2. • The country is situated in western Europe,[where it is bordered by
Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and
Austria and Liechtenstein to the east
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3.
4. History
Archeological evidence
suggests that hunter-
gatherers were already
settled in the lowlands
north of the Alps in the late
Paleolithic period. By the
Neolithic period, the area
was relatively densely
populated. Remains of Bronze
Age pile dwellings from as
early as 3800 BC have been
found in the shallow areas
of many lakes. Around 1500
BC, Celtic tribes settled in the
area. The Raetians lived in the
eastern regions, while the
west was occupied by the
Helvetii. In 58 BC, the Helvetii
tried to evade migratory
pressure from Germanic
tribes by moving into Gaul,
5. Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy
• She is the 2011 president of Switzerland.
She was also the president of Switzerland
in 2007, and was the 2nd woman
president of Switzerland.
6. Bern
• A diverse and beautiful city! Berne is a
medieval city founded in 1191, on and
around the River Aare. Berne has
quite a few attractions and historic
sites, as well as an active cultural life. It
is here that Albert Einstein worked,
the Toblerone chocolate bar is made,
and Emmental cheese, known as Swiss
Cheese, reached out to the world.
Over the centuries, the townscape has been
preserved virtually intact, and in 1983 the
UNESCO inscribed Berne as a World
Heritage Site. The noble dome of the House
of Parliament presides above the city, just a
few steps from the main station, and also
from the Aare River, the Prison Tower and
all the other places of interest in Berne.
7. Weather
• The weather in Switzerland varies greatly between different places. The highest
precipitation receives Rochers de Nave, a mountain near Montreux (VD) with
approximately 260 cm per year. Also the parts south of the Alps get quite some rain,
Lugano (TI) for example receives about 175 cm per year. If the winds blow in clouds from
the south, they get blocked at the Alps and drop their water. Usually this causes dry and
warm weather north of the Alps, often accompanied with heavy winds and an extremely
good view where the mountains appear much closer than they are.
On the other hand, the valleys Engadin in the very east and Valais in the southwest of
Switzerland receive relatively little precipitation. Scoul (GR) receives about 70 cm,
Staldenried (VS) about 53 cm.
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9. Fondue One of the best-known Swiss foods is fondue, a pot
of melted cheese into which are dipped small pieces
of bread. The fondue pot stands in the middle of the
table over a flame that keeps it hot, those sitting
around it are given small cubes of bread and a long
fork, and everyone simply dips their pieces of bread
into the hot cheese and eats one cheesy piece of
bread after another. The secret of a traditional
fondue is in the mix of Swiss cheeses that go into
the pot. It is very easy to eat fondue until you
suddenly feel ready to explode. But fondue does not
have to be made of cheese; fondue Chinoise is a
beef fondue, and for dessert there is always the
chocolate fondue.
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10. Chateau de Chillon, Montreux
• The town of Montreux is located in the heart of the Swiss Riviera
on the shores of Lake Geneva. Walk by the lakeside and explore
the Chillon Castle, or take a tour of the tower, courtyards,
dungeons, and rooms of this eleventh-century castle, the most
frequently visited historical building in Switzerland where its
numerous rooms house weaponry, frescoes, and furniture. The
castle can be reached by walking along the lakefront or taking the
train or trolley bus.
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11. • Situated near the town of Schaffhausen, Europe's largest waterfalls, is a
magnificent natural wonder. Near the falls is the medieval castle, Schoss Laufen,
which houses a restaurant, a youth hostel, and shops. On Swiss National Day, 1
August, the Rhine Falls is host to fantastic display of fireworks which attracts
thousands of tourists
•
8/24/2012
12. Mt. Pilatus
• Near the lakeside city of Lucerne stands Mt. Pilatus, a 2,120-meter-
tall mountain. Tourists can take a cable car to reach its top and
enjoy the thrilling view. It is also a great venue for walking with
numerous trails, and the visitors here can witness the spectacular
scenery of the Swiss Alps.
•
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13. The Matterhorn,
Zermatt
• The most famous peak in the
Alps, the Matterhorn in
Zermatt stands 4,478 meters
high. Mountaineers flock to
this town to conquer this
technically difficult peak, and
Zermatt also offers skiing and
beautiful views. There are
also non-skiing activities,
best restaurants and lots of
energetic nightlife for visitors
to enjoy.
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