Before boarding a plane to the country of chocolate, get to know some curiosities of Switzerland, its customs, culture and interesting facts. You will certainly feel even more comfortable exploring it completely.
Charming Switzerland attracts visitors from many countries to see beautiful landscapes. But knowing the curiosities about the country you will be able to have a more relaxed walk, knowing the Swiss customs and even the defects.
Without a doubt, having in mind interesting facts about Switzerland can be a differential to make the best use of your route in this beautiful European country. So stay tuned to learn a little more about Swiss culture.
Curiosities about Switzerland that you might not hear off
- Switzerland has four official languages: Switzerland does not occupy a large territory in Europe, yet it has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The language varies according to the region, so it is likely that in your travel itinerary you will visit at least one French-speaking city and another German-speaking city.
- So stay tuned, although the language is German, for example, it is Swiss German, which is somewhat different from the German spoken in Germany.
- A positive point is that in most tourist locations the Swiss usually speak English and respond to tourists cordially. However, it is good to keep an eye on labels on the market to make sure you are buying the desired product.
- Capital: Many think the capital of Switzerland is Zurich or even Geneva, but in fact, the capital of the country is the city of Bern. Speaking of Bern, a curiosity of the capital is that about 7 billion Toblerone chocolate bars are manufactured every year in the city. See also where to stay in Bern.
- Currency:
Contrary to what many people think, the country’s currency is the Swiss Franc and not the Euro (Switzerland is not part of the European Union). Use your coins in Switzerland, a five-franc coin can be worth more than a twenty-real note. - Nuclear shelters:
Despite being considered a neutral country, even having a city known as the ‘Capital of Peace’ (Geneva), Switzerland has nuclear shelters that are able to keep the entire population safe for up to a year in the event of a possible attack. - Shoes
A common habit in most Swiss houses is to remove your shoes when entering a house. Therefore, if you are invited to the residence of a local resident, observe this rule so as not to make a mistake for lack of education.- Generally, there is a specific wardrobe or place at the entrance of the houses for these items to be placed.
- Food: Most of the foods made available in Brazil under the codename “Swiss” such as lemonades, sweets, and various recipes do not actually exist in Switzerland. But don’t get frustrated: fondue and dozens of potato-based dishes will be found in the country’s restaurants.
- Beach? Switzerland is located in the center of the European continent, so it borders several countries and has no coastal area. However, this is not considered a disadvantage for the Swiss who turn the country’s various lakes (the total number of lakes is 1,300) into beaches during the summer. The Aare River even has a structure that allows some artificial waves so that surfing can take place on Swiss territory.