Switzerland Vacations

A traditional pastoral culture exists across the country, and folk art, decorative traditional costumes, and traditional music still rings high in the mountains. The alphorn, a trumpet-like instrument, as well as yodelling, and the accordion are still popular.

The culture of Switzerland revolves heavily around its mountains.

The Jungfrau Region is the quintessential Swiss spot in the mountains. The alpine scenery is simply breathtaking, with peaks dotted with ski resorts and beautiful lakes. Railway journeys on a cogwheel train takes you to the highest elevation railway station in Europe. On clear days from here you can see the Vosges Mountains in France, and the Black Forest in Germany.

Zermatt is a car-free mountain city and a major resort with old-world charm. And it’s a stepping off point for the Matterhorn, which hangs above like a great mountain cathedral. The area has a 350 kilometre trail system, and offers year-round skiing good for everyone, including beginners and children. The area is also famous for its apres-ski with amazing bars and restaurants, live music, and spa and wellness centres.

The Matterhorn, one of Europe’s most magical mountains, is shaped like a pyramid with four faces. It has regular avalanches that send snow down to accumulate on the glaciers at the base of each face. 

Explore the Jungfrau region and visit Thun and Brienze lakes — travel between them will bring you through a valley with rock faces and mountain peaks, thundering waterfalls and meadowlands. The region has 7 glaciers and 29 peaks

The Kambly factory is in the town of Trubschachen in the Emmental Valley. It’s home to some of the tastiest biscuits in Switzerland – maybe the world – and a stop at the Kambly Experience will teach you about the history and give you a look over the shoulders of the Kambly Master Confectioners as they create delicious sweet specialties by hand. Try delicate and crunchy almond rolls, and hazelnut biscuits filled with chocolate creme. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

Interlaken is the captivating capital of Switzerland’s beautiful Bernese Oberland and is a delightful resort surrounded by the crystal-clear lakes of Thun and Brienz – it’s also a great place to get a Swiss watch. Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Tissot and Swatch are all Swiss companies.

Switzerland has an extensive network of public transport, which will take you to all remote areas and big nooks where you’ll find alpine adventures abound.

The country is a prime destination for both summer and winter trips. Imagine waking up to the sound of cowbells and looking out in the morning at views of majestic mountain ranges and shimmering blue lakes. Summer is the perfect time to be anywhere in the country, when the weather is temperate and not too hot.

The Schaffhausen Rhine Falls in the north next to the banks of the Rhine River are the largest waterfalls in Europe. The sheer size is mesmerizing. In the middle of the falls stands a large rock that has withstood the elements for thousands of years. The rock can be reached on a tour of the falls where you can observe the natural spectacle up close.

The Trummelbach Falls are near Lauterbrunnen in the Jungfrau region. 10 individual falls here are a result of melting snow from the three high mountains surrounding Lauterbrunnen. The underground parts of the falls are illuminated and are reached by elevator inside the mountain. These are the world’s only underground glacier waterfalls that are accessible by elevator.

If you prefer a white look outside the window with snowy landscapes, winter is an amazingly joyful wonderland and there are lots of snowfalls from mid December until mid-April. Come in January and February for guaranteed perfect snow conditions.

Winter sports do well in Switzerland. It’s a haven for skiers with numerous ski resorts to choose from. Davos/Klosters together is one of the largest and highest ski resorts in Europe offering 300 kilometres of ski runs aimed mainly at the intermediate level. Davos is home to some sophisticated and upscale hotels and restaurants like the AlpenGold Hotel and Hotel Fluela. Davos, like most ski resorts across the country, comes complete with wellness centres and opportunities for post-exercise activities like relaxing in your best cozy clothes, or to head out for a fancy dinner.

One of the oldest and most famous winter sports resorts is St. Moritz. The Winter Olympics have been held here twice. The ski jump and slopes are frequently the sites of world ski events, and those of all skiing levels and abilities will feel comfortable here. Also check out the skating rinks, tobogganing, Nordic skiing, and bobsledding available on the mountain here.

Julius Caesar invaded in 58 BC. The Romans stayed until 400 AD when the German Alemanni Tribe kicked them out, and the Burgundians kicked out the Germans after that, then the Franks, then Charlemagne and then the Germanic Holy Roman Empire. A Swiss Confederation began in 1291 and for 200 years fought fiercely against military attacks. It was finally granted independence from Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian in 1499.

The Thirty Years’ War was the result of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. It was a brutal war incredibly destructive to Central Europe. Unable to choose between Catholic and Protestant sides, Switzerland declared itself neutral.

In 1798 the French invaded Switzerland. Much internal fighting forced Napoleon to bring back cantons (administrative subdivisions) in 1805. When Napoleon was defeated in 1815, the Congress of Vienna guaranteed Swiss independence and neutrality.

Civil war broke out in Switzerland in 1847 between the Protestant army and Catholic cantons. It only lasted 26 days but brought a new federal constitution and the city of Bern was named the capital. In the second half of the 19th century railways and roads were constructed, skilled labourers formed guilds, and tourism was heavily promoted. In 1863, Henri Dunant founded the International Red Cross in Geneva.

When the First World War struck Europe, the Swiss maintained their neutrality, only contributing to Red Cross units. Following the war, they joined the League of Nations but without military involvement. A general strike in 1918 helped establish the progressive social state that exists today.

The Swiss were not involved in the Second World War, and remained stable in its aftermath. Zurich established itself as an international banking centre and Geneva became an important sport for many international organizations such as the World Health Organization. Initially prohibited  from joining the UN because of its neutrality, Switzerland became the 190th member of the UN in 2002.

The cuisine of Switzerland incorporates lots of cheese, potatoes, and various meats that reflect the country’s pastoral nature. Cheese is a big part of Swiss culture. Though there are more than 450 varieties, cheese is still not mass-produced. It’s made by hundreds of dairies with strict rules and regulations. Nearly half of the milk produced in Switzerland gets turned into cheese. 

Fondue is a dish that originated in the Swiss Alps. It uses Emmentaler – the classic Swiss cheese with holes created when bacteria produces carbon dioxide in the cheesemaking process – or Gruyere cheese. This is mixed with other local cheeses, melted over a portable stove with a splash of white wine, and bread cubes are served with it for dipping. There’s a nice communal feel to sharing a pot of cheese, a tradition that goes back a long time.

Raclette is a type of cheese, and also a dish. The dish includes a block of raclette cheese heated in front of a fire and once it starts to soften, it’s scraped onto a plate. Pasteti is a Swiss meat pie with different fillings. Mushrooms and meat is a popular version cooked in a creamy sauce, and traditionally served with rice and peas.

Rosti are crispy potatoes, sort of like hash-browns, and are a Swiss classic that started as a farmer’s breakfast on the hills of the Plateau. A popular Zurich meal is Zurcher Geschnetzeltes, sliced veal in a cream and mushroom sauce. Rippli are pork ribs popular in Bern, and served with bacon and potatoes.

Alpermagronen is a type of gratin made with potatoes, pasta, cheese, cream, and onions. It’s usually served with apples as an accompaniment, and this dish is also known as Alpine macaroni – hearty and comforting.

Swiss chocolate has been made since the 17th century.  Milk chocolate is especially popular. It was invented by Daniel Peter when he combined chocolate with Henri Nestle’s condensed milk in 1875. Major brands are Lindt, Toblerone, and Nestle. Switzerland itself remains one of the world’s top consumers of chocolate per capita.

Beer is a popular drink in Switzerland, with good lagers and dark beers. Most of the wines produced in Switzerland tend to be white, however, there are other good varieties in the country too, as there are vineyards that have been cultivated since the Roman era.

Absinthe, a potent green spirit traditionally served with a sugar cube and water, is also a local favourite.

Tipping not expected but rounding up on a bill is a common practice.