Sitting astride the River Limmat, Zurich Switzerland is a beautiful city set against a backdrop of snow-clad peaks in the distance and overlooking the waters of the lake. A large part of the city is occupied by its charming old town, composed of narrow, hilly alleys and historic buildings magnificently restored to their former beauties.
But more than just candy for the eyes and a source of traveling delights for tourists, Zurich Switzerland is also one of the leading financial centers of the world. In fact, the Zurich stock exchange is one of world’s four largest, with those in New York, London, and Tokyo occupying the top three spots, respectively.
And the seemingly endless facets of Zurich Switzerland does not stop there. More than just a cold-hearted business city, Zurich Switzerland is also seat of the avant-garde Dadaist movement that started in 1916.
Among the group of writers and artists who joined the movement were famous names, like Jean Arp, Tristan Tzara, and Hugo Ball, all of whom rebelled against the traditional artistic expression.
Yet, Zurich Switzerland also has its fair share of non-activist residents. The city has attracted the likes of Irish author James Joyce who re-envisioned his native Dublin in Ulysses by observing the mores of Zurich.
The city is considered as not only the political but also the spiritual capital of Switzerland. No wonder. Zurich Switzerland is full of extraordinary galleries and museums and luxury shops along Zurich’s Fifth Avenue, the Bahnofstrasse. The city’s important position as the political capital is further sealed with the latest addition to its profile - Zurich West, which used to be an industrial neighborhood of cranes and former factories. Now, this part of Zurich Switzerland is quickly being transformed, turning spaces into restaurants, art galleries, bars, and dance clubs.
When you visit Zurich Switzerland, be sure not to miss the following places:
Grossmunster
English speakers affectionately call it the “Gross Monster,” but the Grossmunster is a magnificent cathedral with impressive twin towers circa 1781. Each of the towers features caricatures of Gothic forms bordering on the comical, figures which perhaps earned its English nickname as well as a clever play on the pronunciation. On one side of the south tower is an enormous stone statue of Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor, who sits enthroned.
Kunsthaus
If you like to visit museums or galleries on your travels, then you shouldn’t miss Zurich Switzerland’s Kunsthaus. The gallery houses a permanent collection of excellent paintings ranging from the medieval, Dutch and Italian baroque to the impressionistic styles. One of the rooms contains the superb works of Johann Heinrich Fussli whose paintings hover in the space between the grotesque and the darkly ethereal. Painters like Picasso, Klee, Kandinsky, Degas, Chagall, Munch, and Matisse are also well represented.
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Switzerland Tours
... in the Land of the Alps. However, many people balk at the idea of signing up for Switzerland tours, thinking that the expenses involved make it also the quickest way to drain your cash reserves. Well, that's just wrong. There are many Switzerland tours that offer all the ins and outs without necessarily burning a hole in your pocket. Here are a few websites that offer Switzerland tours well within budget: SwitzerlandTours.net Switzerland Tours Net offers three kinds of tours: by tourist destinations, by tour packages, by adventure sports, and by hotels in Switzerland. Visit places like Geneva, Zurich, Lugano, Locarno, Lucerne, and St. Moritz if you choose the Switzerland tour by destination. If you already have an idea exactly what you Zurich Switzerland want from your Switzerland vacation, perhaps you can find what you're looking for in their Switzerland Tour Packages, which include Honeymoon in Switzerland, Peaks of the World, Switzerland Rail Adventure, Glacier Express in Winter, and many more. TourVacationsToGo.com The site...
Switzerland Travel
... sought-after activities in a Switzerland travel. Of course, what else would you expect from a country where "alpinism" originated from? With approximately 50,000 Zurich Switzerland km worth of trails, you can rest assured that your Switzerland travel hiking adventure will lead you through all kinds of terrain with dramatic views of this stunningly beautiful country. Mountain Sports For the adventurer at heart or those who want to try something with a little more edge, Switzerland travel also offers plenty of opportunities. Mountain sports such as climbing, ski touring, ice climbing, deep-snow skiing, heli-skiing, glacier walking, and snow boarding are but only a few. Accommodations come in the form of alpine huts and chalets. However, if you have decided to spend your Switzerland travel vacation in Geneva, there are a variety of ski...
Switzerland Chocolate
... and removing the beans from the pods, they are left to ferment for some days in order to remove some of the bitterness. Fermentation is followed by sun-drying, after which the beans are crushed, their husks removed. Then, the beans are roasted, grinded, and liquefied to produce a thick paste, known as "chocolate liquor." By Zurich Switzerland the end of the whole process, the Switzerland chocolate mixer has three ingredients at hand: * Cocoa paste * Cocoa butter * Cocoa cake, which is what's left of the paste after the butter is pressed out In order to make plain or milk Switzerland chocolate, the mixture consists of cocoa paste, butter, sugar, and vanilla. After mixing all the ingredients, the whole thing is kneaded in order to create a paste, which is then rolled and conched (stirring the paste...
Switzerland
... railway. Trains are extremely common and they arrive from everywhere in Europe. As one of the two most central-lying countries in Europe (Germany being the other one), Switzerland proves to be a hub of railways and highways to the rest of Europe. Getting Around Switzerland has one of the best transportations in the world. Their trains are swift and always prompt. Their buses are clean. And they have nearly half a dozen different kinds of transport systems that go through the mountains. Note that while many of the bus routes go through the scenic Alps, there is actually no intercity bus network. Moreover, you are also given a multitude of discount options, such as half fare cards, multi-use tickets, and multi-day cards. Generally, there is at least one train or bus on every route every hour. In fact, there are routes where buses and trains are running every 30 minutes. So...
Quality Hotels In Switzerland
Swiss Quality Single Hotel One of the hotels in Switzerland having a special concept fashioned for people traveling and living alone, Single Hotel Eden is a four-star hotel perfectly located in Spiez's bay, near Interlaken with view of the Bernese Alps and Thun Lake. The hotel features indoor swimming pool, equipped fitness room, tennis court, table tennis, steambath, whirlpools, special showers, relaxing room, Finnish and Bio Sauna, and juice bar. Hostellerie Geroldswil Swiss Quality Hotel Zurich Switzerland An elegant three-star hotel, the Hostellerie Geroldswil includes a banquet and congress center with three restaurants and one bar for five-hundred-fifty persons. The hotel is part of the city center located nearby public transports, stores, post office, and bank. Hotel amenities include swimming pool indoors with solarium and sauna which can easily be accessed by guests with hotel elevator. The hotels restaurants also offers great dining including fine selection of Italian wine that guest can avail of. ...
Map Of Switzerland
... traffic, places where you can find great restaurants or entertainment centers, then just click on the corresponding boxes provided in the website's search tool. LonelyPlanet.com Whenever you need Zurich Switzerland travel information about a particular destination, one of the first places to visit is always Lonely Planet. As a travel website, Lonely Planet is a premier website that offers reliable information about the places you want to visit with tips from other "lonely planeteers" out there, including lists of top places to check out, sights to see, activities to enjoy, foods, and other miscellaneous stuff that travel magazines and brochures wouldn't normally cover. Now, being one of the must-go-to online sites to visit when planning a vacation, Lonely Planet has everything you need to map out your dream vacation. If they have lists of things you can see and do in Switzerland, they also have informative resources, such as a map of Switzerland which you can download and print out. Lonely...
Travel Information In Switzerland
... It is advisable that one checks the hotel before agreeing to it. Switzerland hotel rooms also tend to be smaller but there are normally more available services. Hotel rates include taxes, services, and at times breakfast but make sure you ask if Zurich Switzerland it is included. The majority of Switzerland hotels are members of the Swiss Hotel Association that rates hotels according to the facilities they have and not mainly the charm of the hotel. Always make sure that prior to travel you have reserved the hotel of your choice to avoid incurring extra expenses of looking for other hotels if the hotel you like is fully booked. Switzerland's Currency Swiss franc is the official currency of the country, abbreviated as CHF. Banknotes issued denominations are 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 CHF. Look up the current rate of your currency with Francs before your time of travel to have a general...
Skiing In Switzerland
... much ground to cover, you can rest assured that you will enjoy skiing in Switzerland, especially at Andermatt, whether you are a beginner, advanced or expert. The powder snow lasts until late in the spring, so you can actually book your vacation when the season is almost over to get a better Zurich Switzerland deal. Adelboden At 1,350 m above sea level, the idyllic chalet village of Adelboden is completely surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Bernese Oberland. Skiing here is extravagant with an area stretching from 1,350 up to 2,400 m of the linked resort Adelboden-Lenk. As one of the top skiing areas in Switzerland, Adelboden offers rare features not often found in other ski resorts - altitude, variety, and snow-assuredness. The resort has 56 lift facilities, plus a network of runs which extend over 170 km. There are also a wide variety of leisure, including child-friendly activities. So...
Switzerland Flag
... the Old Swiss Confederacy. By 1513, several cantons have also joined the Confederacy. The member states of the Confederacy did not actually tried to build a nation. In fact, until 1648, Switzerland was still considered a part of the German Empire, whose emperor in the 13th century was identified as the protector of Christianity and carried with him a flag with the cross as a holy sign. Moreover, the German emperor also carried with him a blood-red flag, which symbolized his power over life and death. These two elements were later on incorporated in the present Switzerland flag, but before that, the Switzerland flag had Zurich Switzerland to undergo various transformations. In the 13th century, the German emperor sometimes granted special honor to certain cities and regions. This special honor consists of the right to...
Lugano Switzerland
... several macho roosters crowing nearby. Lugano Switzerland is small enough to tour on foot. However, if you want to ride, cycling is a wonderful alternative. Circle the shore of Lago di Lugano for a picturesque view of the southern Alps with its combination of Alpine and Mediterranean flora. Afterwards, if you are up for more beautiful sights, consider this list of the top attractions in Lugano Switzerland: Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli The church houses the magnificent frescoes dating back to the 16th century by Bernardino Luini. Located just a few hundred yards from the busy highway, the Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli remarkably exudes a sense of calm. Gandria For one of the most picturesque places in Lugano Switzerland, go to the tiny enclave of Gandria on the eastern side of Lake Lugano. A new roadway has been constructed along the Zurich Switzerland hillside just above the village to connect Lugano to Italy's Lake Como, so what was previously only accessible by foot or by boat can now be accessed...
Brienz Switzerland
Switzerland offers a cornucopia of wonderful sights and activities for you to enjoy. Foremost among its top attractions is the Viewpoint in Jungfraujoch. Considered as the granddaddy of all high-altitude excursions, it is here in Zurich Switzerland Jungfraujoch that you will find the highest railroad station in the world. To get there, just take the green cogwheel Wengernalp Railway from Lauterbrunnen station up the wooded mountainside. If you like to immerse in Swiss arts and culture scene while on a trip to Brienz Switzerland, then don't miss the Museum der Landschaft Saanen. It is a tiny museum located behind the Heimatwerk handcrafts shop. Here you will find traces of Brienz's history as depicted in the museum's collection of ancient tools, transport, costumes, decorative and furniture pieces. Brienz Switzerland has several more interesting places to check out. There are the usual places that tourists would visit - museums, galleries, viewpoints, bodies of water. However, for an authentic look at the real Brienz, then there is no better way to get that than by taking a leisurely walk throughout...
Flag Of Switzerland
... mainly by Swiss ships and boats. Although the red background of the flag of Switzerland is traditionally square, no such traditional connotations accompanied the white cross. In fact, it wasn't until 1889 when the dimensions of the cross were formally established: "The coat of arms of the federation is, within a red field, an upright white cross, whose arms of equal length are a sixth longer than their width." However, since the time of the Old Swiss Confederacy, the flag of Switzerland bore a white Zurich Switzerland cross, albeit with much details than the plain white cross of today. So how did the flag of Switzerland develop into what it is now? To answer that, we need to take a look at the history of the Swiss people. The Forest Cantons The so-called forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden were the founding members of the Old Swiss Confederacy of...
Swiss Watches Switzerland
Switzerland was already flourishing, continuing to prosper in subsequent years. Some would say that this is in part due to Jean Calvin, whose idea of Reformation included banning ostentatious shows of wealth. As a result, skilled jewelers were forced to turn their talents to watch-making instead of crafting jewelries. The center for design and marketing of Swiss watches Switzerland was Geneva. This is true both before and after the city joined the Swiss Confederation in 1815. However, the manufacture of Swiss Zurich Switzerland watches Switzerland also spread to other areas, most notable of which is Canton Neuchatel. To learn more about watch-making as well as exercise their skills, many Swiss craftsmen traveled abroad. The best known among them is undoubtedly Abraham-Louis Breguet who is regarded by many as the greatest watchmaker of all time. His ideas constitute important...
Hiking Switzerland
... the Zermatt. In addition to top ski resorts and adventure vacations, Valais also offers numerous trails along ancient bisses and irrigation channels. Oberland This includes the Jungrau region, offering you a classic hiking Switzerland experience of snowy peaks towering over green meadows. It is here that you will get spectacular views of Europe's most beautiful mountain scenery, including Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger. If you want something off the beaten path, then head on over to Gimmelwald near Murren or Wilderswil at the mouth of Lauterbrunnen valley. The first offers you beautiful views of the valley, plus accommodations in the form of a youth hostel and pension houses. The second provides you the unique experience of a small Swiss town. Engadine Considered as the greatest hiking...
History Of Switzerland
The Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf I of the Habsburg dynasty wanted to acquire the territory that is now Switzerland. To resist this aggression, the three cantons, Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, combined their defenses. This proved to be the foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy, which was later on enlarged when other cantons likewise followed suit. The Reformation The history of Switzerland experienced another significant moment in 1518 when the Protestant Reformation came into being. Among the leaders of this movement are the country pastor Huldreich Zwingli and the French theologian John Calvin. The Thirty Years' War of 1618 to 1648 followed, but Switzerland preserved its neutrality. Even so, it was able to achieve formal recognition as a nation and as a completely independent state. Unification to the Present The French Revolution in the 1790s reached Switzerland and 1798, revolutionaries supported by the French occupied the whole territory. Napoleon Bonaparte, the future emperor of France, unified the country under Zurich Switzerland the name Helvetic Republic. Later in 1803, Napoleon withdrew his troops. In 1815, the Congress of...