Switzerland Travel Guide

THE MOUNTAINOUS GEOGRAPHY of Switzerland divides this small country into a number of selfcontained localities. In the past, communication, even between neighbouring valleys, was minimal. Local differences are reinforced by the fact that four languages are spoken: French, German, Italian and Romansch, a Latinised form of Swiss German.

Switzerland has always been a highly popular European tourist destination, and, not surprisingly, its hoteliers are famous for their excellent and enthusiastic house-keeping. It is all too easy to think of Switzerland as mountains, lush valleys and chalet hotels. But it has some smart town hotels, too, and some beautiful lakeside ones.

WE DIVIDE Switzerland into five regions:

Western, Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern. (In fact, the country is subdivided into 26 cantons.)

Western Switzerland

This comprises Suisse Romande and Bern. Suisse Romande is the Frenchspeaking area of the country and, in Geneva, which is culturally more French than the rest of the country, there are some very sophisticated hotels. But you can also find charming rural retreats and country house hotels nearby. Perhaps the best-known Alpine holiday region, the Bernese Alps, offers everyone’s idea of mountain scenery and chic resorts.

Northern Switzerland

Separated from Germany and Austria by the Rhine and Lake Constance, this region encompasses Basel and the surrounding cantons. The main language is German, but there are French influences. Basel itself has its share of good hotels and there is no shortage of enchanting places to stay on beautiful Lake Constance.

Central Switzerland

This is William Tell country. It takes in Lucerne, which is perhaps the country’s most visited city. It has beautiful scenery and a wide choice of inns and hotels.

Eastern Switzerland

The least densely populated area of the country, Eastern Switzerland boasts some 360 sq km (140 sq miles) of glacier, and the fashionable ski resorts of Klosters and St Moritz. Apart from many charming winter sports hotels, there are some lovely country inns, too.

Southern Switzerland

This includes Valais and Ticino. Valais contains some of the most dramatic and famous mountain scenery in the country: here, for example, is the village of Zermatta, dominated by the famous pyramid-shaped peak of the Matterhorn. It is also a very productive winegrowing region.

Magical Ticino, with its sunshine, lakes, mountains and flowers, has a number of beguiling lakeside inns.

FOOD AND DRINK

CHEESE AND chocolate are synonymous with Switzerland, but each region has its own particular specialities. There are more than a hundred different varieties of cheese made in individual dairies, and the national dish is fondue. Lake fish are often on the menu; so also is Rösti, a delicious fried potato cake, and raclette, shavings of melted cheese. If you are feeling particularly hungry, try the Berneplatte, the classic dish of Bern which consists typically of a huge pile of sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) topped with sausages, ham and other ingredients. In the south, risotto and polenta are very popular. All over the country you will find delicious patisseries. The commonest delicacy is the cream-filled gugelhopf. The first chocolate factory in Switzerland opened in 1819. Swiss chocolate is considered to be the best in the world and, perhaps not surprisingly, the Swiss eat and drink more chocolate per capita than any other nation. In 1875, milk chocolate was invented here, and in 1879 the first chocolate bar was made.

Most of the wine produced in the country is white, and is best drunk when young. There are more than 300 small wine-growing areas spread over the country. In the French-speaking part, try Fendant or Johannisberg. In the German-speaking there are some good dry reds. The beer is good, too. Helles is light, Dunkles dark.

Kirsch is the national ‘hard’ drink, made from cherry stones, with a variety of flavourings. In the Italianspeaking south of the country you will find Grappa.

BREAKFAST is usually a helpyourself buffet and consists of breads, cold meats, cereals, fruit and cheeses. In most hotels the ‘double bed’ is in fact two single beds pushed together with two single duvets. In the German-speaking regions, the stube, or bar, is the focal point of many of the hotels and inns; in the Italianspeaking area, grottos are the equivalent.

Language in Switzerland

English is spoken by most of the population as a second language.

Currency in Switzerland

The Swiss franc, written ‘F’ or ‘SF’.

Shops in Switzerland

Normal shop hours are from 8am–12pm and 1:30–6:30pm. Saturday closing is at 11am except in the large cities.

Tipping in Switzerland

A 15 per cent service charge is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. You only need leave more if you feel that the service has been unusually good.

Telephoning in Switzerland

If you wish to make a phone call from Switzerland, dial the full area code. To call Switzerland from the UK, first dial the international code, 00 41 (from the US, 011 41), as usual omitting the first zero of the country area code.

Public holidays

1 January; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Ascension Day; Whit Monday; 1 August; 25 and 26 December.