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| | Need to Know | Capital City Bern | | Tipping 10-15% | | Electricity 220 V | | Weights and Measurements Metric system |
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People & Language
There are four official languages on Switzerland, namely, German, French, Italian and Romansch. German is spoken in over 70% of the country, while French is the language used mostly in the southwest. Italian and Romansch are used in Ticino and Graubunden respectively.
For Anglicized explorers, however, there is no cause for panic. English is spoken widely and many signs are to be found in the language. Hotels, restaurants, shops, train stations, banks etc are sure to have some English speaking staff.
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Religion
46% of the Swiss people are Roman Catholic, while Protestant followers are a close second at 40%. Muslims, Jews and Christians constitute 6%, while people with no professed religious following figure at 10%. There is total freedom of worship in this small country
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Food
Before you substitute all your dietary supplements with Lindtt chocolate and chunks of Gruyere, let's introduce you to some of the other specialties that the Swiss kitchen has to offer.
Raclette is cheese melted over fire and served with potatoes and pickles, while Fondue is a bubbling pot of the same good stuff only flavored with garlic and kirsch served with bread.
Rostii is shredded potato sautéed until golden brown. Breads in all regions are usually of superior quality. Regional specialities in Switzerland include viande sechee from Valais. This particular dish is also popular in Grisons where it is called Bundnerfleisch. It is made from dried beef or pork meat which is cut wafer thin and served with pickled spring onions and gherkins.
Swiss sausages make for filling and cheaper "fast food" while on travel. While there is not a very wide range of tastes and flavors, the foods that do form the staple diet are hearty and sumptuous – and truly Swiss in nature.
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Culture & Crafts
Swiss culture today is truly international. Owing to its diverse historical heritage – which is a potpourri of Italian, French and German dialects and customs, the country is culturally self contained and has developed a composite Swiss identity. Swiss culture has contributed in most part in the arenas of art, literature and music.
In contemporary Switzerland, music and theatre flourish. Cultural centers like the Stradttheater Basel, Stradttheater Bern and the historic Grand Theatre du Geneve are symbols of this society’s deep commitment to the finer arts.
Swiss composers have made fine contributions to the world of music since the days of the Renaissance and continue to do so even today. In the field of folk music the Swiss invented the art of yodeling which is a kind of voiceless singing in different pitches.
Swiss artists like Paul Klee, Henry Fuseli and Conrad Witz have achieved international fame in the field of art. The architect le Corbusier whose works are revered by all students of architecture the world over is of Swiss origin. Switzerland has also been the birthplace of modern art forms like the Dada.
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Holiday Packages
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Travel Tools
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