Switzerland

Switzerland (German: die Schweiz) has the third largest population of German speakers after Germany and Austria, with 63.5% of its population speaking Swiss German. Its other official languages are French, Italian and Romansh, as it shares borders with France and Italy. Switzerland has a population of around 8.2 million, and while it does not have an official capital, its largest cities are Zurich, Geneva and Basel, and the parliament is located in Bern.

Swiss Standard German is the official language of Switzerland, but it is mostly a written language rather than a spoken language, and is usually only spoken in very formal settings. It often borrows from other languages – for example, Fahrrad (bike in German) is Velo in Swiss Standard German, which is also bike in French. Swiss German, on the other hand, is more commonly spoken and includes different dialects from cities and areas all over Switzerland. To a German speaker from Germany, Swiss German dialects would be quite difficult to understand.

As with languages in Switzerland, Swiss culture is diverse, but national pride also comes from well-known sources such as the Alps, chocolate, cheese and watches. Popular foods include cheese fondue, Rösti and sausages, but each region has its specialties. Skiing and mountaineering are popular among the Swiss as well as tourists and this ties into the nation’s love of the Alps, the mountain range running through the south of Switzerland. The country is also famous for its political neutrality, and has not been at war since 1815.

Something to do in every city

 

Zürich – The biggest city in Switzerland, Zürich was also named the city with the best quality of life in the world! Zurich is famous for its beautiful lake, Zürichsee, but if you don’t want to sit on a boat you can take a walking tour through the Altstadt (old town) and take in the stunning architecture, history and culture. There’s also lots of art museums throughout the city.

 

 

Geneva – If the political side of Geneva doesn’t interest you, there are still plenty of things to do in the city. The famous Jet d’Eau fountain, which is visible from a plane, is a must see, with water being sprayed into the air at a height of 140 metres. You must choose your viewing position carefully if you don’t want to get soaked through!

 

Basel – This picturesque city located on the Rhine river is on the very edge of Switzerland – its airport is in fact shared with France. A great way to see the city is to climb to the top of Basel Munster, which overlooks the river, bridges and courtyards. A short boat ride across the Rhine is also a must – the boat is only powered by the current of the water.

You can find out more about Switzerland’s cities, culture and languages on myswitzerland.com!