Switzerland

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Landlocked federal republic

• Location

  Central, Western, and Southern Europe

• Land Area

  39,997 km2

• Population

  Approximately 9 million people

• Total Area

  41,285 km2

• Federal City

  Bern

• Key Services

  Tourism

• Official Name

  Swiss Confederation

• GDP per Capita

  Eighth-highest gross domestic product per capita

• Key Industries

  Banking and financial sector, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, precision engineering, watchmaking

• Wealth per Adult

  Highest nominal wealth per adult

• National Identity

  Willensnation (nation of volition)

• Renowned Products

  Chocolate, cheese

• Geographical Regions

  Swiss Alps, Swiss Plateau, Jura mountains

• Predominant Religions

  Roman Catholic (36.5%), Reformed Evangelical (24.4%)

• Administrative Divisions

  26 cantons

• Economic Competitiveness

  Highly developed country

• International Policy Stance

  Armed neutrality

• Principal Linguistic and Cultural Regions

  German, French, Italian, Romansh

Timeline

• The Federal Charter is established, considered the country's founding document of the Old Swiss Confederacy. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia, DBPedia)

  1291-XX-XX

• Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire is formally recognized in the Peace of Westphalia. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia, DBPedia)

  1648-XX-XX

• Revolutionary France invades Switzerland, imposing the centralist Helvetic Republic. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1798-XX-XX

• Napoleon abolishes the Helvetic Republic and reinstates a confederation. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1803-XX-XX

• Switzerland's last international war is fought, after which it maintains armed neutrality. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia, DBPedia)

  1815-XX-XX

• A new constitution is established, forming the current federal system with individual rights, separation of powers, and parliamentary bicameralism. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1848-XX-XX

• Switzerland joins the Council of Europe. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1964-XX-XX

• Switzerland joins the United Nations. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia, DBPedia)

  2002-XX-XX

Switzerland

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the intersection of Central, Western, and Southern Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, and Italy to the south. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura mountains; the Alps cover the majority of Switzerland's territory, whereas most of the country's 9 million people are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts many of its largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Winterthur, and Lucerne. Switzerland is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with Bern serving as the federal city and the seat of the national government. The country encompasses four principal linguistic and cultural regions—German, French, Italian, and Romansh—reflecting a long-standing tradition of multilingualism and cultural pluralism. Although culturally diverse, the national identity remains fairly cohesive, rooted in a shared historical background, common values such as federalism and direct democracy, and Alpine symbolism. Swiss identity transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, leading to Switzerland being described as a Willensnation ("nation of volition") rather than a nation state. Switzerland originates from the Old Swiss Confederacy established in the Late Middle Ages as a defensive and commercial alliance; the Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the country's founding document. The confederation steadily expanded and consolidated despite external threats and internal political and religious strife. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognized in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The confederation was among the first and few republics of the early modern period, and the only one besides San Marino to survive the Napoleonic Wars. Switzerland remained a network of self-governing states until 1798, when revolutionary France invaded and imposed the centralist Helvetic Republic. Napoleon abolished the republic in 1803 and reinstated a confederation. Following the Napoleonic Wars, Switzerland restored its pre-revolutionary system, but by 1830 faced growing division and conflict between liberal and conservative movements; this culminated in a new constitution in 1848 that established the current federal system and enshrined principles such as individual rights, separation of powers, and parliamentary bicameralism. The country has maintained a policy of armed neutrality since the 16th century and has not fought an international war since 1815. It joined the Council of Europe in 1964 and the United Nations in 2002, and pursues an active foreign policy that includes frequent involvement in peace building and global governance. Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross and hosts the headquarters or offices of most major international institutions, including the WTO, the WHO, the ILO, FIFA, the WEF, and the UN. It is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and participates in the European single market and the Schengen Area. Switzerland is among the world's most developed countries, with the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. It performs highly on several international metrics, including economic competitiveness, democratic governance, and press freedom. Zurich, Geneva and Basel rank among the highest in quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living. Switzerland has a longstanding banking and financial sector, advanced pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and a strong tradition of watchmaking, precision engineering, and technology. It is known for its chocolate and cheese production, well-developed tourism industry, and growing startup sector.

Web Search Results

• Switzerland

  Switzerland,( officially the Swiss Confederation,( is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe.( It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's 9 million people are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts its largest cities and economic [...] Switzerland is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern.( It has four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although most Swiss are German-speaking, national identity is fairly cohesive, being rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy,( and Alpine symbolism.( Swiss identity transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, leading to Switzerland being described as a [...] Switzerland originates from the Old Swiss Confederacy established in the Late Middle Ages as a defensive and commercial alliance; the Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the country's founding document. The confederation steadily expanded and consolidated despite external threats and internal political and religious strife. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognised in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The confederation was among the first and few republics of the

• Switzerland map & highlights - Responsible Travel

  Switzerland is a country of dramatic peaks and glacial valleys with the Alps, Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau regions providing travelers with an eclectic range of year round activities. Lakes like Lucerne, Brienz and Thun, are surrounded by pungent pine forests, whilst Lake Geneva is renowned for its terraced vineyards, and Lake Neuchatel is equally well regarded for its heritage sites and sophisticated old town ambience. Melting snow forms fast flowing water features with the Lauterbrunnen [...] Multi activity vacations in Switzerland This is a year-round travel destination with a vast range of things to do, in snow or sun. Image 93: Walking tours in the Swiss Alps Walking tours in the Swiss Alps Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most iconic and beautiful natural landscapes. Image 94: Switzerland travel advice Switzerland travel advice Switzerland is a country just made for exploring the Great Outdoors, but some Swiss advice from experts never goes amiss. [...] Valley awash with waterfalls alongside untouched Alpine villages. From Gothic cathedrals and medieval castles, to free roaming cows feasting on fragrant flowers, Switzerland is fresh, clean and perfect for taking your next vacation to new heights.

• An introduction to Swiss people and culture

  Switzerland is a predominantly Christian country. The main religions in the country are Roman Catholic (36.5%), the Reformed Evangelical community (24.4%), other Christian denominations(6%), Muslim (5.2%), and Jewish (0.3%). That said, 25% of the Swiss population has no religious affiliation. You can read more about religion in Switzerland in our guide. Image 18: Roman Catholic Holy Cross Church in St. Gallen Roman Catholic Holy Cross Church in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland [...] Switzerland is divided into 26 Swiss cantons, all of which manage their own education, healthcare, law enforcement, taxes, and social welfare systems. These cantons vary significantly in size and population. For instance, the largest canton is Graubünden, which covers 7,105 square kilometers, and the smallest is Basel City, which is a modest 37 square kilometers in size. Image 17: swiss cantons The Swiss cantons

• Culture of Switzerland

  Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures. Three of the continent's major languages, German, French and Italian, are national languages of Switzerland, along with Romansh, spoken by a small minority. Therefore, Swiss culture is characterized by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs. The 26 cantons also account for the large cultural diversity.( [...] Switzerland is not commonly considered a leading musical nation. However, in the 20th century it produced a number of notable composers, such as Arthur Honegger, Othmar Schoeck and Frank Martin "Frank Martin (composer)"), who have all gained international renown. Lucerne and Verbier both feature prestigious international classical music festivals in the summer: the Lucerne Festival( and the Verbier Festival.( Other places have similar festivals, ranging from country and western to pop and jazz. [...] There is a strong architectural tradition in Switzerland. The Romanesque style of the 12th century can be found in the cathedrals of Basel, Sion, Chur, Geneva, Zürich and Schaffhausen. This style, which is rich in expression, can also be found on many castles and fortresses around the country, many of which preserved in a good condition. The cathedrals of Lausanne and Bern are in the Gothic style, and the churches of Einsiedeln and St. Gallen are in the Baroque style.

• Switzerland: All You Must Know Before You Go (2025) - Tripadvisor

  Tiny, multilingual Switzerland packs a lot into its landlocked borders: glittering lakes, sky-high peaks, postcard-perfect villages, world-class museums. Get a taste of it all with the Grand Tour, a 1,000-mile route that takes you to the medieval old city of Bern, towering Jungfraujoch, the iconic Matterhorn, and 42 other must-sees. Or choose your own fondue-fueled adventure: Ski bunnies and adrenaline junkies can hit the slopes at Graubünden or Verbier; urban explorers can sample Zurich’s [...] Switzerland TourismSwitzerland HotelsSwitzerland Bed and BreakfastSwitzerland Vacation RentalsFlights to SwitzerlandSwitzerland RestaurantsThings to Do in SwitzerlandSwitzerland Travel ForumSwitzerland PhotosSwitzerland Map Hotels All Switzerland HotelsSwitzerland Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in SwitzerlandHotels Near MeBy Hotel Type

• Image

  

• Instance Of

  Q60520

• Inception Date

  1/1/1818

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation; (German: Schweiz [ʃvaɪ̯t͡s], French: Suisse [sɥis], Italian: Svizzera [ˈzvit.t͡se.ra], Romansh: Svizra [svi.t͡sra]), is a landlocked country located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern. Switzerland is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. It is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura, spanning 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi) with land area comprising 39,997 km2 (15,443 sq mi). The Alps occupy the greater part of the territory. The Swiss population of approximately 8.7 million is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities and economic centres are located, including Zürich, Geneva and Basel. These three cities are home to the headquarters or offices of international organisations such as the WTO, the WHO, the ILO, FIFA, and the United Nations's second-largest office. Switzerland originates from the Old Swiss Confederacy that was established in the Late Middle Ages following a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy. The Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the country's founding document, which is celebrated on Swiss National Day. Since the Reformation of the 16th century, Switzerland has maintained a policy of armed neutrality. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognised in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Switzerland has not fought an international war since 1815. It joined the United Nations only in 2002, though it pursues an active foreign policy, including participation in frequent peace-building processes worldwide. Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross, one of the world's oldest and best-known humanitarian organisations. It is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but not part of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Eurozone. However, it participates in the European single market and the Schengen Area through bilateral treaties. Switzerland has four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although the majority population are German-speaking, Swiss national identity is rooted in its common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy, and Alpine symbolism. This identity, which transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, has led to Switzerland being described as a Willensnation ("nation of volition") rather than a nation-state. Due to its linguistic diversity, Switzerland is known by multiple native names: Schweiz [ˈʃvaɪts] (German); Suisse [sɥis(ə)] (French); Svizzera [ˈzvittsera] (Italian); and Svizra [ˈʒviːtsrɐ, ˈʒviːtsʁɐ] (Romansh). On coins and stamps, the Latin name, Confoederatio Helvetica – frequently shortened to "Helvetia" – is used instead of the spoken languages. Switzerland is one of the world's most developed countries. It has the highest nominal wealth per adult of any country and the eighth highest gross domestic product per capita. Switzerland ranks 1st in the Human Developement Index since 2021, and it ranks highly also on several international metrics, including economic competitiveness and democratic governance. Its cities such as Zürich, Geneva and Basel rank among the highest in terms of quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living.