Switzerland is a federal republic located in Western and Central Europe. It has four national languages - German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Switzerland has 26 cantons and a population of around 7.8 million people. Some of Switzerland's most notable cultural events include the Lucerne Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Locarno International Film Festival. Switzerland does not have an official state religion, but most cantons recognize either the Catholic Church or Swiss Reformed Church. Swiss cuisine features dishes like fondue, raclette, and rösti that vary across regions.
5. Motto: Unus pro omnibus,
omnes pro uno (traditional)
(Latin: One for all, all for one)
Coat of arms
6. Swiss Confederation
Capital- Bern Population – 7, 866,500
Largest city- Zurich 26 cantons
Official language(s) Area - 41,285 km2
German (63.7 %), Water (%) - 4.2
French (20.4 %), Currency – Swiss franc
Italian (6.5 %), A new president for
Romansh(0.5 %) Switzerland is elected every
Government - Federal republic,
year!
with directorial system and
direct democracy
7. Independence
Foundation date Restored
1 August 1291 7 August 1815
de facto Federal state
22 September 1499 12 September 1848
Recognised
24 October 1648
8. Culture
Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in a
wide range of traditional customs
Alphorn concert
in Vals
9. Among the most important cultural
perforLucerne mances held annually are
the Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival and
the Locarno International Film Festival
11. Contrasted landscapes between the
Matterhorn area in the high Alps, the
Sanetsch region and the plateau at Lake
Lucerne
12. Religion
Switzerland has no official state religion, though most of
the cantons (except Geneva and Neuchâtel) recognize official
churches, which are either the Catholic Church or the Swiss
Reformed Church
13. Swiss cuisine
The cuisine of Switzerland is multi-faceted. While some dishes
such as fondue, raclette or rösti are omnipresent through the
country.
17. Albert Einstein was working as
a clerk in a Swiss Patent Office
when he proved his Theory of
Relativity.
18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a
Genevan philosopher, writer, and
composer of 18th-century Romanticism
of French expression.
19. There is also a statue of Charlie
Chaplin! Charlie died there in 1977
20. Education in Switzerland
There are both public and private schools,
including many private international schools.
Traditionally, the first foreign language in
school was always one of the other national
languages
At the end of primary school (or at the
beginning of secondary school), pupils are
separated according to their capacities in several
(often three) sections.
21. The campus of the ETH Zurich. The
institution is usually ranked the top
university in continental Europe
23. Sports
Skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering are among the most
popular sports in Switzerland, the nature of the country being
particularly suited for such activities.
24. About 70% live in
appartements.Between two thirds and
three quarters of the population live in
urban areas
30. Switzerland has more than 1,500 lakes.
You are never more than 10 miles from a lake!
There are more banks then dentists.
Women are expected to live 6 yrs longer than men.
In 1471, a chicken in Basel was found guilty of laying a brightly
colored egg and it was burned at the stake!
Only one-quarter own their own homes. Most homes have bunkers,
a result of the Cold War concerns of nuclear war.
Every citizen is required by law to own a bomb shelter or access to
one.
Switzerland has the highest consumption of soft drinks in the
world!
The last legal execution of a witch was in 1782.