24 Incredible and Fun Facts About Switzerland

Have you had Switzerland sitting on your bucket record for some time now? Would you wish to study some fascinating information about Switzerland so you will get much more enthusiastic about visiting this distinctive nation? Well, we’ve bought you lined. Read on for Switzerland information that can make you e book your ticket to this nation of the excessive Alps instantly. 

Interesting Switzerland Facts

Switzerland is a wonderful nation positioned in central Europe with unbelievable alpine vistas, world-class cities, and towering mountains. These enjoyable information about Switzerland will enable you to perceive extra about this tiny nation in Western Europe that although it’s small, packs an enormous punch.

1. Switzerland Was Neutral in Both World Wars

This is a widely known truth about Switzerland. It’s a impartial nation in multiple approach. Not solely did it not take part in each World War I and World War II, however even now, every time it involves political affiliations and conflicts, Switzerland likes to face off to the aspect, not leaning in the direction of any specific faction. 

You would possibly assume that is commendable as a result of it implies that it favors peace over battle, otherwise you would possibly assume it’s ridiculous as a result of a strong nation like Switzerland may have a whole lot of clout in world affairs. Either approach, that is how the Swiss love to do issues.

2. Humanitarian Tradition

Switzerland is famously impartial, a coverage that dates again to the Treaty of Paris in 1815. Since then, it has maintained a coverage of non-participation in armed conflicts and provides its companies for peace-building processes worldwide.

The nation is residence to the International Red Cross and hosts quite a few worldwide organizations, together with the European headquarters of the United Nations. This humanitarian custom and dedication to diplomacy proceed to form Switzerland’s worldwide standing.

3. One of Two Countries within the World With a Square Flag

Alright, so that is genuinely out-of-the-box pondering. Who would have thought it was acceptable to have a sq. flag? Well, the Swiss did it. The solely different nation to have a sq. flag is Vatican City.

Interestingly, the Swiss flag is one among solely two sovereign state flags which can be sq.. The different is the flag of the Vatican City. The ratio of the cross arms within the Swiss flag is 7:6:7 (vertical) and 6:7:6 (horizontal), the place the cross bars are shorter than the arms.

Switzerland’s flag appears to be like like this: a sq. purple field with a white cross inside it. It appears rather a lot just like the Red Cross image, doesn’t it? Today, the Swiss flag stands as an emblem of the nation’s unity, neutrality, and dedication to democracy and peace. It’s extensively used and revered, each inside Switzerland and world wide.

4. Switzerland Has More Banks Than Dentists?

Another undeniable fact that’s recognized worldwide about Switzerland is that wealthy individuals with cash that they want to disguise from tax companies, spouses, or anybody else, select banks in Switzerland to take action. This is as a result of as soon as your cash is securely positioned in a Swiss financial institution, you possibly can relaxation assured that they are going to by no means disclose this data to anybody who comes asking.

There are much more banks in Switzerland than dentists, which is sort of a humorous factor. Also, financial institution tellers in Switzerland are protected by the bulletproof glass!

5. The Biggest Nuclear Bunker within the World Lucerne

Switzerland is well-prepared for any sort of nuclear catastrophe as it might home all of its inhabitants in nuclear bunkers if the necessity arises. The largest nuclear shelter on the planet, the Sonnenberg Tunnel, which might accommodate 20,000 individuals for an prolonged interval, is in Switzerland.

It looks like the perfect place on the planet to settle in through the subsequent main battle can be Switzerland, by far. 

6. Highest Minimum Wage within the World

Geneva (not the capital of Switzerland regardless of common pondering) is residence to many rich individuals. Still, it additionally homes many minimal wage staff, like resort staff, servers, cleaners, hairdressers, and extra.

That’s why on the finish of 2020, a brand new hourly price of 23 Swiss francs was instigated in Geneva. If you’re questioning, that’s equal to £19, $25, or €22.

This would give a minimal month-to-month wage of 4000 francs. This is to make sure that individuals in working-class positions can nonetheless afford to dwell in Switzerland with out working themselves to the bone. The United States and different nations may study from this mandate. 

7. Want to Become a Citizen of Switzerland?

If you already assume that Switzerland appears like an awesome place to dwell in, it’s true. Switzerland has been dubbed the ‘best place to be born’ by a current quality-of-life index. It’s no marvel why.

But when you want to develop into a citizen of Switzerland, you’ll need to dwell within the nation for 12 years minimal earlier than you possibly can even apply. So take into consideration that the subsequent time you want to relocate to a different nation.

8. Luxury Watches by Swiss Watchmakers

Are you a luxurious watch lover? Maybe you have got one or two already, or possibly you similar to admiring them from far? Either approach, half the luxurious watch manufacturers like Tissot, TAG Heuer, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Longines are all Swiss!

Kudos to Swiss watchmakers, who’ve made watchmaking into such an artwork type that folks pay a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} for it. Here’s an fascinating truth about Swiss watchmaking: the primary waterproof watch was invented by Rolex in 1927 in Switzerland. Cool, proper?

9. Switzerland Is Entirely Landlocked

You would possibly assume that the Swiss panorama with quite a few pristine lakes, rolling countrysides and villages, and the excessive peaks of the Switzerland Alps appears like the right panorama. And you’ll be appropriate! Read extra adventures in Switzerland at 5 Lakes Hike Zermatt – Incredible Matterhorn Views

There’s just one factor that will be lacking on this magnificent nation: an ocean view. Switzerland is landlocked, which means that it has no entry to the shoreline in any respect. It’s bordered by 5 nations: France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy.

10. High Gun Ownership, Low Murder Rate

Another factor the world may study from Switzerland is the peaceable nature of its residents. Even although nearly half the inhabitants possesses weapons for security, safety, and protection, the homicide price is ridiculously low. Compared to the 5 per 100,000 within the United States, Switzerland solely has 0.5 murders per 100,000 individuals.

11. Military Service Is Mandatory

Interestingly sufficient, Switzerland is among the previous few European nations to have necessary navy service nonetheless in its routine. Every male Swiss citizen over the age of 18 has to serve within the Swiss military. Regular refresher programs happen till age 44, and feminine Swiss residents can volunteer to serve within the navy if they need.

And, here’s a enjoyable Swiss Fact, the Swiss navy has artillery bunkers proper in the midst of Swiss villages disguised as houses. We by no means noticed this, however we hear that they’re there.

12. Switzerland Has Strict Pet Ownership Laws

Switzerland is an animal loving nation. To keep away from animal cruelty, Switzerland has stringent pet possession legal guidelines, together with the pairing regulation. This regulation says that you simply can’t have solely one of many social animals, like a guinea pig, mouse, or fish, as a result of that’s too lonesome and unhappy. 

In addition, animals might be represented by legal professionals in courtroom in case of mistreatment or different cruelty.

13. The Hadron Collider Sits Near Geneva

Have you heard of the Hadron Collider? It’s the world’s largest and strongest particle accelerator (collider) and was constructed by the European Organization for nuclear analysis between 1998 and 2008. More than 10,000 scientists from greater than 100 nations and a whole bunch of universities collaborated to create this particle physics laboratory. It sits in a 27-km lengthy tunnel close to town of Geneva. How superior is that!

14. Switzerland’s Gotthard Tunnel

Speaking of tunnels, Switzerlan’ds Gotthard tunnel is the longest tunnel on the planet.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is a feat of contemporary engineering and holds the title for being the longest railway tunnel on the planet. The tunnel stretches a staggering 57.1 kilometers (about 35.5 miles) and is located greater than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) below the peaks of the Swiss Alps.

The concept for the tunnel was born out of the necessity to enhance the transport of products throughout the Alps and to shift alpine visitors from highway to rail, thus contributing to environmental safety efforts. Construction started in 1996 and it took practically 20 years of labor earlier than the tunnel was formally opened on June 1, 2016.

The tunnel connects the municipalities of Erstfeld within the north and Bodio within the south. It is an important a part of the New Railway Link by way of the Alps (NRLA), which additionally consists of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel and the under-construction Ceneri Base Tunnel.

15. Four Official Languages in Switzerland

If you thought studying one language was onerous sufficient, take into consideration poor Swiss residents who need to abide by 4 official languages: French, Romansh, German, and Italian. But, no less than when you really feel you’d like to speak with the locals, you have got many choices to select from. The most generally spoken language is Swiss German whereas Italian is spoken principally within the south and French within the West.

16. Don’t Forget About the Swiss Army Knife

Another nice invention by the Swiss, Karl Elsener, must be the Swiss Army Knife, dubbed the “world’s smallest toolbox.” You wouldn’t need to go tenting or into the wilderness with out one. There are 4 totally different fashions, and they’ll have a barometer, altimeter, and even a USB reminiscence card.

17. Lots of Activities Are Prohibited on Sundays

Weirdly sufficient, Sundays are fairly sacred in Switzerland, and many actions are prohibited by regulation on Sundays. These embrace issues like mowing the garden, hanging out the laundry, and extra. Any sort of noisy DIY shouldn’t be permitted on Sundays.

Also, this is applicable to weekdays from 2200 to 0600 as nicely. This is nice information for any mild sleepers on the market. If you get irritated when your neighbors have loud events at night time or on the weekends, then transfer or journey to Switzerland and sleep restfully by way of the night time.

18. The Swiss Are All About Cheese and Chocolate

The Swiss love Swiss chocolate and Swiss cheese. Where would the world be with out them? Not solely does Switzerland produce large portions of Swiss chocolate, however it additionally exports a whole lot of it overseas, 122,000 tonnes of it in 2018. 

Also, the Swiss love their cheese, and indulging in cheese fondue is one among their favourite pastimes. So although Switzerland is a good nation to dwell in for a lot of causes, their cheese and chocolate obsession has to high the record of why everybody ought to take into consideration transferring to Switzerland asap. 

19. Switzerland Geography and Nature

Switzerland is formally often known as the Swiss Confederation. But it goes by just a few names together with La Suisse, Die Schweiz and right here is among the fascinating enjoyable information we didn’t know, Switzerland’s web code area, ch, comes from its Latin identify, Confoederatio Helvetica.

Switzerland is a landlocked nation positioned within the coronary heart of Europe. Sharing its borders with 5 nations: France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria, and Liechtenstein to the east, and Italy to the south, Switzerland shouldn’t be part of the European Union.

20. The Alps

The Swiss panorama is dominated by the Swiss Alps, a mountain vary that spans throughout the southern a part of the nation, accounting for about 60% of Switzerland’s complete land space. The Alps are residence to a few of Europe’s highest peaks; the Dufourspitze within the Monte Rosa massif stands as Switzerland’s tallest at 4,634 meters. These majestic peaks function a haven for winter sports activities fanatics, with well-known ski resorts like Zermatt, Verbier, and St. Moritz attracting guests from across the globe.

The remaining land consists of the Swiss Plateau, the place nearly all of the inhabitants resides, and the Jura Mountains to the north. The nation is wealthy in pure magnificence, from the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, to Lake Geneva, one of many largest lakes in Western Europe.

21. Swiss Economy and Innovation

Switzerland is among the wealthiest nations globally and has a extremely developed economic system. It is internationally acknowledged for its excessive lifestyle, high quality of life, and glorious infrastructure. The nation’s economic system is characterised by its stability, high-tech manufacturing sector, and robust service sector.

Besides its watchmaking business, chocolate, and cheese, Switzerland is a powerhouse within the monetary sector. It is residence to giant multinational companies, together with Nestle, Novartis, and UBS, and is understood for its banking business and robust privateness legal guidelines, though transparency has elevated in recent times.

In phrases of innovation, Switzerland is a world chief, particularly in sectors like prescription drugs, medical expertise, and environmental expertise. It is among the nations with the best variety of patent functions per capita, reflecting its robust tradition of analysis and improvement.

22. Swiss Culture and Languages

Switzerland is a rustic of cultural range, largely as a result of its geographical location and political construction. The nation is split into 26 cantons, every with a excessive diploma of autonomy, and 4 official languages are spoken: The nationwide languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh, every representing totally different cultural areas inside the nation. Switzerland’s most populated canton is Zürich and the the least populated is Appenzell Innerrhode.

The Swiss individuals are culturally and linguistically numerous. Swiss Germans, for example, have traditions just like the colourful Fasnacht Spring Carnival in Basel, whereas the French-speaking Swiss have fun the annual Cow Parade within the Alps. Italian affect might be seen within the structure and delicacies of the canton of Ticino.

Despite its range, Switzerland can also be recognized for its sense of unity and widespread identification. The idea of “Willensnation”, a nation by will, is usually used to explain this cohesion, whereby numerous linguistic and cultural communities dwell collectively peacefully below a single political system.

23. Switzerland Education and Research

Switzerland takes satisfaction in its high-quality training system and is residence to among the world’s top-ranked universities, like ETH Zurich and EPFL. The nation additionally hosts world-renowned analysis establishments and is a world chief in scientific analysis.

From the breathtaking great thing about the Swiss Alps to the nation’s spectacular economic system and wealthy cultural range, Switzerland’s information reveal a nation that, regardless of its small dimension, has a big impression on a world scale.

The capital metropolis of Switzerland is Bern. This lovely Swiss Capital has a UNESCO World Heritage-listed previous city.

24. Fun Swiss Sports

The Swiss are an energetic bunch of individuals and plainly everyone seems to be at all times outdoor. Here are some enjoyable Swiss information about sports activities.

Switzerland has produced some world-class tennis gamers. Martina Hingis, the most effective feminine gamers of all time, was born in Slovakia however turned a Swiss citizen. Swiss males’s tennis has additionally been dominated by two main gamers: Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, each of whom have received a number of Grand Slam titles.

Switzerland is residence to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC, established by Pierre de Coubertin, is positioned in Lausanne, and Switzerland typically hosts varied winter Olympic disciplines.

Swiss Wrestling (Schwingen) is a conventional Swiss sport, just like sumo wrestling. The rivals put on particular shorts made from jute over their garments and try to throw their opponent onto their again. The largest Schwingen occasion, the Federal Alpine Wrestling Festival, takes place each three years and attracts giant crowds.

Cycling is each a well-liked pastime and a aggressive sport in Switzerland. The nation has produced some glorious cyclists and frequently hosts levels of the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.

25. Facts About Switzerland: Population and Demographics

There are much more information about Switzerland to study and peruse. But, as with all different place globally, the one option to truthfully know a rustic is by dwelling in it–or no less than visiting for an prolonged interval. Here are some quick information about Switzerland to go away you with.

Switzerland is small. It is barely 41,285 km² concerning the dimension of New Jersey or the scale of ew Hampshire and Vermont mixed

Switzerland’s inhabitants is 8.63 million individuals

25% of Switzerland’s inhabitants is made up of overseas residents, half being from France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal

Are you looking for your subsequent journey spot and feeling confused about all of the choices? Consider Switzerland!

Read our weblog publish on the 23 Exciting Things to Do in Zermatt, Switzerland’, and get enthusiastic about this nation’s jewel. There are many issues to discover on this nation and you may be stunned by what you uncover within the Switzerland Alps.