Switzerland is home to stunning landscapes, including glittering alpine lakes and rolling valleys, making it one of the world’s most picturesque nations. Tourism is a major industry, and the country’s beautiful landscapes and thrilling outdoor activities are major draws. But the country’s cities and towns have a lot of different cultures, and the country as a whole speaks four national languages.
Located in the geographic centre of Europe, the Swiss Alps to the south and the Jura Mountains to the west serve as both physical and cultural defining features of the country. Switzerland is an affluent and peaceful country, with most of its inhabitants living in the rolling hills and wide-open pastures of the Swiss Plateau, with which it shares borders with France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. Lake Geneva, Lake Constance, and Lake Neuchatel are just a few of the biggest of more than 1,500 beautiful lakes found across the region.
It’s difficult to know where to start since each area has its own appearance, feel, and character depending on whether French, German, Italian, or Romansch is spoken there. Lausanne, Lucerne, and Lugano all lie along wonderful lakes with spectacular mountains rising all around them; the capital Bern, for example, has a great mediaeval old town to explore.
Tourists go to Zurich for its beautiful architecture and world-famous museums, and to Geneva for its magnificent Saint Peter’s Cathedral and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Interlaken is the country’s adventure sports hub, with whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, and skydiving all available, while Basel’s gorgeous old town is also well worth a visit.
In addition, tourists can ride a cable car to the peak of Mont Saleve and take in breathtaking panoramas of Mont Blanc; go skiing at the ritzy resorts of Davos and St. Moritz; or climb the mighty Matterhorn, which serves as both the national symbol and the most visited tourist attraction in all of Switzerland.
