Discover new grounds
Switzerland's cultural and geographic variety allows visitors to discover a country rich in nuances. With four official languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh), Switzerland happily welcomes travellers from all over the world who long to explore its cantons.
Land of Mountains
More than 70% of the Swiss territory is mountainous; the Alps and Pre-Alps alone cover 60% of the entire country. A paradise for hiking, mountain-climbing and skiing, impressive mountains such as Mont Rose (4,638 m or 15,216 ft) and the famous Cervin (4,478 m or 14,691 ft) dominate Switzerland's landscape. Thanks to its slender pyramid shape, the Cervin (Matterhorn) represents the perfect mountain. Several passes allow for travel to France or Italy.
The Valais, particularly the Zermatt region, features many internationally renowned ski resorts, while the Bernese Oberland is home to high-altitude ski resorts. Mountains with historic names such as Eiger and Jungfrau are exemplary of this region's alpine character.
More modest, the Pre-Alps stand north of the Alps. They stretch from Lake Léman, near France, to Lake Constance, near Germany. The Swiss Jura, divided into three zones, is located in Switzerland's northern region. Between the Alps and the Jura, the Mittelland (Plateau) is home to nearly 70% of the population.
Lakes and Cities
Switzerland, a small country with many great lakes, shares with its neighbouring countries several of the most well known lakes in Europe. Lake Léman (with France), Lake Majeur (with Italy), Lake Constance (with Germany) and Lake Neuchâtel are some of the names that evoke true romance. Cities such as Zurich, Lucerne, Zoug and Thoune are also located near bodies of fresh water.
Cities that travellers should not miss include Bern, the country's capital that has preserved its medieval appearance, and Geneva, at the western tip of Lake Léman, which is rightly nicknamed the "the smallest big city." On the northwest side of Lake Léman, Lausanne is set on three hills, while Zurich, a lively, friendly and very dynamic place, is the most populated Swiss city. Old Zurich was developed near the lake of the same name. One of the loveliest cities in the country, Lucerne is found northeast of Lake Quatre-Cantons. Gardens, murals, towers, covered bridges and old homes attract a great number of visitors. City of culture par excellence, Basel stands at the crossroads of three nations, Switzerland, France and Germany.