SWITZERLAND

Katherine Coto Calvo

Switzerland is officially known as the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in Central Europe, is a federal republic of 26 states called cantons. Berne is the seat of the federal authorities, [a] while the country's financial centers are located in the cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world

History The oldest human remains exist in Switzerland date

back about 150,000 years ago.The oldest known tribes in the area belong to the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures.

  In the early Middle Ages, from the fourth century, the western part of present-day Switzerland was part of the territory of the Kingdom of Burgundy. The Alemanni settled the Swiss plateau Swiss territory being divided between the kingdoms of Burgundy and Alemannia.

Under the reign of Charlemagne, the Frankish Empire was divided in the Treaty of Verdun., The territory of modern Switzerland was divided between France and France Middle East until it was unified by the Holy Roman Empire in the eleventh century

Languages

Switzerland lies at the crossroads of some of the great European cultures, which have strongly influenced the language and culture. Switzerland has four official languages: German, Romansh, French and Italian  Learn another national language is compulsory for all Swiss school, so it is assumed that most Swiss are bilingual.

Culture

A region will have a closer cultural connection with the neighboring country that shares its language.

Many mountain areas are highly connected with the cultures of winter sports and hiking in summer, some areas have a culture of entertainment to attract tourists, even in spring and summer, quieter seasons, when fewer visitors and more Swiss presence. A traditional culture of farms and crops also prevalent in some areas and small farms are still omnipresent in the outskirts of cities.

  The folk art is kept alive by various organizations located throughout the country, which promotes music, dance, poetry, wood carving and embroidery. The trunk of the Alps, a [(horn)] made of wood, along with the yodeling and accordion, have become the international symbol of traditional Swiss music

The trunk of the Alps

Gastronomy

Switzerland's cuisine is multifaceted. While some dishes such as fondue, raclette or rösti are present in every kitchen in the country, each region developed its own cuisine, culinary each zone coinciding with the different language areasThe chocolate is manufactured in Switzerland since the eighteenth century, but gained his reputation in the late nineteenth centuryThe wine, mostly white, mostly occurs in Valais, Vaud, Geneva and Ticino. The vineyards have existed in the area since Roman times and even found remains that may date to earlier dates.

Places

Bern Bern is the capital and center of political power where we found Heiliggeist church, a Baroque building dating from 1726; the Markgasse, the historic main street, the Käfigturm or Tower of Prisoners, the Clock Tower which was west gate of the old town, the Bundeshaus or Federal Parliament, the Cathedral of San Vicente, Gothic, the Nydegg bridge, which crosses the Aare and offers a magnificent view over the houses built on the bend of the river, the Fine Arts Museum or the Botanical Gardens.

Clock Tower

Heilig Geist church

Cathedral of St Vincent

Lucerne

Lucerne is situated on the edge of Lake Lucerne in a really beautiful place. The most characteristic is the Chapel Bridge, The Altes Rathaus, the Old Town Hall, Hirschenplatz, the Weinmarkt, a square in the heart of historic painted houses, the bridge Spreuer the Regierungsgebäude, a Florentine-style palace

Kapellbrücke

Weinmarkt

Lausanne

Palud Square, the Gothic cathedral, the tower, the palace of Rumine

Lake Leman

The two main cities are Geneva Lake Geneva and Lausanne. However, there are many other small towns and even sites that deserve a close look.

Tour the lake and is in itself a pleasure.

The Bernese Oberland

This is surely the most spectacular alpine region in Switzerland. The legendary Eiger mountain, a challenge for climbers, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, are in this territory