Any Travels

Located in central Europe, Switzerland is bordered by Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and France. A small country, Switzerland's very name conjures up images of chocolates, cheese, watches, bankers, and snow-capped mountains.

Switzerland was inhabited by a Celtic tribe called Helvetia in the ancient times. It became a part of the Holy Roman Empire in AD 1032 but soon succumbed to the mighty Habsburgs of Germany. The death of the Habsburg ruler Rudolf I in AD 1291 led to the formation of the Swiss Confederation. Switzerland was declared a neutral state following the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 and was accorded permanent neutrality in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna. A new federal constitution came into force in 1848 and Bern became the capital city. The Swiss remained neutral in both the World Wars.

The picturesque city of Zurich , located on the banks of the Limmat River, is the intellectual and cultural capital of Switzerland and the hub of tourist activity. The 13th-century St. Peter's Church and the Fraum Church are two important sights. An evening walk along the banks of Lake Zurich the alleys of the old town will cover almost all the attractions of the city.

On the banks of the River Rhone is Geneva , a city that houses over 200 international organisations. The ropeway journey to Mont Saleve offers a breathtaking view of the entire city. The Cathedral St Pierre, Place du Bourg-de-Four, Museum of Art and History, Petit Palais, Museum of Old Musical Instruments, and the Horology Museum are some attractions of Geneva . The three different parts (French speaking, German speaking and Italian speaking) of the country all have a very distinct atmosphere which makes it an adventure to explore. Switzerland is nature's playground and offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. The Alps and the Jura slopes are great places for skiing. Hiking, mountaineering and ski mountaineering, paragliding and hang-gliding, water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, rafting, and canoeing are some of the outdoor activities that you can undertake in Switzerland.

Since Switzerland is in the middle of the Alps outdoor opportunities like hiking or skiing are better than anywhere else. Only one drawback: it's not the cheapest of places to stay.

Events
February is carnival time, or Fasnacht, in many towns, but Basel really funks it up with elaborate parades beginning at a bleary 4am. In the lower Valais, from March to October, cows battle it out in the Combat de Reines (cow fighting) to see which beast is most suited to lead the herd up to the summer pastures. The world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in July. National Day (August 1) is celebrated with fireworks throughout the country, and Swiss wrestling in the Emmenthal area east of Bern. On the fourth Monday in November, Bern hosts its famous Onion Market (Zibelmarit), where traders take over the whole town centre and many a tear is shed.