskirche Aargau) - unites the majority of believers in the western
part of the canton (former Bernese Aargau)
Evangelical Reformed
Church of the Canton of St. Gallen (Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des
Kantons St. Gallen)
Protestant Church of Geneva (Église Protestante
de Genève) - unites the Calvinists of Geneva
Free Evangelical Church
of Geneva (Église Évangélique Libre de Genève) - unites the Calvinists
of Geneva
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des Kantons Freiburg, French
Eglise Evangélique Réformée du canton de Fribourg
Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche des Kantons Luzern
Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Nidwalden
Association of Evangelical
Reformed Churches in the Canton of Obwalden
Evangelical Reformed
Cantonal Church of Schwyz
Evangelical Reformed Church in the Canton
of Solothurn (Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche im Kanton Solothurn)
Evangelical Reformed Local Church of Uri (Evangelisch-Reformierte
Landeskirche Uri)
Evangelical Reformed Church of the Valle
(Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche des Wallis)
Evangelical Reformed
Communities of the Canton of Zug (Evangelisch-reformierte Kirchgemeinde
des Kantons Zug)
Evangelical Reformed Church of Ticino
Evangelical
Methodist Church in Switzerland (Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche in
der Schweiz) - brings together Methodists from all over Switzerland
Confessional differences in Switzerland do not always coincide with
linguistic boundaries. Among the Protestants one can find both
French-speaking Calvinists and German-speaking Zwinglians.
Part
of the Lutherans are united in the Union of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches of Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Bund Evangelisch-Lutherischer
Kirchen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein), which includes:
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva - unites the Lutherans of Geneva
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Basel and Northeast Switzerland
(Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Basel und Nordwestschweiz) - unites the
Lutherans of both Basel
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bern
(Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Bern) - unites the Lutherans of Bern
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zurich (Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche
Zürich) - unites the Lutherans of Zurich
Evangelisch Lutheran Church
of Liechtenstein (Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche im Fürstentum
Liechtenstein) - unites Liechtenstein Lutherans
There are 5 communities (in Bern, Basel, Zurich,
Magden (Aargau) and Menziken (Aargau) of the Continental European
Province of the Moravian Church (Europäisch-Festländische Provinz der
Brüderunität).
Mennonites are represented by 13 communities
united in the Swiss Mennonite Conference (Konferenz der Mennoniten der
Schweiz).
Other Protestant groups include Adventists, Baptists,
the Pentecostal Apostolic Church, the Swiss Pentecostal Mission, the
Salvation Army, and others.
Catholicism
Catholics are
represented by:
diocese of Basel (Aargau, both Basel, Bern, Jura,
Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Zug)
the diocesan region
of St. Urs (both Basel and Aargau) - unites the majority of believers in
the eastern part of the canton Aargau (the former counties of Baden and
the Free Amts)
the diocesan region of St. Verena (Bern, Jura and
Solothurn) - unites the majority of the faithful of Jura and Solothurn
diocesan region of St. Victor (Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zug) -
unites the majority of the faithful of Lucerne, Schaffhausen and Zug
diocese of Chur (Graubünden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Uri, Schwyz,
Zurich)
vicariate general of Graubünden - unites the majority of
believers in the Italian-speaking and Romansh areas
Vicariate General
of Schwyz, Uri, Nidwalden and Obwalden - unites the majority of
believers in all 4 cantons
Vicariate General of Zurich and Glarus
Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Friborg (Friborg, Geneva, Neuchâtel,
Vaud)
Episcopal Vicariate of Friborg - unites the majority of
believers in the canton
Episcopal Vicariate of Geneva - unites the
majority of believers in the canton
Episcopal Vicariate of Vaud
Episcopal Vicariate of Neuchâtel
diocese of Lugano (Ticino) -
unites the majority of believers in the canton
diocese of St. Gallen
(both Appenzell and St. Gallen) - unites the majority of believers in
Appenzell-Innerrhoden
Diocese of Sion (Vallee) - unites the majority
of believers in the canton
Territorial Abbey of Einsiedeln
All are
directly subordinate to the Holy See.
Judaism
Judaism in
Switzerland is represented by the Union of Swiss Jewish Communities
(Schweizerischer Israelitischer Gemeindebund), consisting of:
Jewish community of Basel (Israelitische Gemeinde Basel)
Jewish
Community of Bern (Jüdische Gemeinde Bern)
Jewish Community of
Bremgarten (Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Bremgarten) (Bern)
Jewish
Community of Biel (Jüdische Gemeinde Biel, Communauté Juive Bienne)
Jewish Community of Solothurn (Jüdische Gemeinde Solothurn)
Jewish
Community of St. Gallen (Jüdische Gemeinde St. Gallen)
Jewish
Religious Community of Endingen (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Endingen)
(St. Gallen)
Jewish Community of Winterthur (Israelitische Gemeinde
Winterthur) (Zurich)
Jewish community Agudas Achim (Jüdische Gemeinde
Agudas Achim) (Zurich)
Jewish cult community of Zurich (Israelitische
Cultusgemeinde Zürich)
Jewish Religious Community of Zurich
(Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft Zürich)
Jewish Community of
Geneva (Communauté Israélite de Genève)
Jewish Community of the
Canton of Neuchâtel (Communauté Israélite du Canton de Neuchâtel)
Jewish Community of Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud (Communauté
Israélite de Lausanne et du ct de Vaud)
Jewish community of Friborg
(Communauté Israélite de Friborg)
Islam
Approximately 400,000
Muslims live in Switzerland, mostly Turks and Kosovars. On November 29,
2009, an amendment to the constitution was adopted at a national
referendum in Switzerland, banning the construction of minarets in the
country. In addition, kosher and halal slaughter of animals is
prohibited in Switzerland, which was considered insufficiently humane
there.
Switzerland has a long tradition of political and
military neutrality, but takes an active part in international
cooperation; the headquarters of many international organizations are
located on its territory. There are several points of view regarding the
time of the emergence of Swiss neutrality. According to some scholars,
Switzerland began to adhere to the status of neutrality after the
conclusion of a peace treaty with France on November 29, 1516, in which
"perpetual peace" was proclaimed. Subsequently, the Swiss authorities
made a number of decisions that moved the country towards the definition
of its neutrality. In 1713, the neutrality of Switzerland was recognized
by France, Spain, the Netherlands and England, who concluded the Peace
of Utrecht. However, in 1803, Switzerland was forced to conclude an
agreement on a military alliance with Napoleonic France, according to
which the country was obliged to provide its territory for the conduct
of hostilities, as well as to put up a military contingent for the
French army. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the “perpetual
neutrality” of Switzerland was secured. Neutrality was finally confirmed
and specified by the Guarantee Act signed in Paris on November 20, 1815
by Austria, Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia, Russia and France. On
January 22, 1506, the Swiss Guard was founded to protect the head of the
Roman Catholic Church and his palace. The total number of the first
composition of the Swiss Guard was 150 people (currently 110).
The foreign policy of Switzerland, in accordance with the constitution
of this country, is built taking into account the international legal
status of permanent neutrality. The beginning of the Swiss policy of
neutrality is difficult to link to any specific date. The Swiss
historian Edgar Bonjour said about this: "The concept of Swiss
neutrality arose simultaneously with the concept of the Swiss nation."
Back in the 14th century, in the treaties of individual cantons, which
later formed the Swiss Confederation, with their neighbors, the German
term “stillsitzen” (literally “sit quietly”) is used, which roughly
corresponds to the later concept of neutrality.
The permanent
neutrality of Switzerland arose as a result of the signing of four
international legal acts: the Act of the Congress of Vienna of March 8
(20), 1815, the Annex to the Act of the Vienna Congress No. 90 of March
8 (20), 1815, the Declaration of the Powers on the Affairs of the
Helvetic Union and the Act recognition and guarantee of the permanent
neutrality of Switzerland and the inviolability of its territory. Unlike
other countries that chose a similar path solely under the influence of
external factors (for example, as a result of a defeat in a war),
Switzerland's neutrality was also formed for domestic political reasons:
neutrality, becoming a nation-unifying idea, contributed to the
evolution of its statehood from an amorphous confederation to a
centralized federal structure.
During the years of the policy of
permanent armed neutrality, the Alpine Republic managed to avoid
participation in two devastating world wars and strengthen its
international authority, including through the implementation of
numerous mediation efforts. The principle of maintaining relations
“between countries, not between governments” allowed for dialogue with
everyone, regardless of political or ideological considerations.
Switzerland represents third states where their diplomatic relations are
interrupted (for example, the interests of the USSR in Iraq in 1955,
Great Britain in Argentina during the Anglo-Argentine conflict of 1982;
Switzerland currently represents the interests of the United States in
Iran, the interests of the Russian Federation in Georgia after the
rupture of diplomatic relations between these countries in 2008).
In May 2004, the “second package” of EU-Switzerland sectoral
agreements was signed, which, together with the “first package” (which
entered into force on June 1, 2002), is a kind of alternative to
Switzerland's accession to the EU.
Within the framework of
national referendums held in 2005, the people of Switzerland positively
resolved the issue of Switzerland's accession to the Schengen and Dublin
agreements (the agreement with the EU is included in the "second
package"), as well as the extension of the provisions of the Treaty on
freedom of movement between Switzerland and the EU (included in the
"first package" of sectoral agreements) for new EU members who joined
the Union in 2004. At the same time, it was decided to consider the
issue of Switzerland's accession to the European Union not as a
"strategic goal", as before, but only as a "political option", that is,
an opportunity.
In 1959, Switzerland became one of the founding
countries of the EFTA, and in 2002 joined the UN.
The culture of the country developed, on the one hand,
under the influence of German, French and Italian culture, and, on the
other hand, on the basis of the special identity of each canton.
Therefore, it is still very difficult to say exactly what "Swiss
culture" actually is. In Switzerland itself, there is a distinction
between "Swiss culture" (usually folklore) and "culture from
Switzerland" - all available genres in which people with a Swiss
passport work. So, for example, associations of musicians playing the
alpenhorns are more of a "Swiss culture", and rock bands "Yello",
"Gotthard", "Krokus" and "Samael" are a culture from Switzerland. A
prominent representative in music is Tilo Wolff and his band Lacrimosa,
working in the gothic rock genre.
There are universities in
Basel, Zurich, Bern, Lugano, St. Gallen, Geneva, Lausanne, Friborg and
Neuchâtel (there is no single national university in Switzerland, its
role is played to some extent by the Higher Technical School in Zurich).
The WTS is also located in Lausanne, and the Higher School of Economics
operates in St. Gallen. A network of professional educational
institutions has been developed. Among the students, a significant part
are foreigners. Along with general education schools, there are
privileged private colleges that are highly rated throughout the world.
The famous sculptor Herman Haller, who is the founder of modern
Swiss plastic arts, was born, lived and worked in Switzerland.
Swiss painters:
Franz Gerch,
Johann Ludwig Aberle,
Daniel
Spoerri,
Frank Buxer,
Roman Signer,
Louis Moillier,
Niklaus
Manuel,
Jean Renggli,
Thomas Huber,
Hans Asper.
There
are many literary stories associated with Switzerland. For example,
thanks to the Notes on Sherlock Holmes, the Reichenbach Falls is famous
not only as a beautiful place, but also as the grave of Professor
Moriarty. The history of Chillon Castle inspired Byron to compose The
Prisoner of Chillon. Victor Frankenstein, character in Mary Shelley's
novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, hails from Geneva. The
heroes of Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms arrived in Montreux. From
Russian literature, first of all, the citizen of the canton of Uri,
Nikolai Stavrogin, the hero of Dostoevsky's novel "Demons", is known
first of all.
The famous Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water"
("We all came out to Montreaux, on the lake Geneva shoreline...") is
associated with Montreux and Lake Geneva.
Literature
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jeremiah Gotthelf, Madame de Stael, Charles
Ferdinand Ramyu and others.
Probably the most famous piece of
Swiss literature is Heidi's story. This story of an orphan girl living
with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps is still one of the most popular
children's books, it has become one of the symbols of Switzerland. Its
creator, the writer Johanna Spiri (1827-1901), also wrote a number of
other books for children.
Swiss cuisine deserves recognition from gourmets all
over the world, despite the rather strong influence of neighboring
countries (Germany, France and Italy), it has many of its own
delicacies. One of the main attractions of Switzerland is chocolate.
Switzerland is known not only for cultural and national diversity, but
also for a rich selection of French, Italian, German cuisine. Swiss
traditional food is based on several fundamental components. The most
common components of Swiss cuisine are: milk, butter, cheese, potatoes,
corn, beets, onions, cabbage, a relatively small amount of meat and a
moderately selected bouquet of aromatic spices and herbs. Despite the
highly developed animal husbandry in the country, meat is still an
infrequent guest on the table of the Swiss.
Typical dishes of
Swiss cuisine:
Fondue
Rosti
Tartiflette
Basel Brunels
(Cookies)
Swiss sausage salad
Swiss gingerbread
Swiss soup with
cheese
swiss roll
Polenta
Raclette
Cookies "Lotus petals"
meringues
Chocolate has been produced in Switzerland since the
18th century, but it gained its high reputation at the end of the 19th
century with the invention of modern technologies such as conching and
tempering, which allowed it to be produced at a high level of quality.
Also a breakthrough was the invention of solid milk chocolate by Daniel
Peter in 1875.
In Switzerland, January 2 is Saint Berthold's Day.
The Escalade is celebrated on December 12 in Geneva.
August 1 is
Confederation Day (Switzerland's national holiday). On this day, mass
festivities are held in all cantons, magnificent fireworks are arranged.
In Zurich, in April, they celebrate the Six Rings - a kind of meeting of
spring.
The canton of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden celebrates the Old New
Year - Sylvesterklaus
Opening hours of establishments
Institutions in Switzerland are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 12:00 and
from 14:00 to 17:00. Saturday and Sunday are days off.
Swiss
banks are usually open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, except on weekends. Once
a week, banks work longer than usual, it is necessary to clarify this in
each specific place. Post offices in large cities are open on weekdays
from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 18:30, on Saturday from 7:30 to
11:00, Sunday is a day off.
Skiing and mountaineering are very popular in
Switzerland. Places like Davos, St. Moritz and Zermatt are some of the
best ski centers in the world. As in neighboring Austria, skiing is one
of the most popular. Swiss skiers have been among the strongest in the
world throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Swiss St. Moritz
twice (in 1928 and 1948) hosted the Winter Olympic Games.
Switzerland is an ideal country for hiking. The diverse landscape
ensures that everyone will find hiking trails according to their ability
and desire. There is an extensive network of over 180 routes.
Switzerland is a country of bicycles. Here it is more than just an
activity - it is a healthy way to enjoy nature. The country has 3,300
kilometers of cycling routes, ideal for all levels of difficulty. The
Veloland Schweiz project, which was launched in 1998, is a network of
nine national cycle routes. In some cities in Switzerland, there is a
program whereby a bicycle can be rented for free against some cash
deposit or document.
The landscape of Switzerland is perfect for
rock climbing.
The governing bodies of international football and
ice hockey, the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA)
and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), are headquartered in
Zurich. Many other headquarters of international sports federations are
located in Switzerland. For example, the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), the IOC Olympic Museum and the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) are located in Lausanne.
Hockey, tennis, winter sports and
football are very popular.
Military budget of Switzerland for 2017-2020 approved
in the amount of 20 billion francs (20.68 billion US dollars), that is,
about 5 billion francs per year.
The regular armed forces are
about 5,000 people (only personnel).
The reserve is about 240,200
people.
Paramilitary forces: civil defense forces - 280,000
people. By tradition, the Swiss have the right to keep military weapons
at home.
Acquisition: by conscription and on a professional
basis.
Service life: 18-21 weeks (ages 19-20), then 10 refresher
courses of 3 weeks (20-42).
Mob. resources of 2.1 million people,
including 1.7 million fit for military service.
Attempt to
abandon the armed forces
In Switzerland, referendums were held twice
(in 1989 and 2001) in favor of abandoning the regular army: both times
the result was negative.
Switzerland, despite the extreme limitations of its national market, has a well-developed network of electronic and "paper" media.
The development of the modern newspaper
market in Switzerland begins under the influence of the Reformation. In
1610, the first regular Swiss newspaper, the Ordinari-Zeitung, was
published in Basel. In 1620, newspapers began to appear in Zurich, one
of them, the Ordinari-Wohenzeitung, is considered the direct predecessor
of the unofficial "main" newspaper of the country, the Neue Zürcher
Zeitung. In 1827, 27 newspapers were published in Switzerland. When,
after the revolutionary events of 1830, censorship was abolished, the
number of publications began to grow rapidly, and by 1857 there were
already 180 newspapers in the Confederation. The largest number of
newspapers in Switzerland came out in the 30s of the XX century (more
than 400). Then their number begins to decline, and this process
continues to this day.
The first all-Swiss supra-regional
newspaper, the Schweitzer Zeitung, began publication in 1842 in the city
of St. Gallen. A feature of the Swiss press landscape at that time was
the fact of a rigid ideological division of newspapers - newspapers of
the Catholic conservative direction were opposed by liberal progressive
publications. In 1893, the newspaper [Tages-Anzeiger] began to appear in
Zurich, the first "non-partisan" (and in this sense "independent")
newspaper.
In 1850, with the formation of the newspaper Der Bund,
the first newspaper with a regular professional editorship appeared in
Switzerland. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (it celebrated its 225th
anniversary in January 2005) was the first newspaper to establish
specialized departments within its editorial office dealing with
specific topics (politics, economics, culture, etc.).
Today,
Switzerland is one of the first places in the world in terms of the
number of printed periodicals per capita. Nevertheless, the vast
majority of the nearly 200 main Swiss daily newspapers (their total
circulation is about 3.5 million copies) are characterized by a
pronounced “provincialism” and a focus mainly on local events.
Of
the German-language leading newspapers in Switzerland today, the tabloid
newspaper Bleek (275,000 copies), the well-informed Tages Anzeiger
(259,000 copies, there is a correspondent in Moscow) and the Neue
Zürcher Zeitung published in Zurich ( 139 thousand copies). Among the
French speakers, the boulevard Matin (187,000 copies), Le Tan (97,000
copies), Van Quatre-er (97,000 copies), Tribune de Geneve (65,000
copies) are in the lead. . copies), among the Italian-speaking -
"Corriere del Ticino" (24 thousand copies).
A relatively
significant segment of the market is occupied by tabloid free "transport
newspapers" (distributed mainly at public transport stops) "20 minutes"
(about 100 thousand copies) and "Metropol" (130 thousand copies), as
well as advertising and corporate publications COOP-Zeitung (almost 1.5
million copies) and Wier Brückenbauer (1.3 million copies). There are no
informational and analytical sections in these newspapers.
Most
of the major Swiss federal newspapers are steadily reducing their
official circulation. In 2004, the largest Swiss tabloid newspaper Blick
had a circulation of approximately 275,000 copies. The informed
newspaper Der Bund, published in the Bernese metropolitan area and in
some neighboring cities, currently sells a little more than 60,000
copies a day. The situation on the market of Sunday newspapers looks
similar. The circulation of the popular newspaper Sonntagszeitung has
fallen by 8.6% over the past three years and currently stands at 202
thousand copies, while the number of copies of the newspaper
Sonntagsblick has decreased over the same time to 312 thousand copies.
Only the popular Bernese newspaper Berner Zeitung (its circulation
is 163 thousand copies) and the illustrated tabloid magazine Schweitzer
Illustrirte, which is in great demand (255.7 thousand copies), were able
to maintain their positions, and this against the background of the fact
that that the main news magazine of Switzerland "Facts" reduced its
circulation, dropping to the level of 80 thousand copies. These
tendencies are connected, first of all, with the continuing decrease in
the number of published advertisements and with the growing popularity
of the “Internet press”. In July 2007, Facts magazine ceased to exist.
The unfavorable conditions for the development of the media in
Switzerland lead not only to a reduction in circulation, but also to the
need for "structural reductions". So, in 2003, the Moscow office of the
Swiss television company SF-DRS was closed (except for the correspondent
of the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, only a representative of the Swiss
"German-speaking" radio DRS remained in Moscow). The provision of
information from Russia will now be carried out following the example of
many Swiss newspapers, which engage Moscow correspondents of newspapers
from other German-speaking countries, primarily the FRG, to write
materials. As for the SF-1 TV channel itself, it will now receive the
“Russian picture” with the help of the Austrian ORF TV channel.
The television market in Switzerland is
controlled by the Swiss Society for Radio Broadcasting and Television,
founded in 1931 (German: Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft,
SRG, French: Société suisse de radiodiffusion et télévision, SSR, IT:
Socièta svizzera di radio-televisione, SHORT). Radio and TV broadcasting
is conducted in German (in fact, almost 80% of "German-language"
television is produced in dialects that are very different from the
"literary" German language), French and Italian (in the canton of
Graubünden - also in Romansh) languages. Being in the form of a
joint-stock company, "SHORT", however, like many Swiss joint-stock
formations in other sectors of the economy, in fact, is a state
structure that receives subsidies from the state.
This kind of
subsidy is officially justified by the need to support the “obviously
unprofitable system of “four-language” national television
broadcasting,” especially given the fact that TV channels from
neighboring countries, primarily Germany, as well as France and Italy,
are freely received in Switzerland. If in 2000 SRG SSR made a profit of
24.5 million Swiss francs on its own. francs, then already in 2002 its
losses amounted to 4.4 million Swiss francs. francs. Both the
unfavorable economic situation in the country and the lack of
advertising, as well as the growth in the number of categories of
television signal consumers exempted from the subscription fee, led to
this result. In this regard, in 2004 the state was forced to allocate
more than 30 million Swiss francs to support the SRG SSR. francs.
The Swiss TV channels SRF1 and SRF zwei (produced by the SRG state
broadcaster SRG, which is part of the SRG SSR) devote their “prime time”
mainly to sports and socio-political programs, so the Swiss viewer
satisfies his “entertainment needs”, as a rule, with the help of foreign
TV broadcasters. As for private television broadcasting, unlike private
radio broadcasting, it has not yet been able to gain a foothold in
Switzerland as a real alternative to state television.
The
private TV channels TV3 (Switzerland) and Tele 24, which won almost 3%
of the Swiss TV audience, failed to reach the level of market
self-sufficiency and their work was terminated in 2002. At the beginning
of November 2003, another attempt was made to establish private
television in Switzerland. The Federal Council (government of the
country) issued a corresponding license to the TV channel U1 (TV
channel). The license is issued for 10 years and gives the right to
nationwide broadcasting of "German-language" programs. By the beginning
of 2005, the channel had not succeeded in winning any significant niche
in the Swiss electronic media market.
The reason why Switzerland
is still a very difficult market for private broadcasters is primarily
due to the unfavorable legal framework conditions. Another reason is the
relatively small percentage of advertisements placed on television in
Switzerland. If in Germany almost 45% of all advertising in the country
is placed on TV, then in Switzerland this figure is only 18.1%
(newspapers account for 43% of all advertising in the Confederation).
At present, the Swiss Broadcasting Law of 21 June 1991 is being
improved, its new version should give more opportunities for private
activities in the field of television and radio, especially in terms of
attracting additional advertising.