Unusual facts about the world for those who are hard to surprise. What Switzerland is famous for - what they produce and do best here Famous people stars living in Geneva Switzerland
On the Internet there are often topics “The country through the eyes of a Russian”, “Curious facts about the country”, etc. I have accumulated a certain amount of material on different countries, I will collect it in a heap and show you as much as possible. It may be useful to someone, but many will just be interested.
So, the first country is Switzerland.
1. In Switzerland, one of the 7 members of the federal council is appointed in turn to the position of president. In 2011, this post was occupied by a woman, Mechelle Calmy Rey (before that, there was also a woman). Theoretically, each minister can be president many times; there have also been cases when it was not possible to become president. Appointments occur every year.
2. In Switzerland there are no cities with a population of one million, not even a city with a population of half a million.
3. Switzerland is home to one of the tallest concrete dams in the world, the Grand Dixence.
4. In Switzerland, the election system (or rather referendums) allows for a referendum to be held every Sunday. In practice, this happens less often - several times a year, and without much fuss.
5. One of these referendums banned the construction of new minarets.
6. There are 6 minarets in total in the country, but they do not fulfill their main function (gathering for prayer) due to the law on silence. Switzerland has a ban on building mosques
7. Coins in denominations from 5 centimes to 5 francs, banknotes from 10 to 1000 francs. There are 100 centimes (French) or rapens (German) in a franc; 1 franc is approximately 0.8 euros or 1 US dollar.
8. Switzerland is the only confederation in the world.
9. Switzerland has 4 official languages. The rarest is Romansh - it is owned by 0.7% of the country's population.
10. In Switzerland, school starts at 4 years old, 4 days a day (Wednesday-day off).
11. In Switzerland, shops close at 7 pm and are closed on Sundays. Exceptions: Thursdays open until 9, and small shops open as they wish.
12. Switzerland has no access to the sea or the ocean, which did not prevent it from once winning the Cup of America ocean regatta.
13. Over the past few years, banking secrecy has been eroded. Swiss banks were forced under pressure to hand over some customer data to US and German authorities.
14. In Switzerland, alcohol is not sold in stores after 9 pm.
15. In Switzerland, only one city has a metro (Lausanne) and it is above ground and without a driver.
16. They serve in the Swiss army almost their entire lives, regularly undergoing weekly training sessions (about a year in total). The employer pays the usual salary during the training camp.
17. You can officially opt out of the army if you donate 3% of all money earned before the age of 30 to the budget.
18. You can keep the weapon after service and the state encourages this. You can often meet people with a gun at their advantage even on public transport.
19. Only citizens can have weapons and serve in law enforcement agencies.
20. Citizenship can be obtained after 12 years of residence in the country.
21. Switzerland consists of 26 cantons (territorial unit), the canton consists of communes.
22. Accordingly, laws (and taxes) are at the communal, cantonal and federal levels.
23. Switzerland began with 4 cantons, one of which (Schwyz) gave the country its name. As a result of the accession of various states to the confederation, the number increased to 25 (Geneva was the last to join). And in 1979, one canton split into two as a result of a referendum.
24. Inflation in Switzerland does not exceed 1% per year.
25. In Switzerland, half of the electricity is generated from hydroelectric power plants.
26. In Switzerland there is the longest tunnel in the world - the Gotthard Base Tunnel, 57 km. However, commissioning is scheduled only for 2017. Among those built there is St. Gotthard, which ranks 3rd in the world among automobile roads - 17 km. Unlike the famous Mont Blanc tunnel (which is also shorter), the Swiss one is free (more precisely, it is included in the annual fee for using the entire autobahn system of the country). In the meantime, there is such a tunnel - Lötschberg. Its length is 34,700 meters.
27. In Switzerland, education is free, including for foreigners. Private schools cost from 25 thousand francs per year.
28. Medicine is paid, insurance is compulsory.
29. Geneva Airport is located on Swiss territory, but there is a road leading to France that bypasses the land border (formally, the border passes at the airport).
30. And in Basel (Mulhouse), on the contrary, there is an airport on French territory and a road to Switzerland, which is considered Swiss territory.
31. In the movie GoldenEye, James Bond jumps from the 4th highest dam in Switzerland (Versasca or Contra), where the highest banjo jumping point in the world is located.
32. Switzerland is home to the highest railway station in Europe - Jungfraujoch.
33. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, Switzerland has been ranked first in the world in terms of governance quality for the last 3 years.
34. Suvorov made his crossing of the Alps through the territory of Switzerland.
35. Switzerland is home to a huge number of headquarters of international organizations, such as the UN, Red Cross, WHO, WTO, CERN, etc. Sports: FIFA, FIBA, IOC, commercial ones are also catching up: Nestlé, Philip-Morris, Novartis, etc. d.
36. Under the government program, drug addicts are given a free dose, food and a place to sleep. It is believed that this is cheaper than countering violations on their part.
37. The most famous Swiss athlete is tennis player Roger Federer, the former first racket of the world, and even now he is among the top players.
38. Christmas trees In Switzerland you can throw away only 1 day a year - at the very beginning of January.
39. Small donations to officials are actually legalized - for any certificate you need to pay a minimum of 25 francs, they do it quickly.
40. To cut down a tree, you must obtain permission from the authorities, even if you planted it yourself on your own land.
41. Swiss wine is almost unknown in the world, since everyone drinks it domestically.
42. Swiss fondue and raclette dishes are very easy to prepare and are literally prepared on the table in the presence of guests.
43. In the Swiss city of Zermatt, petrol and diesel cars are completely banned, only electric cars are allowed.
44. For an address In Switzerland, they number the entrances (front doors) rather than houses. There are no apartment numbers - instead there are nameplates.
45. There are no stray dogs or cats on the streets.
46. At some point in time, every new house was required to have a bomb shelter, then the obligation was replaced by the payment of a tax, then this law was completely repealed, but bomb shelters remained.
47. Apartment buildings usually have a laundry room in the basement. Access to it is strictly on schedule for residents of the house.
48. Any company in Switzerland must have a Swiss director. There is even such a profession as a nominal hired director. Holders of Swiss passports can earn decent money without doing anything, but simply being listed as a director in several companies.
49. The world's first zero-star hotel opened in an anti-nuclear bunker in Switzerland.
50. Rapidshare file hosting servers are located in an underground anti-nuclear bunker in Switzerland.
51. The country is located so conveniently that you can go to Germany to fill your refrigerator, dine on sea creatures in Paris, or go to Milan for a sale.
52. “Owls” have a hard time because all institutions and shops close and open early.
53. 4 official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. So far I have only seen Romansh people on TV; they are given an hour a day to watch programs. Many Swiss speak two or three foreign languages.
54. Currently, a quarter of the country’s population consists of newcomers; in the canton of Zurich, every third person is a foreigner, and in Geneva, almost every second person is a foreigner. And in 1940, there were only 5% of those who came in large numbers. In total, 8 million people live permanently in the country.
55. The most numerous nations (thousands of people): Italians (287), Germans (263), Portuguese (213), Serbs (122), French (96). There are 12 Russians, 5 Ukrainians, 1 Belarusians, which in total is comparable to the number of East Asians (18).
56. At the same time, the country is still one of the most difficult in Europe for the average non-European to obtain a residence permit and citizenship. You need to stay on type B for 10 years, renewing it every year for 100 CHF, then they finally give you C (indefinite), and after 12 years you have the right to begin the naturalization procedure. There are exceptions, but generally this is true.
57. Russians here are divided mainly into three groups: “marriage to the country”, self-employed and rich. They don't like each other and have little overlap.
58. “I flew to Zurich and thought: there are so many foreigners! Then it turned out that they were just talking in Swiss German.” German dialects are a challenge for foreigners living in the German part. But if you want, you can learn the dialect. The method is simple: (1) listen a lot, (2) understand the basic principles from a book, (3) try to speak, despite the fact that at first, of course, hearing yourself is very funny.
59. It is important to at least learn to understand the dialect. Yes, polite Swiss will speak standard German to you, but you need to see the joy on their faces when you tell them you understand the dialect. According to them, ordinary German is still like a foreign language for them.
60. But even with a dialect, the way to the heart of a Swiss is not easy to find. Most of them have few friends, and only those from school.
61. One article once called Switzerland “the ashtray of Europe.” There really are a lot of people who smoke here, despite the ban on smoking indoors and constantly rising prices for cigarettes. Now a pack costs about 7.5 CHF.
62. The Swiss are big fans of smoking weed, and it’s very strong here.
63. The country has an ideal public transport system: you can get to any locality without a car. In this case, you can calculate your path with an accuracy of up to a minute, and in 95% of cases it will be so. This saves a lot of time. The train must have a toilet and a place/car for bicycles.
64. The transport network in cities is very dense, for example, in the city of Zurich with a population of 400,000, there are as many as 15 tram routes; over the last 4 years, 2 new ones have been introduced.
65. The country has 3 international airports: Zurich, Geneva and Basel/Mühlhausen (24, 13 and 5 million passengers in 2011), as well as 11 regional ones. The passenger flow of Zurich Airport is comparable to that of Domodedovo or Sheremetyevo, despite the fact that the population of the entire country is half the population of the Moscow agglomeration. At the airport, among other things, there are many shops (with extended opening hours) and completely normal prices. The journey from Zurich city center to the airport takes 6 minutes by train. This creates certain inconvenience for people living in the neighborhood: at exactly 6 am, airplanes begin to buzz over the houses with a frequency of one or two minutes.
66. There is a whole waste disposal system. (1) Garbage may only be thrown out in special paid bags. (2) You can save on this if you sort your waste: paper, cardboard, garden waste, compost, glass, metal, plastic bottles, batteries, light bulbs... There are different collection containers and collection schedules for everything. You can also donate old clothes and shoes once every three months.
67. For almost all services, be it a doctor or a repairman, the Internet or a cell phone, payment occurs after the service is provided and through an invoice sent to your mailing address. Some accounts can be switched to automatic mode by linking them to a bank account. Even online purchases can often be paid not by credit card, but after receiving the goods. Of course, Swiss mail also works like a Swiss watch: the ordered electrical appliance can be sent to you within a day and sometimes even with free shipping. There are difficulties with orders from Europe: the post office charges a decent customs fee.
68. By the age of 30, an ordinary working Swiss without a higher education can afford to take out a mortgage. Another thing is that there is an opinion that having your own home is quite expensive, responsible, ties you to a certain place and in terms of costs is comparable to renting the same house, which will not give you a headache at all.
69. It is popular to play sports here and almost every Swiss is a semi-pro in some area and is a member of a sports association.
70. There is a private air ambulance, REGA, founded in 1952. 60% of funding comes from voluntary donations. There are almost 11 thousand helicopters in the fleet.
71. Switzerland is a mountainous country; there are about 50 four-thousander peaks on its territory. Mountains occupy almost 70% of the entire territory. At the same time, wonderful roads have been laid in the mountains and tunnels have been drilled. The longest road tunnel is the Gotthard Tunnel, the third longest in the world, 17 kilometers long. Often on one side there are harsh mountain fogs, and on the other there is the bright Italian sun.
72. Two important concepts in Swiss society are Dankbarkeit (gratitude) and Respekt (respect). The first one is easier: if you took something that was done for you for granted, then most likely you were grossly under-thanked. For Russians with a categorical imperative in grammar, adjusting the degree of gratitude can be difficult at first. Respekt means fulfilling certain social norms, which a foreigner, of course, does not know at first. For example, it is disrespectful if you are visiting and in a hurry to simply say goodbye and leave. You need to start saying goodbye at least 15 minutes before you are supposed to leave. It is disrespectful to bring up certain topics in conversation. It can even be disrespectful to spontaneously put horns on a photo.
73. The Swiss make rather caustic jokes, sparing neither relatives nor friends.
74. Apartments rarely have a washing machine: connecting it is expensive. Therefore, the washing room is located in the basement. If the apartment is cheaper, everything is washed in a common machine; if the apartment is more expensive, the machine may be individual. There is a plan for laundry, which, depending on your neighbors, you have to sign up for a month in advance. Also, sometimes it is necessary to write stern warnings to those who do not take out their laundry on time and climb outside the plan; sometimes you just throw wet, soapy clothes into the basket.
75. Products in stores are mostly expensive, especially meat, fish and fruit. German Lidl and Aldi represent the lowest price category, followed by Denner, Migros and Coop. Moreover, the price-quality ratio does not have to be fulfilled; you need to know where it is better to buy what.
76. Everyone must have health insurance, which costs about 250 CHF per month. A visit to a specialist with an examination on devices and tests will cost from 300 to 500 CHF, an appointment is usually a couple of months in advance, if not something critical. Insurance covers almost everything except the dentist; a filling will cost 500 CHF.
And for all diseases there are Aspirin, Neocitran and lozenges for throat and cough.
77. There are about 10 universities in the country, where studying is quite cheap, with an average of 2,000 CHF per year for a foreigner for a bachelor’s or master’s degree. True, they are going to increase the fee for a bachelor's degree, considering that Swiss education is obscenely cheap. The classrooms are well equipped: a computer with Internet and a projector almost everywhere. And of course, many laboratories for science students, huge libraries (mostly free and with free access for everyone).
78. In the summer, the most popular way to spend time here is to grill meat outdoors or in the garden. In almost every forest you can find a specially equipped place for fireplaces and tables. There are a ton of different discounts on marinated meat. In winter, everyone goes to the mountains to ski, board or sled. In the last couple of years, winters have been abnormally warm; snow falls poorly on 2,000-meter peaks.
79. Most of the weekends of the year are church holidays.
80. The motto of Switzerland is very musketeer: “One for all, and all for one!”
81. The country is known for its notorious neutrality, which is explained not at all by a love of peace, but by the fact that for this small country, bordering such military-active countries as France, Germany, Italy and Austria, there was simply no other choice. Neutrality means non-interference in any armed conflicts. Neutrality leaves Switzerland no chance to win Eurovision.
82. At the same time, Switzerland has an army that functions according to the principle “Switzerland does not have an army, Switzerland is an army!” Every Swiss male is obliged to repay his debt: military service, alternative service or money. Moreover, if you leave to serve, they will keep your job, and as a reward they will also give you a personal machine gun to take home.
83. There are almost no mineral resources in the country; villagers raise livestock, plant grain, potatoes, carrots and corn, and in some places they grow fruit and make wine. In stores, everything grown, collected and slaughtered in Switzerland stands out especially and is more expensive.
84. Despite the popular belief that Switzerland lives off its banks, this is not the case: the percentage of high-tech products in GDP is at the level of Germany and higher than that of Japan. However, 70% of the population is employed in the service sector: trade, healthcare, education, finance and insurance.
85. There is little tasty and healthy food in traditional Swiss cuisine: they mainly eat cheese dishes, various sausages and potatoes. What everyone knows is Fondue (melted cheese in a pot mixed with wine, dipped bread in it), Raklett (melted cheese on a spatula with jacket potatoes, pickles and fried pieces of meat), Rösti (a type of fried potato), Älplermagronen (fried mixture of pasta, potatoes, cheese, cream and onions with various toppings), Sausisson (healthy sausage with a lot of fatty meat inside, served with red cabbage with chestnuts). They also love to eat asparagus.
86. Elections and other voting are held by mail: an envelope with ballots and information is sent, which must be filled out and sent back before the appointed time. At the same time, political agitation can be very cruel: when they voted for some law on the entry of foreigners, Switzerland was depicted as trampled under the black feet of those who had come in large numbers.
87. There are many bureaucratic institutions; you need to know where to get which certificate. It helps that they work quite quickly and smoothly, for example, changing a residence permit takes a maximum of a couple of hours: sign the form with the secretary at work and go to the regional Kreisbüro office to give the form and pay the fee. The new permit will be sent by registered mail within two weeks.
88. Cities organically coexist with nature: 10 minutes from the center there can be a pasture with cows, the rivers are full of ducks greedy for bread, a fat swan walks on the bridge in the center on a Sunday morning, and herons fly over the houses. Perhaps the most unpleasant animal here is the forest cockroach; it looks exactly like an ordinary red one, but is not afraid of light and flies with all its might.
89. A popular tradition is a carnival procession, in different cities at different times. Everyone makes masks and costumes for themselves and walks through the center, dancing, scaring the kids and playing musical instruments.
90. When you first come to Switzerland from Russia, it seems that everything is so small.
91. Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich was the birthplace of Dadaism, which is why the art gallery features one of Max Ernst's most stunning paintings. Also, the artist Giger, who came up with the screen appearance of “Aliens,” is Swiss; there is his museum in Gruyère.
92. The Swiss are masters at building cable cars and high-altitude trains. The gear train, traveling at an incline of 48 degrees to an altitude of 2000 meters, is located on Mount Pilatus in the canton of Obwalden.
93. The country actively supports scientific research in the fields of nanotechnology, computer science, space and climate. Also recently, the Higgs boson may have been discovered at the Large Hadron Collider. Getting a postgraduate position with a good Russian education and decent English is not difficult. Here they still believe that Russians are very smart and strong in technical disciplines.
94. In general, the level of understanding of mathematical disciplines by students is not high. In exams in mathematics and statistics (the subject is taken voluntarily) in the master's program they write things that would make a first-year bachelor in Russia feel ashamed. The reason, it seems to me, is that students choose their own curriculum and many important areas remain very chaotically mastered. As a rule, the Chinese show the best knowledge.
95. It is common among people to help each other. Someone will definitely help you carry the stroller into and out of the bus (it’s not a shame to ask for this directly), load heavy suitcases, hang the bike on a hook on the ceiling of the train. There are many buses and trams with low floors for disabled people, and if anything happens, the driver will come out and help.
96. Swiss Post is also a financial institution. There you can open an account on more favorable terms than in commercial banks, however, all the goodies apply mainly within the country. You can also pay with their card on Swiss websites.
97. Here they are relaxed about non-traditional orientation. There is a gay and a lesbian member of the city council of Zurich. Every year in August the Love Parade takes place. It’s completely normal to see a guy in a red suit, green platform sandals and a bright manicure in the city center. It’s not that there are many of them, it’s just that no one cares.
98. According to rumors, kindergartens for children are a very expensive thing, so often women after 30 get married, give birth to several children in a row and look after them. Moreover, there are no problems moving around with children; there are changing tables and children's rooms everywhere.
99. Prostitution and downloading from torrents are legal. On TV after 12 they only play advertisements for all sorts of establishments. The state is concerned in every possible way about the conditions of street labor for priestesses of love.
100. Switzerland is recognized as the most mountainous country in Europe. Mountains occupy 2/3 of the entire territory of this country
101. The best and most expensive watches in the world are made in Switzerland. Of course, everyone knows the brands - Rolex, Chopard, Breguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Tissot, Swatch, etc. By the way, the first wristwatch was invented by the dude Patek Philippe in 1868.
102. Switzerland makes the best chocolate in the world. The first chocolate bar was produced in 1819
103. The Swiss knife is also the most famous pocket knife in the world. By the way, they make it red to make it easier to find in the snow or grass if you drop it
104. Yodeling (that kind of lousy singing without words) has long been used by Swiss shepherds as a means of communication.
105. Wherever you are in Switzerland, there will be a body of water suitable for swimming within a maximum of 13 miles from you
106. Switzerland is in second place in Europe in terms of life expectancy (Sweden is first)
107. The most famous Swiss dish in the world is fondue. Initially, fondue was the food of peasants, who thus ate leftover bread and cheese.
108. Switzerland is located in the center of Europe, but is not part of the European Union
109. The world-famous Davidoff company was created in Switzerland by an emigrant from Kyiv
110. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world. It is also the largest financial center
111. The country receives 15% of its income from tourism
112. A Swiss Guard must be at least 174 cm tall and must not have a mustache, beard or long hair. And during his service he cannot get married. Exceptions are rarely made and only if the guardsman's bride is a convinced Catholic
113 . Switzerland is a paradise for mushroom pickers. No one collects or eats porcini mushrooms, of which there are a great many there)
114 . The Swiss are the most inventive nation in the world. There are 2,286 patents per million inhabitants in Switzerland. The closest competitors are the Dutch (1,427 patents per million population), South Koreans (1,139) and Japanese (1,118). It is believed that increased ingenuity is due to the lack of mineral resources and access to the sea in Switzerland, which does not allow the development of either serious industry or trade. You have to rely on ingenuity.
Does anyone else know anything interesting about Switzerland? And who can correct anything in these facts?
The small Alpine state is located in the very center of Europe. It is often called the “country of lakes,” but charming Switzerland boasts more than just picturesque nature. What else is it famous for? Travelers who fell in love with the tourist paradise at first sight recall delightful historical and architectural monuments, luxurious ski resorts, famous watches and delicious chocolate.
In this article we have collected interesting facts about a wonderful European country, and for both young and adult readers, this information will be fascinating and educational. Natural and man-made masterpieces of the colorful country are studied at school, in the subject “The World Around us” (3rd grade). What is Switzerland famous around the world for? Now we'll tell you!
What should we know about this amazing state, every corner of which remembers an eventful history? You can travel around colorful Switzerland all year round, and every time it brings pleasant surprises. Since most of its territory is occupied by the majestic Alps, the powerful mountain range is what Switzerland is famous for all over the world. It is no coincidence that the small state evokes associations with all kinds of ski holidays.
There are resorts for every taste, and a huge selection of steep slopes and comfortable descents will bring incredible pleasure to both professionals and beginners. The beauty of the mountain peaks covered with snow-white blankets is mesmerizing and remains forever in the memory of those who have ever visited these places. If the Alps disappear from the geographical map of the world, then the fabulous country will immediately lose half of its attractiveness in the eyes of vacationers.
Powerful glaciers
Many travel lovers, when asked what the country of Switzerland is famous for, will remember the centuries-old glaciers - the largest in Europe. In total, there are about 140 miraculous sights that maintain the ideal temperature on the slopes. It is thanks to them that tourists can ski all year round. Thus, in the south of the state there is a true masterpiece that attracts attention with its bizarre forms.
The most famous glacier, Aletsch, is an unusual sight: thousands of tons of ice have formed a unique canyon, which is recognized as one of the main pearls of the region. It seems as if an icy river flows along the bottom of a deep valley with a total area of more than 80 kilometers along mountain peaks near the beautiful ski resort of Zermatt. The stillness and amazing silence of Aletsch is deceptive, since the miraculous monument, famous for its special purity, lives its own life. It moves slowly, and the speed of smooth movement is 200 meters per year.
Unfortunately, global warming is not leaving its mark on the glacier: the natural miracle is decreasing in size, and it is unknown what will happen to it in a hundred years.
Country of lakes
What will local residents answer to the question: “What is Switzerland famous for, a country where six percent of the world’s fresh water reserves are concentrated?” Many, without hesitation, will talk about the beauty of the picturesque lakes, which are as much a “signature” as the Alps. Transparent reservoirs, formed during the melting of giant glaciers, are recognized as the hallmark of the country and are considered one of the main places of attraction for tourists from different countries. They occupy an important place in the landscape of the state, and each of them is a beautiful corner, a visit to which will be remembered forever.
Therefore, speaking about what Switzerland is famous for, it is definitely worth mentioning the shining surface of water, surrounded by a powerful mountain range and at all times attracting great poets and artists. Now thousands of guests are rushing to relax on the lakes, the number of which exceeds 1,500. All routes of the proposed tours one way or another pass in close proximity to them.
The fabulous creations of Mother Nature are compared to mirrors, since their waters are perfectly calm. The largest lake is Lake Geneva, and its northern shore with famous resorts is called the “Swiss Riviera”. Tourists adore the ancient city of Lucerne, which can be found on the coast of the reservoir of the same name. In the west of the country there is a balneological resort that appeared on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, framed by high mountains. Relaxing here is not only useful, but also prestigious.
Europe in miniature
But that's not all that Switzerland is famous for. Despite its modest size, the country of contrasts will allow you to visit Germany, Austria, France and Italy in a few days without crossing borders. Depending on which part tourists are in, the language, landscape and even cuisine are strikingly different from each other. The state, bordering different countries, combines the characteristics of the cultures of several peoples. “Europe in Miniature” attracts not only with wonderful landscapes, but also with ancient buildings that will not leave anyone indifferent. The country cares about its heritage, and modern architects make a significant contribution to the development of architecture.
Open-air museum
It's fair to say that much of what Switzerland is known for around the world is man-made. The traditions of four nations influenced the architecture of the small state, famous for its advantageous location. And on its territory you can see buildings made in the most famous styles (Baroque, classical, Gothic, Art Nouveau).
It is for this reason that the country is compared to an open-air museum. There are a huge number of medieval castles located everywhere - high in the mountains and on the lake shore. The oldest is the Spiez citadel, the Montebello castle complex is recognized as the most popular among tourists, and Oberhofen, which has a fairy-tale charm, is the most perfectly preserved.
Modern architectural structures
Among modern buildings, it is worth highlighting the Sphinx Observatory, which is located at an altitude of more than three thousand meters, not far from Bern. Looking very unusual, it was intended only for scientists, but enterprising locals made the fabulous corner accessible to tourists who admire the amazing views from the observation deck.
Another interesting structure is the “Humped House”, the asymmetry of which evokes a sense of danger. As tourists admit, from an aesthetic point of view, a building almost devoid of sunlight looks rather strange. The architects who designed the abstract building were unable to harmoniously fit their creation into the environment, but attracted attention. And such tricks are very common in creative environments.
Natural and man-made attractions are not all that Switzerland is famous for. It’s quite difficult to briefly talk about everything, but it’s impossible not to mention those that are produced in the country. Their production dates back several hundred years. Inside a complex mechanism there are up to three hundred smallest parts, and some instruments for measuring time are single-piece and very expensive goods. One watch takes about two months to assemble, and is done using manual labor and precision equipment.
Switzerland is considered a global monopolist in the luxury watch segment: it produces approximately 30 million pieces per year. The most famous companies are Rolex, Swatch Group, Richemont.
Favorite dishes of the Swiss
If we talk about the traditional cuisine of the country, we must admit that it was influenced by German, Italian, and French cuisine. Residents of the state answer the question of what dish Switzerland is famous for differently, but the majority name fondue. It is based on hard cheeses that are melted in dry white wine. The delicious dish is served with croutons and a small fork on which a piece of dried bread is pricked and then dipped into the hot mass. It is believed that fondue first appeared in the city of Neuchâtel, and therefore it is called Neuchâtel. Almost all recipes in Swiss cuisine use locally produced cheese - fatty and oily. It is often melted in a frying pan, serving to dear guests as the main decoration of the table, a hot product.
What else is Switzerland famous for? Different provinces have their own favorite dishes. For example, in Zurich, krefli (puff pastry pies) and hüchli (a sweet delicacy reminiscent of pudding) are very popular. Bern's chefs are famous for their aromatic sausages and delicious appetizers of sauerkraut, beans and fried potatoes. And tourists who have visited Basel remember with pleasure the most delicate almond cookies with the beautiful name “lotus petals”.
Wine and chocolate
Few people know, but Switzerland is also famous for its wonderful wines, which have absorbed the aroma of the clean air of picturesque valleys and the light of the gentle sun. Sparkling drinks that offer a full range of tastes receive high marks and awards at various competitions.
Also, when you think of Switzerland, chocolate immediately comes to mind. This wonderful country is considered the birthplace of a popular delicacy to which milk was added. The aroma of the confection seems to be everywhere, and here and there in the narrow streets there are shops selling the sweet aphrodisiac.
The world leader in chocolate production not only breathes it, he lives it. Local residents consume an incredible amount of the product that produces the happiness hormone (approximately 12 kg per person). The delicacy contains a lot of cocoa butter; only Swiss milk and elite cocoa beans are added to it. Manufacturers carefully preserve ancient recipes and strictly monitor product quality.
Country of banks
Every businessman knows that Switzerland is a country of banks whose activities are strictly controlled. If the slightest violation of the law is discovered, the organization’s license is revoked. Financial institutions that have never put a customer's deposits at risk hold 10 percent of the world's capital. Perhaps this is why the small state is among the richest countries in the world, and the stock exchange in Zurich ranks third. It is no coincidence that the first private banks arose in Switzerland, which is the most respectable financial center in Europe.
Capital of the crypto world
More recently, a country that has created all the conditions for doing business has turned into the capital of the crypto world. Bitcoins are considered here as assets, and cryptocurrency activities are regulated by the provisions of the Criminal Code. It is interesting that the authorities are integrating cryptocurrency, which is used to purchase goods, into people’s daily lives. Thus, residents of the town of Zug pay for utilities using Bitcoin.
The materials presented in our article can be used in a lesson on the topic “What is Switzerland famous for” (“The world around us”, 3rd grade school curriculum).
Switzerland (German die Schweiz, French la Suisse, Italian Svizzera, Roman Svizra), official name Swiss Confederation (German Schweizerische Eclassgenossenschaft, French Confederation suisse, Italian Confederazione Svizzera, Roman Confederaziun svizra) The name comes from the name canton of Schwyz, derived from the Old German "burn". The state has no access to the sea. The capital of Switzerland is the city of Bern. The largest city in this country is Zurich - the center of the canton of the same name.
Switzerland is located in Central Europe and borders Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France and Italy. Switzerland is a federal republic and a new Constitution was adopted in 1999. The country is divided into twenty-three cantons. The federal authorities are responsible for many important issues. The bicameral parliament is the highest legislative body in Switzerland. The President is the head of state.
There are several official languages in Switzerland: German, Italian, French Romansh. As for the latter, it is recognized as official only for communication with native speakers of this language. The monetary unit of Switzerland is the Swiss franc. Approximately 48% of the country's total population are Catholics, 46% consider themselves Protestants, and another 6% profess other religions. The main river in Switzerland is the Rhine. Time in Switzerland is two hours behind Moscow.
Most of Switzerland is covered with mountains. The territory of Switzerland is divided into 3 natural regions. These are the Jura Mountains (in the north of the country), the Alps Mountains (in the south) and the Swiss Plateau (in the center of the state). Interestingly, the Alps (mountainous area) alone occupy more than 60% of the country's territory.
Switzerland has a continental climate. True, in accordance with different altitudes above sea level, it is characterized by significant fluctuations. The average winter temperature in the valleys of Switzerland tends to zero, and in mountainous areas it can reach - 10 °C and below. The average summer temperature in the valleys is approximately +18-20°C, in the mountainous areas slightly lower. Quite a large part of precipitation falls in the form of snow - in the winter season. In the Alps - at an altitude of 1.5 thousand meters or more - precipitation in the form of snow pellets is typical even in May-June. The unusual climate of Switzerland lies in the fact that each region of this country can boast of a landscape and climate unique to it. Surprisingly, we can say that in Switzerland the Arctic lives next to the tropics. Mosses and lichens, as well as mimosa and palm trees, grow in this country.
The history of Switzerland dates back to the thirteenth century. More precisely, at the end of this century - in 1291. It was then that the cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden joined forces to fight the Habsburgs. The "Alliance for Eternity" was intended to counteract the Habsburg aspirations to completely control the approaches to the St. Gotthard Pass. The latter was the most important land route in Europe in the Middle Ages. By the way, the name of the country - Switzerland - comes from the name of one of the cantons that entered into the above union: from the canton of Schwyz. A little later - in subsequent years - neighboring lands were annexed to the union. Some joined it voluntarily, some were forced. The first Swiss Constitution was adopted in 1848. She proclaimed Switzerland a federal state. This was once again confirmed in the Swiss Constitution of 1874.
Switzerland is a truly amazing country. Occupying such a small territory (its area is only 41,293.2 square kilometers, which is approximately one-ninth the size of Germany), Switzerland has absorbed all the most attractive things: stunning natural masterpieces and no less amazing creations of human hands. Traces of different civilizations, their cultural and historical heritage coexist perfectly in this state. For example, an amphitheater for ten thousand visitors will remind tourists of the Romans. In the Swiss cities of Lausanne, Geneva, Basel and some others, tourists will discover Gothic and Romanesque architectural monuments. A large number of pilgrims from all over the world are gathered by the Castello di Montebello fortress, which has survived to this day, which dates back to the Renaissance. The churches of Arlesheim, Kreuzlingen, as well as the monasteries of Engelberg and Einsiedeln are presented in the Baroque style. An inquisitive tourist can find a lot of interesting things in this country.
Switzerland is rich in attractions. In this regard, it is very interesting to get acquainted with the city of Schaffhausen. Its architectural appearance is mainly represented by the Rococo and Baroque styles. Many ancient buildings dating back to late Gothic times have survived to this day. The same city is proud of its ancient fortress Munod. You can climb to it along a beautiful path paved with stones. In Switzerland, the famous city of St. Gallen, which is the center of Eastern Switzerland. This city appeared thanks to the Irish monk Gallus. Legend has it that a bear helped the monk during the construction of St. Gallen. The latter became a symbol of the city - its image is depicted on the coat of arms of St. Gallen. Architectural monuments (made in the Baroque style) are the famous cathedral of this city and the monastery library.
Lucerne has the appearance of a medieval city. This city seems to be the main city of Central Switzerland. Since 1400, the Musegmauer fortress wall has stood in Lucerne, with a total length of 870 meters. The same city is famous for the first significant building of the Baroque era in the history of the country - the Jesuitenkirche. History buffs can visit museums in Switzerland, of which there are an incredible 600. The most famous and frequently visited are the Swiss Historical Museum, which is located in the city of Zurich, as well as the art museums of Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel.
Switzerland boasts a wealth of natural attractions. A tourist traveling to Eastern Switzerland will have the opportunity to see the unusually beautiful Rhine Falls. This waterfall is one of the most mesmerizing beauties of Switzerland. The average water flow of the Rhine Falls is 1100 m3 per second. Schaffhausen is a city located in close proximity to this waterfall.
Eastern Switzerland is rich in colorful flower carpets. These are beautiful alpine roses, saxifrage, edelweiss and others. The flowers of perennial shrubs and herbs are brightly colored and (like the plants themselves) fragrant.
Central Switzerland is proud of its Mount Pilatus. Its height is 2120 meters. It is located not far - only ten kilometers - from Lucerne. The city itself, surrounded by mountains, nestles near Lake Firvaldstätt.
Western Switzerland will amaze tourists with its famous mountain miracle, which has become a symbol of the entire country. We are talking about Mount Matterhorn, whose height reaches 4478 meters. This mountain is shaped like a pyramid. Mount Matterhorn has been chosen by many climbers.
The canton of Wallis, which is a deep valley (depth - 130 kilometers), is another natural masterpiece of Western Switzerland. The beautiful valley is located among the high alpine range.
There are many lakes in Switzerland that are famous throughout the world. One of them is the famous Lake Geneva. Next to it is the city of Lausanne. It is also notable for the fact that it intricately combines the colors of antiquity and modernity. The narrow streets of the historical center organically merge with modernly furnished neighborhoods. In addition to wonderful views of Lake Geneva, local residents and vacationers can see the mountain ranges of the Alps.
Switzerland is attractive for ski tourists. In this country, lovers of extreme recreation will feel comfortable thanks to the wonderful arrangement of the slopes. There are approximately 140 ski centers in Switzerland. Many of them are ranked among the best ski resorts in the world. Here are some of them: Saas-Fee, Zermatt, San Moritz, Davos, Villars, Grindenwald and others. The resort of Saas-Fee is called the “pearl of the Alps”. This is one of the highest mountain resorts in the state. The city of Saas-Fee is surrounded by quaint mountains that are covered with glaciers. Natural beauty gives this city an extraordinary flavor. And since Saas-Fee is a fairly young ski resort in the country, the cost of living here is relatively low. Zermatt is a prestigious resort in Switzerland. The city is located at the very foot of the famous Matterhorn mountain. It is also interesting that the only modes of transport at this resort are horse-drawn carts and electric cars. So Zermatt is freed from the mass accumulation of cars.
Switzerland is famous for its rich cultural life. It is, in fact, very diverse. Absolutely every major city in this country can boast its own theater and symphony orchestra. The Opera House in Zurich, the Basel City Theater, and the Grand Theater in Geneva are popular.
Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the world. Switzerland is one of the highly developed industrial countries of the world. Agriculture in this country is highly productive. The competitiveness of the Swiss economy allows this country to be included in the top ten countries in the world for this indicator. This state is economically closely connected with the countries of the European Union (they account for 80 to 85% of total trade turnover) and the rest of the outside world.
Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world. This country is one of the most significant financial and banking centers in the world. There are approximately four thousand financial institutions in Switzerland. The bulk of the country's population lives prosperously. After all, this state’s economic focus is not on the export of raw materials, but on the production of high-tech products. Switzerland is famous for its highly educated specialists. Statistics show that the average annual income of one resident of Switzerland is $38,380.
Switzerland provides excellent education. This country has gained a reputation for its leading role in the international education system. Approximately one hundred thousand pupils and students from the country itself and many other countries study in private schools in Switzerland. After receiving higher education at universities in Switzerland, a significant part of graduates are successfully employed in their chosen specialty.
Switzerland is a country with impeccable service. And Switzerland is proud of and values this reputation. Even the simplest cafe or bar is impeccably clean. The visitor will definitely feel comfortable here, he will really be surrounded by warmth. There are a lot of different sports complexes and recreational facilities in Switzerland. With Swiss precision (like a famous clock), trains arrive at stations and people come to meetings. And climbing to the top of the mountains (of which there are more than enough in Switzerland) will not require any effort. After all, Switzerland has modern mining engineering technology. So the tourist will only have to enjoy the view that will open to them from the highest mountains. It will take your breath away - that's for sure!
Swiss cuisine has many of its own delicacies. It is recognized by gourmets all over the world. Swiss chocolate is especially popular. It represents one of the pride of this small state. Swiss chocolate reaches other countries under the motto “Made in Switzerland”. An interesting fact is that Switzerland has the highest per capita consumption of chocolate. It is four times larger than the Russian one and amounts to twelve kilograms per year. The Swiss know a lot about chocolate. The Swiss desserts “Hühli” and “Krefli” are also famous throughout the world.
In general, Swiss cuisine has absorbed the culinary traditions of many peoples living in Switzerland. These are Italian, French, German traditions. Swiss cuisine is distinguished by an abundance of fermented milk products and cheese. Meat and various seasonings are of great importance here. The Bernes Platter dish is very popular. It consists of fried pieces of pork and beef, seasoned with sauerkraut or green beans. The dish “Lurich Leschnetzeltes” is not far behind it. It is based on thinly sliced pieces of veal in sauce.
Switzerland is famous for its cheese production. The variety of this product in Switzerland is simply amazing. But there is a reasonable explanation for this. The fact is that the traditions of cheese production in this state have a long history. The technology for producing each type of cheese has long been passed down from generation to generation; quality has improved. A distinctive feature of cheeses produced in Switzerland is the fact that each type of cheese is sold under its own brand. This brand in most cases has a name associated with the place of origin. The most famous cheeses are: Emmental, Appenzell, Gruyère, Tête de Moine, Tilsit, Sbrinz and others. Most Swiss cheeses are hard or semi-hard. This is due to the long Swiss winters, which are accompanied by difficulties in communication between the cantons (due to the abundance of snow).
The Swiss have a special relationship with cheese. Some people like it hard, some like it semi-hard, and some like it soft. On the festive (or just everyday) table, one family will have cheese cut into thin slices, another will have cheese made in the shape of flowers, and a third will have cheese cut into cubes. Even the most traditional dish in Switzerland is “cheese fondue”. It consists of Gruyère or Emmental cheese, which is melted in white wine and seasoned with spices. This popular dish is served hot with pieces of white bread. The latter are dipped in cheese. Raclette is another Swiss dish that is extremely popular. The base of this dish is fried cheese. It is served with potatoes and cucumbers.
Swiss watches are known throughout the world. Swiss watches are famous for their quality. A Swiss wristwatch is both a sophisticated mechanism and, in many cases, a piece of jewelry. Precision and beauty are organically combined in them. Exclusive models are made only to order.
Switzerland is made up of customs and traditions. At least, this is the impression one gets after visiting this state. Many traditions are local in nature. For example, in the north-eastern part of Switzerland there is a tradition of celebrating both the New Year and the “old new year”, and in a rather unusual way. On the night of the old New Year, it is easy to spot people wandering around the village fields with rather bizarre structures on their heads. Among them are respectable people who have earned a good reputation for themselves. But what can you do with tradition?
The Swiss calendar is the rhythm of life. It's not just 365 or 366 days a year. These are 365 or 366 days a year, each of which is assigned either an event (important or not) or a function. For example, the month is February. A month rich in snow. Schools begin a two-week “sports holiday”; many Swiss take up skiing. The following events are typical for February: Maslenitsa, carnival, the eve of Lent. During Maslenitsa week you can see the Swiss not only wearing masks, but also dressed “somehow”. However, the latter is not negotiable. festivities, celebrations, games and the like decorate this week with unique colors. During the week of the carnival you are simply not supposed to sleep for long. Rise - 5 o'clock in the morning. If you don’t get up yourself, then someone will come and wake you up: it’s not supposed to be like that, it’s not supposed to be like that. This whole ceremony is accompanied by noise.
The Swiss holiday “Zexilute”, which is celebrated in Zurich, is very noteworthy. The working population spends the first half of the day at work, but the second half is spent by crowds of people on the streets of the city. This holiday is celebrated on one of the Mondays and is associated with an increase in the length of the day. During the fun, paper figurines of snowmen are burned in the squares.
During the summer months, none of the towns in Switzerland can do without holidays. Celebrations are often associated in some way with the harvest. But Christmas is a quiet holiday. The family gathers at home and spends the evening at the festive table. You are not supposed to make noise or dress up elegantly.
Swiss folk music did not spread worldwide. The musical folklore of this country is mainly of the "Hudigegeller" style. His tunes are most often performed by a trio using double bass, clarinet and accordion. An interesting fact is that the “hudigegeller” genre is represented by only three melodies. But this does not bother the Swiss themselves at all. After all, this music is our own, national, and not alien, not foreign.
The Swiss are hospitable people. He is also very calm, hardworking, and respects the traditions and laws of his country. Therefore, when coming to Switzerland, a tourist must remember that he is a guest in this country, not a host.
The year 1687 can be considered the year of the beginning of relations between Switzerland (then the Republic of Geneva) and Russia (at that time the Kingdom of Moscow), when the magistrate of Geneva and Tsar Ivan Alekseevich exchanged diplomatic letters.
Soon, from the end of the 18th century, Switzerland began to enjoy very great popularity among Russians. Moreover, it did not matter who the Russian was by the nature of his activity, and what political views he adhered to. This beautiful alpine country was visited by travelers, emigrants, kings, revolutionaries, people who wanted to get a higher education, as well as those who just wanted to relax and improve their health came here. Such eminent Russians came here as Ivan Alekseevich Bunin (1870 - 1953), Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov (1873 - 1924) And Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva (1892 - 1941).
“So, I’m already in Switzerland, in the country of picturesque nature, in the land of freedom and prosperity! It seems that the local air has something enlivening in it,” he wrote Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin (1766 - 1826) in “Letters of a Russian Traveler”.
In Karamzin’s time, the Caucasus had not yet been conquered, and therefore they went to the Alps for mountain beauty and healing mountain air. And even a century later, the Swiss Alps were still loved by holidaymakers. Writer and philosopher Dmitry Sergeevich Merezhkovsky (1866 - 1941) with his wife Zinaida Gippius, after emigrating, they often came to Switzerland, where they breathed “the air of another Caucasus.” I would like to note that even today the resorts of this beautiful country have not lost their popularity. 
The local nature clearly made a pleasant impression on the Russians. The cities delighted with their colors, and the Swiss with their love of life. Especially romantic places in Switzerland attracted people of art. From memories Matilda Adamovna-Feliksovna-Valerievna Kshesinskaya (1872 - 1971), the famous prima ballerina of the St. Petersburg ballet, who arrived in St. Moritz in December 1912 to her future husband, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich: “Andrei met me at the station in St. Moritz, and we rode in a sleigh with a couple of horses and bells to the hotel “Kulm”, where he stayed and where they prepared rooms for me. St. Moritz made a charming impression on me: everything is covered in deep snow, the sun shines and warms like in summer, the whole city is like a toy, and everyone wears multi-colored sweatshirts and scarves, which gives the picture a cheerful flavor. Andrey and I had lovely rooms that were like a separate apartment overlooking the skating rink and the distant valley."
Matilda Kshesinskaya is not alone in her enthusiastic opinion of the Alpine beauties. In January 1912, they rested in Arosa, a resort town located between Hur and Davos, Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943) and his wife. N.A. Rachmaninova recalls: “We decided to go on vacation to Switzerland, to Arosa. We really liked Arosa and stayed there all January. It was warm in the sun, but frosty 17 degrees in the shade. Sergei Vasilyevich promised me that he would not ride a sleigh along the steep roads, on which, shortly before our arrival, two people fell to their deaths. 
And then one day he comes all covered in snow without a hat... He couldn’t resist and slid down on the sleigh, losing his hat along the way. Thank God it went well. Then we often went sledding with him along the beautiful but safe roads of Arosa. What wonderful air there was. The sunrise was amazing when the first rays appeared from behind the mountains.”
The main city of Central Switzerland, Lucerne, was especially popular. It is located on the shore of the beautiful Lake Firvaldstätt. The most famous Russian place in Lucerne is the Schweizerhof Hotel, located on the embankment. In the summer of 1857 he stayed there Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) and it was here that he began to write the famous story “Lucerne”: “Yesterday evening I arrived in Lucerne and stayed at the best hotel here, the Schweitzerhof.” Lucerne seemed beautiful to Tolstoy. According to him, he found silence, solitude and tranquility here.
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 - 1881) conceived and wrote his novel “The Idiot” while living in Geneva. This famous literary work describes local landscapes. The writer's contemporaries could guess in some of the characters in his novel those who were close to the writer in Switzerland.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840—1893) in 1877 he went to Switzerland. He visited Geneva and then lived for quite a long time in Clarens, a city on Lake Geneva. The operas “Eugene Onegin” and “Joan of Arc” were written there.
A few years later, in November 1884, the composer came on vacation to Davos, from where he wrote to Nadezhda von Meck: “Yesterday I finally arrived in Davos... The place consists of a number of excellent and crowded hotels and several private villas. In this wilderness there are a bunch of first-class shops, a theater and its own newspaper, all kinds of entertainment establishments, such as the railway, Russian mountains, a shooting gallery, etc. Winter is completely Russian.”
Foreigners were admitted to the University of Zurich without exams. Among his students was Anatoly Vasilyevich Lunacharsky (1875 - 1933). In 1892, while still a high school student, he joined an illegal student Marxist organization and therefore was already considered politically unreliable. As a result, he was given a “B” in behavior on his graduation certificate. At that time, this closed the way to continue education in Russia. Therefore, Lunacharsky leaves for Switzerland and becomes a student at the University of Zurich, where he majors in law.
In the new century, Lunacharsky visited Switzerland several times. His first poems were published in a Russian newspaper published in Bern in 1905. Ten years later, Lunacharsky again finds himself in Switzerland and for the next 2 years he lives here almost constantly, working as an editor for the emigrant press and studying the education system of a multilingual country.
Not only those who could not do so in their homeland for political reasons came to the University of Zurich from Russia to study. In Tsarist Russia, the doors of all higher educational institutions were closed to girls. In 1847, in Zurich, women received the right to attend university lectures. There, in 1866, the first of them to receive a doctorate was a medical student from the Russian Empire. Nadezhda Prokofievna Suslova (1843 - 1918). Moreover, Nadezhda Suslova is the first female doctor in Europe; it was she who opened the way to the world of medicine for other women.
Not being able to attend lectures at the Medical and Surgical Academy in her homeland, even as a volunteer student, Nadezhda Suslova, on the advice of professors I.M. Sechenov and S.P. Botkina leaves for Switzerland, to Zurich, where she seeks permission to enroll her in the medical faculty of the University of Zurich.
Suslova brilliantly defended her surgical dissertation and in 1867, the first woman in Russia and Europe, received the academic degree of Doctor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics.
Soon after returning to her homeland, in 1870, Nadezhda Suslova moved to Nizhny Novgorod, where she worked as a doctor for many years. Doctor Suslova enjoyed great respect and love among the people of Nizhny Novgorod. In addition to seeing patients at home, she worked for many years in a maternity hospital in Nizhny Novgorod. One of the streets of this city bears her name.
The spirit of university freedom and the literature banned in Russia, which was available in abundance in Zurich, contributed to the growth of revolutionary sentiments in the colony of Russian students. At the beginning of the last century, Zurich became one of the centers of Russian revolutionary emigration. Its most famous representative is Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870 - 1924). He lived with Krupskaya in a house on Spiegelglass. Lenin spent most of his time in city libraries. They say that in his free time he liked to go with his wife to Mount Zurichberg, lie on the grass and eat Swiss chocolate. After the revolution, a considerable number of Russians who fled from the Bolsheviks came to the country.
The center of public life in the Russian colony of Montreux is the Orthodox Church of the Great Martyr Barbara in the neighboring town of Vevey. It was built in 1878 Count Pyotr Pavlovich Shuvalov (1824 - 1900) in memory of her daughter Varvara Orlova who died here in childbirth. She is buried behind the church.
The most famous Russian who lived in Montreux - Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (1899 - 1977). Here he spent the last 17 years of his life. His grave is in Clarens.
Nabokov liked Switzerland: he first visited here as a child and since then, until the end of his days, he returned here several times. According to him, in these places he found peace and goodwill, beauty and magic. During his entire life, he managed to travel almost the entire country.
The writer decided to finally move from America to Europe after the release of “Lolita”. The success of the book allowed him to leave the university department and devote himself entirely to literature.
It took Nabokov a long time to choose a place to live. Already when the move took place, he half-jokingly said that the main reason that brought him to Switzerland was the desire to be closer to Alpine butterflies. The writer was seriously involved in entomology and even discovered several new species of insects. For example, one of them today bears the name “Nabokov Blue”.
In addition, the move allowed Nabokov and his wife to be closer to their son Dmitry, a famous opera singer, and the writer’s sister Elena Sikorskaya, who lived in Geneva.
In Switzerland, Nabokov met the famous film actor Peter Ustinov, and he recommended him the Montreux Palace Hotel, whose windows offer a picturesque view of Lake Geneva. This waterfront hotel became his home until his death.
Another equally famous Russian composer lived for a long time in the vicinity of Montreux. Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky (1882 - 1971). There he wrote one of his most famous works, “The Rite of Spring.” One of the streets in Clarens is named after this: Rue du Sacre du Printemps (Street of the Sacred Spring). A concert hall in Montreux (Auditorium Strawinsky) is also named after Stravinsky.
Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832 - 1898)- one of the most talented Russian landscape painters, painter, draftsman and engraver-aquafortist. In 1858 he received a large silver medal for a view of Valaam, in 1859 a small gold medal for a landscape from the outskirts of St. Petersburg, and finally, in 1860, a large gold medal for two views of the area of Cucco, on Valaam. Having acquired, along with this last award, the right to travel abroad as a pensioner of the academy, he went to Munich in 1861, visited the workshops of famous artists there, and then, in 1863, moved to Zurich, where, under the guidance of Professor Koller, who was then considered one of the best depicters of animals, he sketched and painted animals from life. In Zurich, Shishkin tried engraving with strong “royal” vodka for the first time. From here he made an excursion to Geneva in order to become acquainted with the works of Dide and Kalam.
Switzerland is not only about chocolate, cheese, watches and banks. It is comfortable here for those looking for peace and solitude. Romantics are captivated by the beauty of alpine nature. Those arriving with poor health feel relief. Many Russians came here. And they will come again. After all, you can’t help but like Switzerland.
Z Velcro- this wonderful accessory was invented by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral in the mid-40s of the last century. The idea came to him after a hunt: he returned home covered in seeds that stuck to his shoes, clothes and dog. After he looked at them under a microscope to figure out what was what, he created Velcro. This material is heterogeneous in composition, consists of velvet and hooks, and resembles small hooks that use seeds.
Cellophane- another complex material combining cellulose and French diaphane, created in 1908 by Jacques Brandenberger, who saw a client spill wine on a tablecloth in a restaurant. After this, Brandenberger began looking into waterproof fabric, but then he discovered that the cellulose material he sprayed onto the fabric could easily be peeled off into thin sheets. Then he realized that he had discovered something more.
Swiss army knife- invented by Karl Elsener and named after his mother Victoria Victorinox (Victoria plus inox - stainless steel). The Swiss officer's knife, since its inception in the 1890s, has evolved from a simple knife to one that includes a rich arsenal - from a simple corkscrew to such very modern additions as LED lights and MP3 players.
Direct democracy- Although the ancient Greeks are considered the founders of the concept of democracy, it was founded by the Swiss Confederation in 1291, which introduced the principles of direct democracy at a time when monarchs still ruled everywhere in Europe. Today, popular initiatives and the referendums they generate are a special part of the Swiss heritage.
Helvetica font is one of the most popular fonts ever created. It was developed in 1957 by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann. Classic Helvetica and its many variations are known for their crisp, chopped outlines. By the way, due to the popularity of the font, the New York Museum of Modern Art even organized a 50th anniversary of Helvetica in 2001. And not many fonts have their own exhibitions in art museums,
Absinthe- Although most of the drink was drunk by the French, the aniseed spirit of absinthe originated in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. The Green Fairy was at one time all the rage in drinking establishments across Europe until its consumption was eventually banned in a number of countries due to the narcotic nature and accompanying antisocial behavior that was blamed on the drink. But in recent years, absinthe has experienced a rebirth.
LSD- Hippies, artists and other psychedelic adventurers can thank Albert Hofmann of Talence for creating yet another psychotropic substance - lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD (or simply acid). She was born in the Sandoz laboratory in 1938. By the way, Bicycle Day (April 19, 1943) is also celebrated annually as the day when a doctor first experimented with LSD on a person - on himself.
Muesli. Not many people can boast of having a porridge named after them. Muesli, known in Switzerland as Birchermüesli, was created by Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients at his sanatorium in Zurich. The original version includes much more fruit and is topped with orange juice, unlike today's heavy boxes of cereal that are served with milk. During the health food craze of the 1970s, muesli became a worldwide sensation.
Internet time. When distributing time zones, the Swiss company Swatch divided the day into 1000 .beats (beats), each .beats equal to 1 minute 24.6 seconds. But even though it's not exactly mainstream, we have to recognize the logic and ingenuity of a Swiss firm that has brought change to the world as we know it.
And, of course, - milk chocolate. In the late 1800s, Swiss Daniel Piet solved a problem that had long plagued chocolate makers by using condensed milk instead of regular milk. This gave dark chocolate a sweet taste and made it popular in Europe. Dairy farmers are still very grateful to him.
