Switzerland General Information

Swiss Events

photo of Cervin, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism BoardPopular events, some serious, some merry, take place all year round. Secular and religious celebrations punctuate the calendar in a colorful succession. Festivals of every kind fill the year. From August 1, Swiss Independence Day, and a time for speeches, lantern-lit processions, fireworks and bonfires high in the Alps to Sechseläuten, Zurich spring festival during which “old man winter” is consumed by hot flames or Carnival, celebrated all over Switzerland with colorful parades, masks and costumes. There are International festivals of film and music organized through the year - indoors or under the open sky, as well as celebrations of old traditions, like stone and flag throwing, Hornussen, a unique Swiss sport, cow fights for the spring return of cows to alpine pastures, marked by feasts, dancing and blowing of three-meter-long alphorns and, of course, yodeling contests.

The Swiss seem to be born innkeepers. They come by their food consciousness naturally, living in a land full of regional specialties, flavored by German, French and Italian influences. To the north, you may enjoy the Bernese sauerkraut dinner of bacon, sausage, ham, potatoes, green beans and rosti (the nonpareil rendition of hashed potatoes). In the neighboring French-influenced area, the renowned Emmental, Gruyere and Vacherin cheeses melt together, with a spiking of kirsch, to become fondue, dipped out of the pot on cubes of bread. The Valais is the region of raclette cheese in its wheel, the surface melted, scraped off and eaten with potatoes and tart cornichons. In the Grisons, a specialty is bundnerfleisch, paper-thin sliced beef, dried in the mountain sun and air. On the Italian side, you’ll find risotto and salami. Swiss wines are best when new and when ordered in.

Geneva

photo of a hotel in Geneva, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism BoardGeneva is probably the smallest metropolis in the world, characterized by its international population, United Nations HQ and Red Cross HQ. Since Julius Caesar made it a border post in 58 BC, Geneva has been a a traditional meeting place and counts today about 400′000 inhabitants coming from 157 different nations. Once place of refuge for Protestants persecuted in their own countries, in 1863 it became the birthplace of the Red Cross and in 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson decided to install the headquarters of the League of Nations here.

The town is situated in an unspoilt natural landscape along the shores of lake Leman, sheltered by the Alps and the Jura Mountains. With its over 30 museums its numerous art galleries as well as its theatres and its opera where famous international artists perform, Geneva is also an important cultural center.

Any visitor discovering Geneva for the first time, will certainly be fascinated by the Jet d’Eau, the water-fountain in the lake. This is a 140 meters high water monument, sort of an exclamation mark dominating the roadstead. A white column, constantly moving, mounting rapidly into the sky and then falling down again in millions of drops as a curtain with thousands of constantly renewed folds.

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