POPULATION 7.6 MILLION
FOREIGN VISITORS PER YEAR 8.6 MILLION
CAPITAL BERN
LANGUAGES GERMAN, FRENCH, ITALIAN, ROMANSH
MAJOR INDUSTRIES MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OF CURRENCY SWISS FRANC (SFR)
EPIC JOURNEYS AND ECO ANGELS
Whether it's economic growth, political stability or sustainable snow, little-miss- perfect Switzerland always finishes at the top of the European class. With its model railways, chocolate-box towns and outrageously beautiful mountains, the country should be the envy of all. But, critics say, doesn't perfect actually mean dull? Isn't Switzerland all holey cheese, skis and lights out by 10 pm? Well, not quite.
Brush aside the stereotypes for a minute and the land of Heidi can also be hip. Stand in the wave-shaped shadow of Renzo Piano's Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, party in Zuri-West's industrial-chic clubs and experience a heart-stopping moment while glacier bungee jumping in Interlaken, and you'll discover a Switzerland with art, attitude and an insatiable appetite for adventure. Goody two-shoes just doesn't get a look in.
This year Switzerland's gloriously accessible Alps will become even easier to reach, thanks to the launch of 19 new TGVs from Paris, and the construction of the groundbreaking Gotthard rail tunnel getting underway. At higher altitudes, resorts are increasingly taking the green, car-free run; slow travel is feted on 60,000km of footpaths and the Jungfrau Railway, a romantically old-fashioned train line, will celebrate its centenary in 2012. Der We gist das Ziel ('The journey is more important than the destination') say the Swiss. And they're right, yet again. |
