About Switzerland
Switzerland is the breathtakingly beautiful country located in the heart of the European Continent, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. It is home to approximately 7.6 million people spread over 26 states called cantons which make up this nation. Berne would be the hub of the federal authorities, while its economic centers are located in Geneva and Zurich. Interestingly, Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world with a high per capita Gross Domestic income while its two major cities have been ranked worldwide as having the highest standard of quality of life.
Because of its high standard of living and its reputation as one of the safest countries in Europe, Switzerland is a great destination for families and independent travelers. Villa rentals and Switzerland timeshare are great alternatives to traditional vacation accommodations because they provide a much more authentic cultural experience and offer a wide array of amenities. Whether you would like to vacation in the Alps in a luxurious RCI Points resort or in the cosmopolitan region of Zürich, there are a variety of affordable options available to you.
History of Switzerland
The history of Switzerland dates back to the late from around 450BC where the La Tene culture flourished under influence from the Greek and Etruscian Empire. Later developments witness various tribal groups emerge and become part of major European Kingdoms. It became a federation in 1921 which formed the modern day Switzerland we know today.
Switzerland’s Geography
Switzerland’s location in is the Central European Time zone (CET) or Middle European Time zone (MET). With just one hour ahead of Greenwich Time (GMT+1), its daylight savings time starts in spring which spans until late fall.
Nearly 20% of the Alps are situated in Switzerland. Almost 100 peaks are close to or higher than 4000 meters above sea level. Most of these regions are developed and there are a huge number of trains, railways, cable cars gracing the mountain areas. These are hot spots for climbing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and a myriad of other exciting activity.
There are a number of lakes here, from the large Lake Geneva to hundreds of tiny lakes in the mountains. Switzerland is well irrigated by rivers that lead to three seas, the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
The western part of Switzerland is influenced much by the Atlantic Ocean. These regions are blesses with plenty of moisture from the winds that blew from the Atlantic which brings along rainfall. The eastern part of the country has much lower temperature and less precipitation. The Alps running from West the East of the country, acts as a divider. The Southern Alps region boasts of an almost Mediterranean climate with much higher temperatures but with a lot of precipitation.
The springtime of Switzerland is truly a spectacular time to visit. Wet and cool, April is known for its fast changing temperature and weather conditions. This is the time when bursts of beautiful blooms grace each and every corner of this fascinating destination. The dry speeds of the fall seasons are accompanied by a drop in temperature. Wintertime is cold and dry and temperatures will drop below 0°C anywhere in Switzerland.
Culture in Switzerland
Switzerland is rich in cultural diversity. The modern day inhabitants of Switzerland originate from different parts of the world with different cultures. Probably this is most obviously see it the language they speak, Switzerland speak four main languages German (74%), French (20%), Italian (4%) and Romansh (1%) while the remaining one percent speak some other languages.
A typical Switzerland breakfast may consist of bread and butter or margarine, marmalade, some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. Lunch can be simple as a sandwich or it can be a full course meal.
