Tour to Switzerland

The Switzerland’s Architecture

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Switzerland’s architecture has been remarkably well preserved. The country offers superb examples of Roman ruins as well as of medieval churches, monasteries, and castles.

The architecture of Switzerland has always been greatly influenced by the aesthetic development of its neighbors. As a result, it does not have a distinctive “national” style—except in its rural buildings, and perhaps its wood-sided chalets, which have been copied in mountain settings throughout the world.

Much of the country’s earliest architecture was built by the Romans. The ruins at Avenches (Helvetia’s chief town), with its once-formidable 6.4km (4-mile) circuit of walls and 10,000-seat theater, date from the 1st and 2nd centuries a.d.

Many buildings were created during the Carolingian period, including the Augustinian abbey of St. Maurice in the Valais. Considered the most ancient monastic house in Switzerland, it dates from the early 6th century. The Benedictine abbey on the island of Reichenau was launched around 725, and from the early medieval period until the 11th century it was the major cultural and educational center in the country.

Two of Switzerland’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture are the Benedictine Abbey of All Saints, at Schaffhausen (1087–1150), and the Church of St. Pierre de Clages (11th–12th c.). The style of these buildings was followed by the Romanesque-Gothic transitional style of the 12th and 13th centuries, as exemplified by the Cathedral of Chur or by the imposing, five-aisle Minster of Basel.

In the 15th century, Switzerland adopted the Gothic style, as seen in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Lausanne and the Cathedral of St. Pierre in Geneva. In 1421 the Minster of Bern was constructed in the late Gothic style, with a three-aisled, pillared basilica; no transepts were added.

With the coming of the Renaissance, there was an increased emphasis on secular buildings. The best town for viewing the architecture of this period is Murten (Morat), with its circuit of walls, fountains, and towers. During the baroque era, no mammoth public buildings were erected. Instead, domestic buildings were adorned with the ornate curves developed in Austria, Italy, and Germany. Many of the elegant town houses that give Bern its distinctive
appearance were constructed during this era.

In the 19th century, impressive mansions were built in the neoclassical style. They were mostly those of prosperous merchants eager to evince their wealth.

In the 20th century, Switzerland produced a major architect, Le Corbusier (1887–1965), whose influence extended around the world. Known for his functional approach to architecture and city planning, Le Corbusier believed in adapting a building to the climate and to the convenience of both its construction and its intended use. The majority of his most significant works were erected abroad, in Berlin, Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseille, among other cities.

The principle of functionalism is evident in Switzerland’s rural houses. Each region evolved its own style as it sought to build houses especially suited for retaining heat in the inhospitable, high-altitude Swiss climate. For example, in Appenzell, where it rains a lot, farm buildings were grouped into a single complex. And in the Emmental district, a large roof reached down to the first floor on all sides of the building.

The Switzerland's Art

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Switzerland’s museums and art collections are known throughout the world. Among them are the Public Art Collection in Basel and the Oskar Reinhart Foundation in Winterthur. Also major are the art museums of Zurich, Bern (including the Klee Foundation), and Geneva, as well as the Avegg Foundation in Bern (Riggisberg) and the Foundation Martin Bodmer (Geneva-Cologny). The Swiss National Museum in Zurich contains valuable exhibits on history and archaeology. There are also museums of church treasures and ethnological displays.

Before about the mid–1700s, the Swiss, a sober and matter-of-fact people, did not regard art with the passion that some of their neighbors did. As a consequence, Swiss painters were not as prominent as those of Italy and France. Sculpture and painting were secondary to architecture, useful only as embellishments to the major work of art, the building itself.

Among the major Swiss artists are Salomon Gessner (1730–88), who painted landscapes and mythological scenes, and Anton Graff (1736–1813), a portraitist. Johann Heinrich Füssl (1741–1825) studied in England, where he became known as Henry Fuseli; he later was appointed keeper of the Royal Academy in London. He is best remembered for his visionary painting The Nightmare.

Angelica Kauffmann (1741–1807) became the country’s most acclaimed neoclassical painter, depicting allegorical, religious, and mythological themes.

Arnold Böcklin (1827–1901) also became widely known in his time. The subjects of his paintings were either extremely light, even frivolous, or else morbidly depressing, as exemplified by his Island of the Dead.

Ferdinand Hodler (1853–1918) was one of the first really significant people to emerge within the world of Swiss art. Some critics have suggested that he “liberated” Swiss painting, making effective use of color and rhythmic tension. His works are displayed in such museums as the National Museum in Zurich and the Museum of Art and History in Geneva. His gargantuan murals, one of which depicts the Retreat of the Swiss Following the Battle of Marignano, remain among his best-known works.

During World War I, Zurich was the setting for the launching of Dadaism. This nihilistic movement, which lasted from about 1916 to 1922, was influenced by the absurdities and carnage of the war. It was based on deliberate irrationality and the rejection of laws of social organization and beauty.

The most famous artist to come out of Switzerland was Paul Klee (1879–1940). He became a member of the Blaue Reiter, the German expressionist movement, and worked at the Bauhaus in Weimar. His work is characterized by fantasy forms in line and light-toned colors. Klee also combined abstract elements with recognizable images. Among his better-known works are Mask of Fear, Man on a Tightrope, Pastorale, and The Twittering Machine.

The most distinguished sculptor to emerge from Switzerland was Alberto Giacometti (1901–66). His metal figures, as lean and elongated as figures from an El Greco painting, can be seen in museums throughout the world. After 1930, Giacometti became closely associated with the surrealist movement. His sculpture, exemplified by L’Homme qui marche (Man Walking), is said to represent “naked vulnerability.”

Another eminent sculptor, Jean Tinguely (b. 1925), became known for his kinetic sculptures, which he called “machine sculptures” or “metamechanisms.” Some of these works, including Heureka, are displayed in Zurichhorn Park in Zurich. One of Tinguely’s most controversial creations is La Vittoria, a golden phallus 7.8m long (26 ft.).

Graphic art is another area in which Swiss have distinguished themselves. Today Switzerland is a center of commercial art and advertising.

The Federal Republic of Switzerland

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Switzerland has a rich cultural life, with many fine museums, theaters, and world-renowned orchestras, but most people visit the country for its superb scenery—alpine peaks, mountain lakes, and lofty pastures. As important as Geneva, Zurich, St. Moritz, and other obvious tourist centers are, they do not convey the full splendors of Switzerland. To experience these, you must venture deep into William Tell country, into the heart of Switzerland.

The Federal Republic of Switzerland covers 41,287 sq. km (15,941 sq. miles). It has four recognized national languages—German, French, Italian, and Romansh, a romance dialect. Many of its people, however, speak English, especially in the major tourist regions. You will find the Swiss hospitable, restrained, and peace loving. Switzerland’s neutrality allowed it to avoid the wars that devastated its neighbors twice in the past century. It also enabled it to achieve financial stability and prosperity.

Switzerland occupies a position on the “rooftop” of the continent of Europe, with the drainage of its mammoth alpine glaciers serving as the source of such powerful rivers as the Rhine and the Rhône. The appellation “crossroads of Europe” is fitting, as all rail lines, road passes, and mountain tunnels seem to lead to Switzerland. From the time when the Romans crossed the Alps and traversed Helvetia (the ancient name for part of today’s Switzerland) on their way to conquests in the north, the major route connecting northern and southern Europe has been through Switzerland. The country’s ancient roads and paths were eventually developed into modern highways and railroad lines.

The main European route for east-west travel also passes through Switzerland, between Lake Constance and Geneva, and intercontinental airports connect the country with cities all over the world. London and Paris, for instance, are less than 2 hours away by air. The tourist industry as we know it started in Switzerland, and the tradition of welcoming visitors is firmly entrenched in Swiss life. The first modern tourists, the British, began to arrive “on holiday” in the 19th century, and other Europeans, as well as a scattering of North Americans, followed suit.

Today, the “nation of hotel keepers” hosts some 20 million visitors every year. Swiss catering, based on many years of experience, has gained a worldwide reputation, and the entire country is known for its efficiency and its cleanliness.

Don’t be misled. A visit to Switzerland is not tantamount to a visit to paradise. Even in the well-ordered and immaculate city of Zurich, there are drug addicts and the homeless wander its streets, although not in the vast numbers found in most of the world’s capitals.

Readers often comment on the reserve of the Swiss. The locals don’t necessarily rush to embrace you, as they are, for the most part, a conservative people. Even if they don’t have the spontaneity more associated with their southern neighbor, Italy, they will most often welcome you politely and provide you with a good bed and a good meal for the night—for which they’ll charge a good price! Few people return from Switzerland commenting on how cheap it is. However, good value is to be found there by those who seek it out, and the Swiss probably have fewer “tourist traps” than most of the top 10 major tourist destinations of the world.

The Swiss National Park

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The Swiss National Park (German: Schweizerischer Nationalpark; French: Parc National Suisse; Italian: Parco Nazionale Svizzero; Romansh: Parc Naziunal Svizzer) is located in the east of Switzerland between Zernez, S-chanf, Scuol and the Fuorn Pass in the Engadin valley. As of 2009, it is the only National Park in Switzerland, though there are plans to create more. It has an area of 174.2 km² and is the largest protected area of the country. It was founded on 1 August 1914, the national holiday of Switzerland. It was one of the earliest national parks in Europe. In the park, one is not allowed to leave the road, make fire or sleep outside the Chamanna Cluozza, the mountain hut located in the park. It is also forbidden to disturb the animals or the plants, or to take home anything found in the park. Dogs are not allowed, not even on a leash.

A visitor centre is located in Zernez. The official website is here.

The Graubünden or Grisons Canton

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Graubünden or Grisons (German: Graubünden, [ɡʁaʊˈbʏndən] ; Swiss German: Graubünda; Italian: Grigioni [ɡɾiˈdʒoni]; Romansh: Grischun [ɡɾiˈʒun]) is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland adjoining Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein . The name Graubünden translates as "Grey Leagues," referring to the canton's origin in three local alliances, the League of God's House, the Grey League, and the League of Ten Jurisdictions.

The area of the canton is 7,105.2 square kilometers (2,743.3 sq mi). Only about a third of this is commonly regarded as productive land. Forests cover about a fifth of the total area. The canton is almost entirely mountainous, comprising the highlands of the Rhine and Inn river valleys. Many of its scenic areas are part of the Swiss National Park or the Ela Nature Park. Additionally, the some of the mountains were formed as part of the thrust fault that was declared a geologic UNESCO world heritage site, under the name Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, in 2008.

There are many significant elevations in the Grison Alps, including the Tödi at 3,614 meters (11,857 ft) and the highest peak Piz Bernina at 4,049 meters (13,284 ft). Many of the mountain ranges feature extensive glaciers, such as at the Adula, the Albula, the Silvretta, the Bernina, the Bregaglia and the Rätikon ranges. The mountain ranges in the central area are very deep, some of which are considered the deepest valleys in Europe. These valleys were originally settled by the Raetians (Rhaeti).

The canton borders on Liechtenstein to the north, Austria to the north and the east, Italy to the south and southeast, and the cantons of St. Gallen to the northwest, Canton of Glarus, Uri to the west, and Ticino to the southwest. The capital city is Chur. The world-famous resorts of Davos, Klosters and St. Moritz are located in the canton, as are the towns of Arosa, Flims, Laax, Pontresina, Scuol and Sils.

Mount Pilatus

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Mount Pilatus overlooks Lucerne and the surrounding lakes and towns. Enjoy a slow cog-wheel train ride up the steep hill side. Watch as the grass gradually becomes snow covered as you reach higher elevations. You will hear the sounds of cow bells in the distance. The cows are used to living in this extreme and are not afraid of the heights. When you arrive at the top you will notice it is much colder than when you boarded the train. Step out and look at a rare sight. Lucerne and it's surrounding communities in all their glory from 2000 meters above. There is much to see on the observation deck at the top. Look for locals performing with real alp-horns. Keep traveling to the very peaks of the observation area, and you will find yourself out of breath from the lack of oxygen and from the amazing sight in front of you. You can grab something to eat while you are on top of the mountain. Enjoy the ride down on a cable car ride. This ride is truly like nothing else you will ever experience.

There are many ways to enjoy this trip. You can find transportation to Alpnachstad and start a hike for the more adventurous tourists. You could also start in Kreins a smaller town near Lucerne and take a four-person aerial cable car to Frakmuntegg and make the switch into a larger cable car that will take you to the summit. You can also reach the top by way of cogwheel train. For most visitors, the best choice is a Golden Roundtrip excursion, which combines a boat or rail trip to Alpnachstad, a 30-minute cogwheel train ascent, a 5-minute descent by aerial cable car to Frakmuntegg, a half-hour ride in a small cable car through the treetops to Kriens, and a 15-minute bus ride back to the Lucerne train station. The Golden round-trip will cost you 92 Swiss Francs per person which is about 61 Euro or 82 US Dollars.

Rhine River

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Rhine (rīn) , Du. Rijn, Fr. Rhin, Ger. Rhein, Lat. Rhenus, principal river of Europe, c.820 mi (1,320 km) long. It rises in the Swiss Alps and flows generally north, passing through or bordering on Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. Its important tributaries are the Aare, Neckar, Main, Moselle, and Ruhr rivers; canals link the river with the Maas, Rhône-Saône, Marne, and Danube (via the Main) valleys.

The Rhine's highest source, the Hinter Rhine, issues from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier more than 11,000 ft (3,353 m) above sea level and joins the Vorder Rhine, flowing from Lake Tuma, to form the Rhine proper at Reichenau, S of Chur, Switzerland. From Chur the river flows N to Lake Constance and then W over the 65-ft (20-m) Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen (harnessed for hydroelectric power by the Swiss) to Basel, c.500 mi (800 km) from the North Sea.

At Basel the Rhine becomes the Upper Rhine of the Germans and turns sharply N to Mainz across the broad-floored Rhine rift valley, a large graben, or down-faulted block, between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mts. Navigation here is by way of a lateral canal through France as far as Strasbourg; below Strasbourg the riverbed has been improved for navigation. Below Mainz, at Bingen, Germany, the Rhine leaves the rift valley and flows for c.80 mi (130 km) across the Rhenish Slate Mts. in a steep gorge, famous for its scenery and wines, with castles surviving from times when tolls were levied on the river's traffic, and landmarks such as the Lorelei and the Drachenfels.

Beyond Bonn the river becomes the Lower Rhine of the Germans and emerges onto the North German Plain as a broad, sluggish, and increasingly polluted river flowing on a bed of deltaic deposits left by ancestors of the modern river. Efforts to solve the pollution problem began in the late 1970s and had achieved considerable, if not complete, success by the late 1990s.

Just below Emmerich, on the border with the Netherlands, the modern delta begins, and the Rhine breaks up into two major distributaries, the Lek and the Waal. The Lek, which becomes the Nieuwe Maas, continues W to Rotterdam and then by the canalized New Waterway enters the North Sea at Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland). The Waal, which merges with the waters of the Maas to form the Merwede, also flows west; the Merwede and the Bergsche Maas join to form the Hollandschdiep, an arm of the North Sea, 6 mi (9.6 km) SE of Dordrecht. A third distributary, known as the Crooked Rhine, leads to Utrecht and continues west to the sea as the Old Rhine; it is linked with Amsterdam by the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and thence by the North Sea Canal to the North Sea.

The Rhine was declared free to international navigation in 1868, and in 1919 navigation of the river between Basel and Krimpen, on the Lek, and Gorinchem, on the Waal, was placed under the authority of the Central Rhine Commission, with headquarters at Strasbourg. Navigation above Basel is controlled jointly by Switzerland and Germany.

The river carries more traffic than any other waterway in the world and is navigable by oceangoing vessels as far as Mannheim, Germany, by river barges to Basel, Switzerland, and by pleasure craft and sightseeing boats on navigable stretches as far as Rheinfelden, Switzerland. Coal, coke, grain, timber, and iron ore are the principal cargoes carried on the river. Rotterdam is the chief outlet to the North Sea, and Duisburg, the outlet for the Ruhr industrial region, is the leading river port. The Rhine-Main-Danube canal, completed in 1992, now allows barge traffic between the North Sea and the Black Sea.

Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee): The "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons"

2009-02-05T01:55:00.000-08:00

Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee): The "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons"

Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee)

Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee, lit. "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons") is a lake in central Switzerland, the fourth largest in the country.

The lake is a complicated shape, with bends and arms reaching from the city of Lucerne into the mountains. It has a total area of 114 km² (44 sq mi), an elevation of 434 m (1,424 ft), and a maximum depth of 214 m (702 ft). Its volume is 11.8 km³. Much of the shoreline rises steeply into mountains up to 1,500 m above the lake, resulting in many picturesque views including those of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus.

It borders on the three original Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden (which today is divided into the Cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden), as well as the canton of Lucerne, thus the name. Many of the oldest communities of Switzerland are along the shore, including Küssnacht, Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau, Brunnen, Altdorf, Buochs, and Treib. In addition, the meadow of the Rütli, traditional site of the founding of the Swiss Confederation, is on the southeast shore of the lake.

Lake Lucerne at Weggis

The Reuss River enters the lake at Flüelen (in the canton of Uri, the part called Urnersee) and exits at Lucerne. The lake also receives the Muota (at Brunnen) Engelberger Aa (at Buochs), the Sarner Aa (at Stansstad).

It is possible to circumnavigate the lake by road, though the route is slow, twisted, and goes through tunnels part of the way. Dozens of steamers ply between the different towns on the lake. It is a popular tourist destination, both for native Swiss and foreigners, and there are many hotels and resorts along the shores.

The level of the lake is maintained by a pioneering needle dam in the Reuss River in Lucerne, just upstream from the Spreuerbrücke.

The lake's surface is the lowest point of the cantons of Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden.

Mount Titlis: The Peak of Glacier

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Mount Titlis: The Peak of Glacier

Titlis

The Titlis (3,238 m) is a mountain in the Urner Alps of Switzerland. It is located on the border between the cantons of Obwalden and Berne in Switzerland, overlooking Engelberg (Obwalden) and is famous as the site of the world's first revolving cable car. The cable car system connects Engelberg to the summit of Klein Titlis (3,028 m) through the three stages of GerschnialpTrübsee (1,796 m) and Stand (2,428 m). (1,262 m),

The last part of cable car way leads above the glacier. In Klein Titlis, it is possible to visit a glacier cave.

Titlis Peak of Glacier

The peak of the glacier near Lucerne offers a special sensation: when taking the aerial cable-car to the top, the gondolas start revolving on the 600-meter-long segment beginning in Stand and ending at the mountain station Klein Titlis located at 3,020 meters above sea level.

Titlis Rotating Cable Car

The installation of this daring project was just another technical pioneering feat in Engelberg. In 1927, the first aerial cableway in the Alps started operating. Then in 1959, Engelberg was the first town to install parallel cable-cars, and in 1989 the first revolving cable-car. the Titlis-Rotair, was approved. During the five-minute ride, the gondolas turn 360° around their axis, giving all passengers the opportunity to marvel at the panorama of the Engelberg Valley, the deep abbysses and the crevasses of the Titlis Glacier. The summit tour on the "Ice Flyer" glacier chairlift offers breathtaking views of the crevasses on the glacier at the top of the Titlis. This is followed by a visit to the glacier grotto and finally fun in the summer snow with all kinds of equipment for sliding on.

Rigi Mountain: The "Queen of the Mountains"

2009-02-04T23:52:00.000-08:00

Rigi Mountain: The "Queen of the Mountains"

Rigi at the Vierwaldstädtteresee.

Rigi is a mountain in central Switzerland and part of the Swiss Alps. It's also known as the "Queen of the Mountains."

The mountain is easily accessible by public transportation. It offers many winter and summer excursions such as skiing or sledding. Hiking there is also a favorite. It can be reached from Goldau and Vitznau by the Rigi-Bahnen, a rack railway, and from Weggis by cable car.

The Rigi has been further made famous through paintings by JMW Turner, including "The Blue Rigi, Lake of Lucerne, Sunrise".

Rigi behind Lake Lauerz.

The Rigi is a quite well-known 1800m mountain in the pre-Alps, occupying a spectacular location above the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) and offering on a clear day splendid views south to the Alps as well as north back to the area around Zurich. The Rigi featured in a book by Mark Twain and in a number of paintings by J.M.W. Turner. The Rigi, while not the highest, is one of the best known mountains in Switzerland and is named "Queen of the mountains". Its proximity to Zurich and Lucerne make it a magnet for tourists visiting the area.

Rigi consists of many peaks. Vitznauerstock V (also called Gersauerstock), Kulm K, Hochfluh H.

One may choose to hike to the top or climb or combine hiking with a climb up one of the several rock routes in the 4+ to 6 range.

Swiss Railways offer a special round-trip excursion, the “Rigi-Rundfahrt”, covering multiple segments by train, cog-railway, gondola (optional) and lake steamer.

If you had a toy cablecar as a kid, chances are it was a Rigi Seilbahn replica manufactured nearby.

Lake Geneva: It's always been the place

2009-01-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

Lake Geneva: It's always been the place

Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French: Lac Léman, Léman, Lac de Genève) is the second largest freshwater lake in Central Europe in terms of surface area (after Lake Balaton). 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40% under France (Haute-Savoie).

The crescent-shaped lake, formed by a withdrawing glacier, narrows around Yvoire on the southern shore, the lake can thus be divided into the "Grand Lac" (Large Lake) to the east and the "Petit Lac" (Small Lake) to the west.

It lies on the course of the Rhône River. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and St. Gingolph, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva. Other tributaries are La Dranse, L'Aubonne, La Morges, Venoge, and Veveyse.

The Lake Geneva has an alpine character. The Chablais Alps border its southern shore, the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern side. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are even visible from a few places.

By the 1960s, the lake had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials. In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; indeed, tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility (it was eventually sold). By the 1980s, intense environmental pollution (eutrophication) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, pollution levels have been dramatically cut back, and it is again considered safe to swim in the lake. Major leisure activities practiced include sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.

As an interesting historical and scientific footnote, in 1827, Lake Geneva was the site for the first measurement of the speed of sound in (fresh) water. French mathematician Jacques Charles François Sturm and Swiss Physicist Daniel Collodon used two moored boats, separated by a measured distance, as the transmit and receive platforms for the sounds of exploding gunpowder. The loud airborne sound coupled into the lake, establishing a loud underwater sound that could be measured at a distance. The flash of the exploding gunpowder provided the visual starting cue for the timepiece, and the underwater explosion sound striking a bell provided the finish cue.

The shore between Nyon and Lausanne is called La Côte because it is "flatter". Between Lausanne and Vevey it is called Lavaux and is famous for its hilly vineyards.

The lake's surface is the lowest point of the cantons of Valais and Vaud.

Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) operates boats on the lake.

Geneva: The Global City

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Geneva is popularly regarded as the “Global City” because of the number of International Organizations that are present in the area including the Red Cross. It also the venue of the famous signing of the “Geneva Conventions”, which clearly defined the management of the “Prisoners of War” and its distinctions from the non-combatants’.

Geneva also, like Zurich, is honored to be the recipient of several international awards such as it is known as the “2^nd Highest Quality of Living in the World” in 2007.

Although Geneva has many distinguished landmarks, it is also a home of 2 famous landmarks in the world today; The Jet d’Eau and the Reformation Wall:

Jet d’Eau or Water Jet is a very huge water artificial fountain in Geneva. It is in fact the largest fountain in the world. It is one of Geneva’s unique Tourists’ Sites and it is visible from any location through out the City. The fountain powerfully blows 132 galon of water per second at the height of 140 meters. In any given time while the jet is operating, it literally leaves about 7,000 liter of water in the air.

The Reformation Wall or otherwise known as “The International Monument to the Reformation” is a famous monument-landmark in Geneva. It is the symbol that represents the Fortifications’ Integral Importance of Spiritual Reformation”. Historically, Geneva is the birth place of Calvinism which is nearly close to the principles of Protestantism.

Geneva is likewise the home of many International Organizations including that of the United Nations, to wit:

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO)
The International Labour Organization (ILO)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
The World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

Zurich: The Best Place in the World

2008-07-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Zurich is the largest City of Switzerland. It is known as the place having the “Best Quality of Life” in the world as per 2006 to 2008 surveys. It is the main City of Switzerland for Commercial and Cultural Establishments. It is likewise known as one of the “World’s Global Cities” It offers a lot to tourists from Galleries, Museums, Banks, Zoo and many many more...

Galleries: The most popular gallery in Switzerland is the “Kunsthaus”. It has a huge collection of European Middle Ages Art.

Museums: The most admired museum in Zurich or in Switzerland as a whole is the Rietberg Museum. It simply gives tourists a very nice peep of original Non-European Arts from India, China and Africa. Arts that will entice you to research more of what you have missed to know about these countries. It is really a “Time Travel” Museum.

Banks: Switzerland is the home of the safest banks in the world, so as it is known to be for decades. It has a mile-long street of “credibly world’s safest” banks, if I may say.

Zoo: Switzerland has a wide zoo named as Zurich Zoo. It is 11,000 square-meter of wide-varieties of animals and plants too.

As my wife said, Zurich City of Switzerland is Simply the “Best Place in the World” to spend a vacation, if not a place to spend a lifetime….

Davos: The Best Ice in the World

2008-07-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Davos is a town of Graubünden Region in Switzerland. Graubünden is some what a German word which means “Grey Union”.

The settlement of people in Davos started in 1280 when the Barons of Van permitted the German Speaking Walser colonists to settle in the area. Davos was the biggest settlement area then in the whole Switzerland. Indeed, it’s by this reason that the people in Davos uses a little bit of German-like words as incorporated in their language.

Davos is currently popular as venue of international conventions for World Economic Forum (WEF) and likewise for Ice Skiing. Annually, Convention and Sports Gathering Championships are the most awaited events of the year in Davos. It’s like a festival when these days are coming. There are also a lot of Skiing Records that are set in Davos. It all started in 1898 when Peder Ostlund set 4 world records in Skiing.

Davos a place where can enjoy both the ice and the scenery. A place where can find peace of mind and yet you can still enjoy sports. I really liked the ice in Davos. The stiffness of the mountain is just right for me to enjoy my ride. As the locales in Davos would say, it’s the highest town in the Alps so as my enjoyment too, the highest adrenalin so far in my life.