Switzerland

Europe
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy.

47 00 N, 8 00 E

One for all, all for one
President Micheline Calmy-Rey

Capital
Zurich

Government
Federal republic, with parliamentary system and direct democracy

Religion
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%.

Population
7,623,438

Ethnic group
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%.

National Language                   
German,French,Italian
          
National Day
1 August 1291

Anthem
"Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer"

Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)

Attractions
Bern Old City,  Chillon Chateau,  Fribourg Old Town,  Gstaad
Jungfrau Cog Railway, Lucerne Covered Bridges,  Matterhorn,  Palace of Nations,  Thun Castle 

 

Website      

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Chillon Castle           The Château de Chillon (Chillon Castle) is located on the shore of Lake Léman in the commune of Veytaux, at the eastern end of the lake, 3 km from Montreux, Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 independent buildings that were gradually connected to become the building as it stands now. The oldest parts of the castle have not been definitively dated, but the first written record of the castle is in 1160 or 1005. From the mid 12th century, the castle was home to the Counts of Savoy, and it was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Pietro II. The Castle was never taken in a siege, but did change hands through treaties. It was made popular by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon (1816) about François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned there from 1530 to 1536; Byron also carved his name on a pillar of the dungeon. The castle is one of the settings in Henry James's novella Daisy Miller (1878). The history of Chillon was influenced by 3 major periods: the Savoy Period, the Bernese Period and the Vaudois Period.